The electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) raises many concerns about its conduct and transparency. Several electoral observation reports, both domestic and foreign, report numerous irregularities which marred the conduct of the elections. These irregularities include the late deployment of equipment to polling stations, acts of violence in certain centers, as well as problems related to the operation of Electronic Voting Devices (Dev).
These problems sparked strong criticism from candidates and the public. Martin Fayulu, presidential candidate, claims that these irregularities could have been avoided if the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni) had agreed to postpone the date of the elections by 7 to 10 additional days. According to him, this would have helped resolve logistical problems and ensure the transparency of the electoral process.
Catherine Samba-Panza, head of mission of the international election observation mission, also stressed that the postponement could have avoided the logistical difficulties that the country faced. She believes that this shift should have been planned in advance to allow for better organization.
Faced with these irregularities, certain candidates do not exclude the possibility of requesting the cancellation and reorganization of the elections. Martin Fayulu is even considering joining forces with the camp of Moïse Katumbi, another presidential candidate, to put forward this request.
It is undeniable that the smooth running of elections is crucial for democracy in the DRC. It is therefore essential that the competent authorities take the necessary measures to guarantee the transparency and integrity of the electoral process. The population’s trust in democratic institutions depends on it.
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