Fatshimetrie, September 16, 2024 – During a conference organized in Kinshasa by the Yali Rlc East Africa Alumni Chapter, a detailed explanation of the role of municipal councilors was offered to citizens as part of the celebration of World Democracy Day.
The objective was to allow municipal elected officials, also known as municipal councilors, to get in touch with their fellow citizens, to explain their function and activity within the Plenary Assembly of the commune. Mr. Trésor Kalonji, President of the Yali Rlc East Africa Alumni Chapter, stressed the importance for urban centers to have well-informed local elected officials, capable of responding to the needs of the populations in a transparent and participatory manner.
As decentralized territorial entities, municipalities have management autonomy that allows them to intervene directly in many aspects of the lives of their citizens. Municipal councils are therefore privileged places to meet the expectations of residents. A decentralization expert enlightened the audience on the 2008 organic law governing the organization and operation of decentralized territorial entities, as well as on their relations with state and provincial institutions.
As members of the deliberative body of the municipality, municipal councilors play a crucial role in decision-making. They are responsible for reporting the needs and concerns of citizens to the municipal executive, which will be responsible for implementing appropriate solutions. However, it is essential that the population actively participates and regularly dialogues with its local elected officials to ensure the transparency and effectiveness of their action.
In addition, the Yali Rlc East Africa chapter, in partnership with the United States Embassy in Kinshasa, launched a post-election program called “American Post Electoral Programming”. This program aims to involve municipal councilors and young civil society actors in the co-creation of public policies, thus promoting more participatory and inclusive local governance. The United States Ambassador will formalize this program next November, during a presentation event.
The celebration of World Democracy Day is an opportunity to recall the importance of citizen participation and the commitment of local elected officials in building a democratic and transparent environment. This annual event invites reflection on the challenges of local governance and the responsibility of political actors towards their fellow citizens.