The presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo, scheduled for December 2023, raises many expectations and concerns. Among the points of discussion is notably the contradictory debate between the candidates. While the Constitution provided for two-round elections with a mandatory debate in the second round, the question of the debate between the 26 candidates in the running arises.
The Higher Council for Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), in charge of regulating the media and ensuring fairness and transparency in the electoral campaign, raised the possibility of a debate in a different form. CSAC president Christian Bosembe explained that organizing a debate with so many candidates would be difficult due to the high number of participants and lack of time. He suggested setting up a question-and-answer game between the candidates and 12 leading journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, this proposal sparks controversy among the candidates themselves. Seth Kikuni, one of the candidates in the presidential election, contests this idea by asserting that the only acceptable debate must be between himself and each other candidate, in particular the main opponent, Félix Tshisekedi. He also expresses his intention to hold debates on the private television channels which will host them.
The electoral campaign, which will begin on November 19, will therefore be the scene of debates and exchanges between the candidates. It remains to be seen how the issue of adversarial debate will be resolved and whether the candidates will manage to express their ideas and visions in a fair and transparent framework.
As Congolese voters prepare to exercise their right to vote on December 20, 2023, the stakes of this presidential election are considerable for the political and socio-economic future of the country. The results of this election will determine the next head of state and will have a major impact on the political direction of the country for years to come. It is therefore essential to guarantee free, fair and transparent elections, in order to allow the Congolese to choose their leaders with complete confidence and to build a better future for their country.