Fatshimetry, August 27, 2024 – An electoral observation mission has looked at the December 2023 elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and presented its recommendations to strengthen the confidence of all parties involved in the electoral process.
Luc Lutala, coordinator of the Synergy of Citizen Election Observation Missions (Symocel), stressed the importance of implementing consensual reforms to ensure the transparency and fairness of elections. According to him, the trust of stakeholders is essential to guarantee the integrity of the electoral process.
Symocel identified 70 salient facts related to the different phases of the elections, also highlighting 903 incidents that occurred before, during and after the polls. These incidents mainly involved voters, CENI agents and candidates, highlighting the challenges facing democracy in the DRC.
The organization urgently called for an inclusive and participatory assessment of the electoral process, stressing the need for an objective and courageous approach to strengthen the credibility of the upcoming elections.
Addressing the President of the Republic, Symocel stressed that its responsibility as guarantor of the constitution was crucial to support democracy in the DRC. The main recommendation was to drive a new democratic momentum in the country, by committing to promote essential electoral reforms.
This electoral observation mission positioned itself as a key actor in promoting transparency and trust in the electoral process in the DRC, stressing the importance of strengthening institutions and ensuring free and fair elections.
In conclusion, Symocel called for concrete actions to consolidate democracy in the DRC, emphasizing the importance of trust, transparency and integrity in the electoral process. These recommendations represent a call to action for all stakeholders to build a strong and inclusive democratic future for the DRC.