The general elections of December 20 in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been at the center of all concerns in recent months. In its preliminary report, the MOE CENCO-ECC highlights the challenges that the Independent National Electoral Commission had to face in the organization of these elections.
In accordance with article 211 of the Constitution, the CENI carried out the identification and registration operations of voters to establish the electoral list. Despite logistical and financial constraints, these operations were completed in just four months, an improvement over previous election administrations.
However, the preliminary report raises concerns about compliance with the electoral calendar. According to the electoral law, the provisional electoral list was to be published between May 22 and September 18, 2023. However, the MOE CENCO-ECC indicates that the CENI did not respect its own schedule and did not publish the final list voters on time. Furthermore, the display of this list in polling stations was not systematic.
The preliminary report also highlights delays in the publication of the mapping of polling stations. Although the mapping was made available on the CENI website, important information was missing, such as the number of centers and polling stations to be deployed. This created uncertainty about the number of polling stations and made it difficult to plan and organize the electoral process.
Despite these challenges, the Democratic Republic of Congo managed to organize these elections, thanks to the logistical support of the Egyptian armed forces, the FARDC and MONUSCO. The victory of Félix Tshisekedi with 77.35% of the votes during the partial publication of the results sparked controversy. The opposition, notably Martin Fayulu and Moïse Katumbi, contest these results, alleging distortions between the results and the reality observed on the ground.
In this context, CRONGD’s call for appeasement for election results without violence takes on its full meaning. It is essential that all political actors work together to guarantee the transparency and integrity of the electoral process and respect the will of the Congolese people.
These general elections were crucial for the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has just reached a new stage in its democratic process. It is now essential to take steps to strengthen citizens’ confidence in the electoral system and ensure free and fair elections in the future.
The coming months will be decisive for the continuation of the political development of the country. It is essential that all stakeholders, including the CENI, the opposition, civil society and the population, work together to consolidate democratic gains and build a better future for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The vigilance and commitment of all are necessary to guarantee respect for the will of the people and the advent of true democracy in the country.