Title: The SADC mission to Kinshasa: the pre-electoral assessment underway in the DRC
Introduction :
Since last Monday, a delegation from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been in Kinshasa to assess the ongoing electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This assessment aims to take into account the political and security environment of the country as well as the reforms to the electoral law. The presidents of the two houses of Parliament also presented the progress made to strengthen the transparency of the electoral process. In this article, we take stock of this SADC mission and the issues linked to the upcoming elections in the DRC.
The SADC, a key player in the pre-electoral assessment:
The SADC delegation is responsible for assessing whether the DRC is ready to organize elections in a favorable political and security environment. This mission will also verify whether the electoral law has undergone the necessary reforms in accordance with SADC principles. Notemba Yjipueja, vice-president of the SADC electoral advisory council, stressed the importance of taking these elements into account to ensure the smooth running of the elections.
Reforms to strengthen electoral transparency:
The presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly presented to the SADC delegation the reforms put in place to strengthen the transparency of the electoral process. Among these reforms, we find the recommendation to publish voting results office by office, in order to ensure greater transparency and prevent possible fraud. Christoph Mboso, President of the National Assembly, also underlined the inclusiveness of the electoral process with a significant number of candidates, both for the national delegation and for the presidency of the Republic.
The importance of lasting peace in the DRC:
Modeste Bahati, President of the Senate, expressed the importance of guaranteeing elections on time and in complete transparency. He also called on the SADC to get involved in efforts to restore lasting peace in the DRC. Indeed, political and security stability is essential to guarantee free and fair elections.
Conclusion :
The SADC pre-electoral assessment mission to Kinshasa marks a crucial step in the electoral process in the DRC. It will make it possible to verify the country’s preparation to organize elections in a favorable political and security environment, while taking into account reforms to the electoral law. The transparency of the electoral process is also reinforced thanks to the measures taken by parliamentary institutions. It is now essential to work to restore lasting peace in the DRC in order to guarantee free and fair elections.