Procedure for validating candidates for the DRC presidential election
The presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo is causing much disruption and controversy. And the application validation procedure is no exception. A recent incident involving Moïse Katumbi, former governor of Katanga, highlights the strict demands of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
Moïse Katumbi’s application file was not received by the CENI during its first attempt. The reason ? Katumbi’s team showed up with photocopies of the required documents, while CENI required the originals for proper authentication.
According to those close to Katumbi, two essential documents from the file, namely the extract from the criminal record and the certificate of nationality, were missing from the copies provided. As a result, the CENI refused to accept the file.
This procedure strictly applied by the CENI complies with the electoral legislation in force in the DRC. All applications must comply with this requirement of submitting original documents necessary to support the application. This aims to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and to avoid any falsification or fraud.
The Katumbi camp, aware of this requirement, promised to return the next day with the complete file, this time with the original documents. They stressed that this situation was simply an administrative formality and would not have legal consequences on the application.
It is important to note that this application validation procedure is applied equally to all candidates. This is not a discriminatory measure specifically directed against Moïse Katumbi, but rather a standard procedure aimed at ensuring that all applications meet the same criteria and requirements.
The next few days will therefore be decisive for Moïse Katumbi and the other candidates in the presidential election. They will have to provide all the required documents and go through the rigorous validation procedure of the CENI to be eligible for the highest office of the country.
The stakes of this election are immense for the DRC, because it marks a key stage in the consolidation of democracy and political stability in the country. It is therefore essential that the procedure for validating candidacies is carried out in a transparent and fair manner, in order to guarantee fair and credible elections for the Congolese people.
In the meantime, national and international observers will continue to closely monitor developments in the electoral situation in the DRC, while waiting to see who the candidates ultimately selected to compete for the country’s presidency will be.