Fatshimetry: a look at the election of the final office of the National Assembly in the DRC
In the tumultuous political panorama of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the election of the final office of the National Assembly recently crystallized tensions within the parliamentary majority, sparking debates and controversies regarding the transparency and fairness of the process. electoral. The recent report from the Synergy of Citizen Observation Missions for Elections in the DRC (Symocel) raises burning questions about the legitimacy and democracy of this election.
When the Provisional Office postponed the establishment of the definitive Office until May 22, 2024, following months of tensions and internal struggles within the Sacred Union of the Nation (USN), observers were able to note a glaring lack transparency, equal opportunities and impartiality in the electoral process. Criticisms are rife regarding the influence of the president of the Provisional Bureau of the National Assembly and the lack of consensus within the USN on the candidates to support.
According to Symocel, the election of the final Bureau should have constituted a fundamental pillar of the demonstration of the democratic process in the DRC. However, the report highlights a bitter taste left by this election, described as a “democratic non-event” due to its lack of real competitiveness, the imposition of candidates and the absence of concrete programs. For a civil society organization advocating transparency and democracy, these failings highlight deep gaps in the Congolese electoral system.
Despite these harsh criticisms, the final office was finally installed, with Vital Kamerhe at its head, under the watchful eyes of public opinion and international observers. Tensions within the parliamentary majority did not fail to cause turmoil, until the intervention of President Félix Tshisekedi to try to restore calm and reconcile the divergent interests within the USN.
Ultimately, the election of the final office of the National Assembly in the DRC illustrates the persistent challenges facing the country in its quest for political stability and democracy. The lessons learned from this eventful electoral process can only encourage deep reflection on the reforms necessary to strengthen democratic institutions and guarantee a more serene future for the Congolese nation.
Fatshimetry will continue to carefully observe political developments in the DRC, in the hope that today’s trials can lay the foundations of a truly inclusive and transparent democracy for future generations.