Yakoma territory, located in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is in turmoil ahead of the national and provincial legislative elections. Local authorities assure that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the security of the poll, despite the particular situation of the border with the Central African Republic (CAR).
The provincial Minister of the Interior, Didier Alawe, during his visit to Yakoma, stressed the importance of securing the elections in this region. He recalled that the closure of borders during elections is a traditional measure aimed at ensuring the smooth running of the electoral process. However, the decision to close them is the responsibility of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM). Pending a possible closure of the border, the Minister insisted on the establishment of security measures to ensure the smooth running of the vote.
One of the main concerns concerns the irregular crossings of Central African nationals at the Limasa border. Some candidates have expressed concerns about the possible involvement of these foreigners in fraudulent electoral activities. However, Minister Alawe stressed that Central African nationals do not have DRC voter cards, making it impossible for them to participate in the elections.
These issues echo the tensions that surrounded the December 2023 elections, where allegations of Central African participation in the vote led to the cancellation of the results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). Despite these controversial backgrounds, the authorities are calling for calm and citizen mobilization to ensure the integrity of the December 15 poll in Yakoma.
In this tense electoral context, the population is invited to exercise their right to vote in accordance with the electoral rules and procedures in place. The transparency and security of the electoral process are major issues for consolidating democracy and guaranteeing the legitimacy of the institutions resulting from the ballot boxes. Everyone’s vigilance is required to preserve the integrity of democracy and ensure the representativeness of elected officials in a climate of trust and serenity.