Title: Martin Fayulu’s commitment to electoral transparency in DR Congo
Introduction :
The political landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been in turmoil since the announcement of the candidacy of the national president of the political party Engagement for Citizenship and Development (ECiDé), Martin Fayulu, for the presidential election in December 2023. This unexpected decision comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) refused to take into account the files of the national deputy candidates and provincial deputies of Fayulu’s party. In this article, we will return to the motivations for this candidacy and Martin Fayulu’s commitment to electoral transparency in DR Congo.
The fight for electoral transparency:
Since his second place in the 2018 presidential election, Martin Fayulu has continued to denounce the lack of transparency of the electoral process in DR Congo. His political party then boycotted the legislative and provincial elections to protest against the electoral register which it considered rigged. According to Fayulu, there are more than 10 million fictitious voters out of the 43.9 million registered voters.
Faced with the CENI’s refusal to accept the files of its deputy candidates, Martin Fayulu decided to run again in the presidential election to raise demands for transparency and inclusion in the electoral process. He believes that election monitoring will be the way to ensure transparency and guarantee fair and equitable elections in DR Congo.
International involvement:
Martin Fayulu is not alone in his fight for electoral transparency. He requested the involvement of the Presidents of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) and the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, in order to bring together all Congolese stakeholders and find solutions to improve the electoral process in DR Congo.
He thus wishes to set up audits of the electoral register and agree on the rules of the electoral game in order to guarantee free and democratic elections. This approach demonstrates the importance that Martin Fayulu attaches to international collaboration for the consolidation of democracy in DR Congo.
Conclusion :
The unexpected candidacy of Martin Fayulu in the presidential election of December 2023 marks a turning point in his political position. His commitment to electoral transparency and his refusal to compromise on the integrity of the electoral process in DR Congo are at the heart of his decision. By seeking international support, Fayulu hopes to put in place the necessary measures to guarantee fair and equitable elections, and thus allow the Congolese people to fully exercise their right to vote.