Title: Display of electoral lists in the DRC: the CENI takes a position, but the CENCO-ECC speaks out
Introduction :
The organization of elections is a major issue for any democratic country. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the question of displaying electoral lists is giving rise to debates and recommendations. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) recently decided not to physically display the lists, the CENCO-ECC electoral observation mission is issuing recommendations on this subject. In this article, we will analyze the decision of the CENI as well as the reactions of the CENCO-ECC and political actors.
Analysis of the CENI decision:
The CENI’s decision not to physically display the electoral lists raises questions. According to Joseph Senda, director of operations at the CENI, this decision aims to facilitate access to the lists by allowing voters to consult a display attendant in each branch. However, this measure can be seen as a restriction on transparency and the evaluation of the lists by political parties and civil society.
Reactions from CENCO-ECC and political actors:
The CENCO-ECC electoral observation mission expresses its disagreement with the CENI’s decision. According to her, simply consulting the lists to check the presence of a name is not enough. Political parties should have a citizen view of the lists to evaluate them, which requires physical display. CENCO-ECC therefore recommends that CENI take the necessary measures to display the lists through its branches.
For his part, Rodrigue Ramazani, spokesperson for Envol, the opposition political party, believes that the display of lists is essential to ensure transparency and confidence in the electoral process. He underlines the importance for voters to be able to personally verify their registration and detect possible irregularities.
Jean-Michel Mvwondo, coordinator of the Civic Education Network in Congo (RECIC), also supports this position. According to him, displaying the lists would prevent electoral fraud and guarantee the legitimacy of the results.
Conclusion :
The question of displaying electoral lists in the DRC therefore gives rise to a debate between the CENI and the CENCO-ECC, as well as political actors. While the CENI defends its decision not to physically display the lists, the CENCO-ECC and certain political parties insist on the importance of this measure to ensure transparency and confidence in the electoral process. It is now up to the CENI to take these recommendations into account and find a balance between ease of access to the lists and transparency of the electoral process.