During the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo, trust between the different stakeholders is often undermined. With presidential elections scheduled for December 20, it is essential to establish monitoring and observation mechanisms to guarantee the authenticity of the results. In this context, Delly Sesanga, one of the presidential candidates, expressed his distrust of official bodies and declared that he only trusted the results given by the Catholic and Protestant churches.
In a recent interview with Jeune Afrique, Delly Sesanga said: “We will not wait for the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) or the Constitutional Court to proclaim the results because they will be forced to follow the pattern of fraud in which they are involved. We are counting on electoral observation and the involvement of the Catholic and Protestant churches to obtain a parallel count of votes. These are the results in which we will place our confidence, even if they designate Félix Tshisekedi as the winner.”
This statement highlights the lack of mutual trust between political actors and the official institutions responsible for organizing the elections. Delly Sesanga believes that churches, because of their credibility and independence, are the only entities capable of providing reliable and transparent results.
At the same time, the CENI is striving to put in place a new code of conduct in collaboration with the various electoral observation organizations. The president of the CENI deplored the fact that observer reports often focus on problems and weaknesses, without highlighting the positive aspects. He said: “It seems that observers almost delight in announcing what doesn’t work, without highlighting what does work.”
Distrust and the need for increased monitoring during elections in the DRC highlight the importance of having independent and credible mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The Catholic and Protestant churches, as respected and valued institutions in the country, can play a crucial role in providing reliable results and contributing to citizen confidence in the democratic process.
It is essential that elections in the DRC are transparent and credible to preserve the peace and stability of the country. The electoral results must be accepted by all political actors and the population in order to avoid post-electoral tensions and conflicts.
In conclusion, trust between stakeholders in the electoral process in the DRC is fragile. Delly Sesanga expresses distrust of official bodies and places trust in the Catholic and Protestant churches to provide reliable results. The establishment of a new code of conduct by the CENI and the active participation of electoral observation organizations are crucial measures to guarantee the integrity of the electoral process and strengthen citizens’ confidence in democracy.