Fatshimetrie recently released the first trends in the results of the national and provincial legislative elections that took place in the electoral districts of Yakoma in Nord-Ubangi and Masi-Manimba in Kwilu. This announcement sparked strong reactions and many questions about the credibility and transparency of these elections.
In the Yakoma constituency, 81 candidates competed for 2 seats in the national assembly and 240 candidates for 4 seats in the provincial assembly. In Masi-Manimba, the number of candidates was even higher, with 302 candidates for 5 seats in the national assembly and more than 500 candidates for 8 seats in the provincial assembly. These figures highlight the major challenge that these elections represent for political representation in these regions.
However, these elections did not go smoothly, as evidenced by the cancellation of the December 20, 2023 elections in these two constituencies, following major irregularities including proven fraud. This reminder of the situation raises questions about the legitimacy of the current results and highlights the challenges facing the bodies in charge of organizing elections in the DRC.
To better understand these issues, experts were invited to give their analysis of the situation. Osée Nkui, Director of Operations at CENI, Mayi Kingansi, lawyer and coordinator of the New Congolese Civil Society of the Masi-Manimba territory, as well as Luc Lutala, national coordinator of SYMOCEL, provided their insights on the issue.
It is essential to remain vigilant regarding the transparency and integrity of electoral processes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in order to guarantee the legitimacy of elected representatives and to preserve the confidence of citizens in the country’s democratic institutions.