Title: Moïse Katumbi: A candidacy file for the presidential election in the DRC which sparks controversy
Introduction :
The candidacy of Moïse Katumbi for the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to make headlines. The candidacy file submitted by the team of the former governor of Katanga to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) was rejected, thus sparking controversy. Indeed, the CENI required the presentation of the originals of the supporting documents, while the Katumbi team had presented certified copies. In this article, we return to the details of this situation which raises questions about the transparency of the electoral process in the DRC.
The CENI’s refusal and the missing documents:
When Moses Katumbi’s application was submitted, his team presented itself with photocopies of the supporting documents. However, the CENI required the presentation of originals to proceed with their authentication. Among the missing original documents, there was in particular the extract from the criminal record and the certificate of nationality. According to those close to Moïse Katumbi, these documents will be provided later and the complete file will be submitted the next day.
The position of the Katumbi team:
Faced with this refusal from the CENI, Moïse Katumbi’s team declared that it did not want to argue about this situation. Hervé Diakese, a member of the campaign team, affirmed that submitting the originals posed no problem and that it was simply an administrative formality to complete. He assured that the complete file would be filed within the allotted time frame, without major legal consequences.
Compliance of the procedure:
It is important to emphasize that this CENI requirement regarding the presentation of original supporting documents is in accordance with the electoral legislation in force in the DRC. All applications are treated in the same way and must respect the conditions set by the CENI. Thus, the rejection of Moïse Katumbi’s candidacy file does not seem to be motivated by political reasons, but rather by respect for the rules established to ensure the transparency of the electoral process.
Conclusion :
The controversy surrounding the rejection of Moïse Katumbi’s candidacy for the presidential election in the DRC highlights the challenges and issues of the electoral process in the country. If Katumbi’s team assures that it will provide the missing documents and submit the complete file, it remains to be seen how this situation will be managed and what impact it will have on Moïse Katumbi’s candidacy. In the meantime, it is essential that the electoral process is conducted in a transparent and fair manner, thus guaranteeing the legitimacy of the results and the confidence of Congolese citizens in the democratic system.