Images from early electoral campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The electoral campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo has already launched, well before the official date set by the electoral law. This political indiscipline was pointed out by Christian Bosembe, the president of the Superior Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC). In an interview with TOP CONGO FM, he denounced the non-compliance with laws and standards by Congolese politicians. According to him, this indiscipline harms the regulation of the communication sector.
Bosembe explains that the CSAC has the power to recommend sanctions, such as embargoing a candidate who violates the electoral law. However, he does not have the power to execute these decisions. It must rely on other bodies, such as RENATELSAT or BLUESAT, to implement its recommendations. Unfortunately, when these bodies do not cooperate, the CSAC finds itself powerless.
Another problem raised by Bosembe concerns campaign posters plastered in the streets of Kinshasa. The CSAC made recommendations to remove them, deeming them a form of early election campaigning. However, these recommendations are not taken into account by Kinshasa City Hall.
Faced with these problems, Bosembe announces the intention of the CSAC to initiate reforms and request a strengthening of its executive powers. He believes that the success of their work depends on the cooperation of other bodies. In the context of the 2024 elections, he hopes that solutions will be found to improve the effectiveness of the CSAC.
In conclusion, the early electoral campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo poses regulatory challenges. Congolese politicians are accused of indiscipline and not respecting electoral laws, which complicates the work of the CSAC. Reforms are needed to strengthen the powers of the CSAC and ensure more effective regulation of the communications sector during electoral periods.