The article on political news in the DRC talks about provincial deputies elected in several regions of the country. Among the 39 candidates declared provisionally elected, there are 13 former deputies reappointed, including Provincial Governor Willy Itsundala in Idiofa and President of the Provincial Assembly Serge Makongo in Kikwit. These renewals raise questions about the desire for political renewal within provincial institutions.
In Idiofa, six former deputies were reappointed among the nine declared provisionally elected. Governor Willy Itsundala as well as deputies Mutuy Bena, Bonaventure Kipalamoto, Claude Kumpel, Égide Wawende and Arthur Laku thus keep their seats. This concentration of power in the hands of the same political actors raises questions about the need for greater diversity and representativeness of elected officials.
Likewise, in Kikwit, we find the president and vice-president of the Provincial Assembly, Serge Makongo and Paulin Kiyankay, both re-elected. Only Rombeau Fumani was returned to Gungu territory. This trend towards the reappointment of former deputies highlights the question of the sustainability of power and the difficulty of access for new political actors.
It is also important to note that only one woman was elected among the 39 candidates declared provisionally elected, in the territory of Bulungu. The elections were also canceled in Masimanimba due to several irregularities, ranging from fraud to violence against agents of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). This situation highlights the need to further promote the participation of women in political life as well as to ensure a transparent and fair electoral process.
It is interesting to follow the evolution of the political situation in the DRC and to see if these renewals will give rise to debates on the representativeness and renewal of provincial elected officials. Greater diversity and better representation of the entire population could help strengthen the legitimacy of provincial institutions and foster real political dynamism within the country.