The Forum of Parliaments of Member Countries of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) has just published its preliminary report on the observations of its observation mission of the general elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mission, responsible for observing the conduct of the vote in the provincial city of Kinshasa, noted several important findings in its report.
First of all, the mission noted the delay in the opening of polling stations, mainly due to the late delivery of electoral kits and technical problems linked to voting machines. This created tension among voters, but the voting process ultimately took place in a calm and orderly manner.
The mission also highlighted some areas for necessary improvement. First of all, the layout of the polling stations was considered satisfactory, but some small premises could not be used, which caused space problems. In addition, the majority of voters did not have a good understanding of the operation of the voting machines, which lengthened the voting time and compromised the secrecy of the ballot. In addition, the mission noted flaws in the display of electoral lists outside polling stations, complicating the precise identification of the polling station for certain voters.
Despite these concerns, the mission welcomed the closing of polling stations in the presence of agents and observers from political parties, demonstrating a good understanding of the procedures by electoral staff.
This preliminary report is intended to be followed by a more detailed report including recommendations for future elections. This document will be transmitted to the member parliaments of the FP-ICGLR as well as to other ICGLR bodies and appropriate bodies.
The ICGLR Forum of Parliaments, made up of 12 member states including the DRC, has a mandate to promote democracy and human rights in the Great Lakes region. The FP-ICGLR electoral observation mission plays an important role in ensuring fair and transparent electoral processes.
In conclusion, the preliminary report of the election observation mission in DR Congo highlights both the positive aspects and areas of concern of the electoral process. This will help identify efforts needed to improve future elections and ensure strong democracy in the country.