News of January 3, 2024: Press review
The newspapers of this Wednesday, January 3, 2024 look back on the progress of the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the referral to the Constitutional Court for the results of the presidential election and the awaiting results of the national and provincial legislative elections.
According to La Tempête des Tropiques, the protesting candidates have until Wednesday to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court and file their complaints concerning the provisional results of the presidential election published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). However, no electoral disputes have been recorded so far. Some unsuccessful candidates question the results proclaimed by Denis Kadima, which give victory to Félix – Antoine Tshisekedi with 73.34% of the votes. They are demanding new elections with another Independent Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Court. However, this approach is controversial, because it is outside the provisions of the electoral law.
La Tempête des Tropiques underlines that the law provides for a period of two working days to file all irregularities with the Constitutional Court, in order to avoid a vacuum of presidential power. The Court must then rule within seven days from January 5. Candidates Moïse Katumbi, Martin Fayulu and Denis Mukwege have already rejected this referral of provisional results.
Furthermore, La Prospérité reports that the CENI postponed the publication of the results of the elections for national and provincial deputies. This postponement is justified by the fact that the compilation of the results of the national and provincial legislative elections is underway, as well as that of municipal councilors. Elections for senators, governors and vice governors, originally scheduled for January 1, have also been postponed indefinitely. The CENI calls for everyone’s patience in the face of this readjustment of the calendar.
In a briefing, government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya welcomed the holding of free, democratic, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections, despite the logistical challenges encountered. He stressed that the 2023 electoral process differs from previous ones by its transparency and the communication of results polling station by polling station. He also noted a positive evolution in the narrative, with an absence of tensions, Internet shutdowns and house arrest.
While awaiting the publication of the final results by the Constitutional Court, Patrick Muyaya underlined the importance of consolidating the achievements for the development of the DRC and the consolidation of democracy.
To find out more about the news, here are some articles already published on our blog:
1. “Growing inflation in the Comoros: citizens expect concrete solutions from candidates to improve their purchasing power”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2024/01/03/inflation-croissante -in-comoros-citizens-wait-from-candidates-concrete-solutions-to-improve-their-purchasing-power/)
2. “Mouigni Baraka Said Soilihi: a candidate for a constitutional and economic revolution in the Comoros”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2024/01/03/mouigni-baraka-said- soilihi-a-candidate-for-a-constitutional-and-economic-revolution-in-comoros/)
3. “Tony Cassius Bolamba calls for the union of presidential candidates in the DRC to face the security deterioration in the east of the country”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2024 /01/03/tony-cassius-bolamba-calls-for-the-union-of-presidential-candidates-in-the-DRC-to-face-the-security-deterioration-in-the-east-of-the-country/)
4. “Catastrophe in Mbandaka: unprecedented floods plunge the city into despair”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2024/01/03/catastrophe-a-mbandaka-les -unprecedented-floods-plunge-the-city-into-despair/)
5. “The agreement with Somaliland: a new opportunity for Ethiopia to access the sea via the port of Berbera”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2024/ 01/03/the-agreement-with-somaliland-a-new-opportunity-for-ethiopia-to-access-the-sea-via-the-port-of-berbera/)
6. “Joëlle Bile Batali welcomes the re-election of Félix Tshisekedi and calls for the consolidation of achievements for the development of the DRC”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2024/01/03 /joelle-bile-batali-welcomes-the-re-election-of-felix-tshisekedi-and-calls-for-the-consolidation-of-achievements-for-the-development-of-the-drc/)
7. “Guinea in the grip of a serious fuel shortage: the economy and purchasing power hit hard”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2024/01/03 /guinea-in-the-prey-of-a-severe-fuel-shortage-the-economy-and-purchasing-power-hard-hit/)
8. “The ambassador of the European Union to the DRC presents his credentials: one more step towards reinforced cooperation”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2024/01 /03/the-ambassador-of-the-european-union-to-the-drc-presents-his-letters-of-credence-one-further-step-towards-strengthened-cooperation/)
9. “A tragedy in the middle of New Year’s Eve: 6 dead following shooting by a member of the CODECO militia in a state of intoxication”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog /2024/01/03/a-tragedy-in-the-mid-new-year-eve-6-dead-following-shots-from-a-member-of-the-militia-codeco-in-state -debrief/)
10. “Re-election of Félix Tshisekedi in the DRC: a strong signal for the consolidation of democracy and human rights”: [Link to the article](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2024/01/03/reelection-de-felix-tshisekedi-en-rdc-un-signal-fort-pour-la-consolidation-de-la-democratie-et-des-droits-ombres/)
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