Doctor Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize winner and international figure committed to women’s health, finds himself at the heart of a controversy concerning his participation in the legislative elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Its political grouping, the Alliance of Congolese for the Refoundation of Nation (ACRN), failed to present a sufficient number of candidates for national deputy, and thus did not reach the admissibility threshold set by the Commission. Independent National Electoral (CENI).
However, surprisingly, the Constitutional Court ordered the CENI to reinstate the ACRN among the entities having reached the admissibility threshold and to receive the list of deputies proposed by the grouping for the legislative elections. This decision raises legitimate questions about the motivations of the Constitutional Court and the possible political arrangements behind the scenes.
Some interpreted this ruling as an attempt to compensate for possible political maneuvers that blocked certain ACRN candidates. However, this explanation is called into question by the fact that the number of ACRN candidates has not increased significantly since the Constitutional Court ruling. It still remains below the admissibility threshold set by the CENI.
This rehabilitation of the ACRN by the Constitutional Court thus raises numerous questions. Was there a pre-established agreement between external forces and Denis Mukwege to propel him to power? Is the Constitutional Court ready to impose a false result on the CENI during the December 2023 elections to favor the candidacy of Denis Mukwege? Were the members of the Constitutional Court financially motivated or did they receive promises of positions in the event of Denis Mukwege’s victory?
Furthermore, the ACRN’s low results in terms of candidacies question Denis Mukwege’s ability to bring people together beyond his fight for women’s rights and highlight the lack of political organization of his grouping. This calls into question the relevance of his candidacy and the preparation of his team for the elections.
In conclusion, the decision of the Constitutional Court to reinstate the ACRN in the legislative elections raises doubts about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process in the DRC. It is crucial to closely monitor developments in this situation to ensure the legitimacy and legality of the upcoming elections.