The elections scheduled for December 20, 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo are causing serious concern within civil society. According to the National Coordination of Civil Society Forces vives of the DRC, these elections could be more of a source of chaos than a solution for the country. In a press release, civil society highlights the many reasons for frustration which, according to it, make the organization of elections almost impossible in the current context.
Among these reasons, we find in particular the rushed adoption of the organic law of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), the fraudulent designation of the president of the CENI in violation of the organic law, the non-consensual adoption of the electoral law, as well as problems linked to the quality of the registration kits, the monetary value of the registration and the absence of an electoral file audited and accepted by all stakeholders.
Civil society also denounces the opacity in the management of electoral budgets and the refusal to display voter lists by polling station. Faced with these findings, it warns against a possible parody of elections and reserves the right to mobilize the population to openly contest the results.
For civil society, the president of the CENI, Denis Kadima, could prove even more problematic than his predecessor, Corneille Nangaa, and endanger the democratic gains obtained at the cost of considerable sacrifices. She also points out the persistent support of certain international organizations for an electoral process described as poorly underway, without understanding the real motivations.
Despite these concerns, civil society welcomes the presence of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission seeking to discuss electoral issues with political stakeholders. She expresses the hope that the demands of the opposition and civil society will be heard and that peace and the future of the Congolese nation will be preserved.
In conclusion, the situation surrounding the elections scheduled for December 2023 in the DRC raises serious concerns within civil society. The multiple dysfunctions and accumulated frustrations fuel fears of a problematic electoral process. The need to guarantee transparent and democratic elections remains a major challenge to ensure the future of the country and the sub-region.