On a pre-election assessment mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a delegation from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) recently met Presidents Bahati Lukwebo and Christophe Mboso, respectively president of the Senate and the Congolese National Assembly. The objective of this meeting was to discuss the reforms undertaken by these institutions to strengthen the transparency of the electoral process in view of the general elections which will take place in December this year.
Among the reforms presented to SADC emissaries, there is notably the recommendation to publish the voting results office by office. This measure aims to guarantee transparency and avoid any form of manipulation of electoral results. Presidents Bahati and Mboso stressed the importance of these reforms and their commitment to ensuring an inclusive electoral process.
The President of the National Assembly, Christophe Mboso, affirmed that the current electoral process in the DRC was open to all, with the participation of numerous candidates for the various elective functions. He also assured that the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) was doing everything possible to ensure that the elections took place as planned on December 20. He stressed that those who choose not to participate in the process are free to do so, but this should not compromise the holding of the elections.
With this in mind, Modeste Bahati called on the SADC to commit to the restoration of lasting peace in the DRC. He stressed the importance of conducting elections on time and in complete transparency, in the interest of all Congolese citizens.
SADC is closely monitoring the ongoing electoral process in the DRC and assessing the political and security environment in the country. Notemba Yjipueja, vice chairperson of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council, said the assessment will help determine whether the country is ready to hold elections and whether the electoral law complies with SADC principles.
This meeting between the SADC delegation and Presidents Bahati Lukwebo and Christophe Mboso shows the importance given to the transparency and credibility of the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The reforms put in place aim to guarantee free and fair elections, where the voice of every citizen counts. SADC plays an essential role in this process by supervising and evaluating the actions undertaken by the Congolese government.
It is crucial that the elections are held in accordance with international standards in order to strengthen democracy and stability in the DRC. The transparency and inclusiveness of the electoral process are key elements to ensure citizens’ confidence in the political system and to promote the construction of a more just and equitable Congolese society.. SADC continues to support the DRC in this process and to work in collaboration with the Congolese authorities to ensure democratic and peaceful elections.
Glory MALUMBA
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