The presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which took place on December 20 sparked strong reactions and tensions in the country. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) continues to publish results trends, many calls for restraint are being made to the Congolese people.
In a press release published on December 25, the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) called on the population and stakeholders in the elections to exercise restraint and avoid any hate speech, division or violence . She also encouraged political parties to express their demands and protests peacefully, using legal channels.
This message of restraint and caution is widely relayed at a time when many opposition voices are calling on the people to mobilize to contest the electoral process and demand a reorganization of the elections.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, also urged the population to exercise caution in a message broadcast on the occasion of the Christmas holiday. He stressed the importance of awaiting the reports of the various observation missions, in particular those of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) and the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC), to assess the impact on the credibility of the elections.
These calls for restraint and caution reflect fears of escalating violence and tensions that could result from a contested electoral process. ECCAS expresses its solidarity with the Congolese people and their leaders, and underlines the importance of preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC.
It is essential, in such a delicate period, to favor legal and peaceful channels to express demands and protests. The stability of the country and respect for the electoral results depend on it.
In conclusion, calls for restraint and caution are increasing in the Democratic Republic of Congo during this post-electoral period. It is crucial that all political actors and the population as a whole demonstrate calm and respect for legal procedures to resolve potential electoral disputes and preserve the stability of the country.