Security and electoral issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to attract the attention of the international community. In a recent statement, the European Union (EU) calls for the holding of fully inclusive, free, transparent and peaceful elections to consolidate democracy and stability in the country.
The EU statement stresses the importance of ensuring the full integrity of the electoral process, emphasizing freedom of expression, of the media, of assembly, of association and of movement. It also condemns any excessive or disproportionate use of force in response to peaceful protests or arbitrary detentions.
This EU stance echoes the violent crackdowns on opposition protests in the DRC, as well as the arrests and detentions of politicians, civil society activists, journalists and lawyers. These repressive actions have been widely criticized by the Congolese opposition, which denounces serious human rights violations and restrictions on citizens’ freedoms.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) is also mentioned in the EU statement, and all stakeholders are called upon to work together to respond to the criticisms and concerns expressed. Despite persistent disagreements, the electoral process continues in the DRC, with the opening of offices for the reception and processing of applications (BRTC) for the national legislative elections.
With this in mind, the CENI has begun consultations with the various stakeholders in the elections, including the political opposition. Discussions were held with opposition leaders, addressing issues such as the electoral law, the composition of the CENI and the reliability of the electoral register.
However, points of disagreement remain, particularly concerning the external audit of the electoral register, an important requirement of the opposition to guarantee the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
The CENI also plans to meet former President of the Republic Joseph Kabila as part of these consultations. The objective is to find common ground and achieve credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections next December.
In conclusion, security and electoral issues in the DRC continue to raise concerns at the international level. The EU, in its statement, calls for fully inclusive, free, transparent and peaceful elections, while stressing the importance of ensuring the full integrity of the electoral process