The provincial elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2021 recently revealed the names of the 688 people provisionally elected provincial deputies out of the 780 expected. These results were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), which also reported a total of 17,960,910 valid votes cast nationally, with a representativeness threshold set at 3% in each province.
However, it is important to note that some constituencies have not been included in this publication. These include territories under M23 control as well as regions facing the Mobondo militia, including Masisi, Rutshuru and Kwamouth 2. In addition, the results of the electoral constituencies of Masimanimba in Kwilu province and Yakoma in the North -Ubangi were not disclosed due to investigations into problems that arose during voting day.
The CENI’s decision was read by Patricia Nseya, Rapporteur of the organization, who also announced that the ad hoc Commission will continue to register denunciations linked to acts of vandalism, illegal possession of electronic voting devices as well as violence exerted on voters and CENI staff. Strict sanctions will be taken against any candidate or CENI agent involved in such reprehensible acts.
These results of the provincial elections in the DRC are crucial for the country, because they will determine the composition of the provincial assemblies and will have a direct impact on regional governance. They also represent an important step in the democratic process underway in the country.
In a country where nearly 40,000 candidates had submitted their candidacy for these elections, the provisional results are arousing interest and sparking debate among the Congolese population. It is essential that elections are conducted transparently and that the results truly reflect the will of the people.
It should be emphasized that these provisional results are not definitive and may be subject to challenge and additional verification. It is therefore essential to guarantee the integrity of the electoral process by paying particular attention to possible incidents or irregularities.
We will closely monitor developments and provide updates on the final results of the provincial elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This will have a significant impact on the governance and development of the country, and it is crucial that these stages of the democratic process are carried out in a fair, transparent and peaceful manner.