Article: Press review for this Friday, December 29, 2023
The report from the MOE CENCO-ECC on the vote of December 20, as well as the publication of the partial results of these ballots by the CENI, made the headlines of the newspapers published this Friday, December 29 in Kinshasa.
In their preliminary statement, the MOE CENCO-ECC welcomes the efforts made by the CENI and the Congolese government for the holding of the combined elections of December 20, 2023. The observation mission also notes the determination of the voters, despite the various incidents observed in polling centers and stations.
La Tempête des Tropiques reports that the vote count carried out by the MOE CENCO-ECC is the same as that announced by the CENI. According to the daily, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo stood out from the other candidates, with more than half of the votes cast, making him the main challenger to Moïse Katumbi Chapwe.
However, CENCO and ECC highlight the acceptability of the election results and underline the responsibility of the CENI, the Constitutional Court and the courts and tribunals to guarantee the transparency of the electoral process.
The question of irregularities observed during the elections is also raised. The Electoral Commission held a plenary session to examine these irregularities, in order to formally note the facts, establish responsibilities and take sanctions if necessary. Parts of the electoral process could be targeted by these sanctions, or even the cancellation of the vote in certain constituencies.
However, some observers remain skeptical about the objectivity of this approach, considering it as a diversion in the face of numerous denunciations of fraud. They believe that this aims to whitewash the electoral process and prepare public opinion to accept the provisional results which must be published on December 31.
At the same time, the Congolese Press Agency (ACP) reports that during the sixth day of publication of partial results, the presidential candidate Félix Tshisekedi is at the top of the list with 76.04% of the votes cast, followed by Katumbi with 16.57 % and Fayulu with 4.46%.
This high score for candidate number 20 is explained by his territorial development program, which attracted the support of voters across the country.
In conclusion, the analysis of the MOE CENCO-ECC report highlights the performance of Félix Tshisekedi in these presidential elections, while highlighting the challenges and concerns linked to the irregularities observed. The publication of partial results by the CENI continues to raise questions, and it is up to the institutions concerned to guarantee the transparency and acceptability of the final results. The continuation of the electoral process therefore remains a major challenge for the political and democratic stability of the DRC.