Management of funds linked to the organization of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo: towards greater transparency
Congo is not for sale (CNPAV), an organization committed to promoting transparency and good governance, recently expressed concerns regarding the opacity surrounding the management of funds linked to the organization of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This revelation follows the publication of the 2022 financial report of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), which raises questions about the transparency of its financial operations.
According to the CNPAV, it is particularly worrying to note that, just three months before the elections, the CENI has still not developed a global budget for the entire electoral process. Instead, it is content with annual budgets provided for in the financial laws of 2022 and 2023. This situation makes citizen control difficult and compromises transparency and accountability in the management of financial resources intended for elections.
The CENI financial report also attracts criticism for the lack of disaggregation of information, which complicates the monitoring of financial operations. Important elements, such as the accounting and financial inventory, the cash position and the account balance as of January 1, 2023, are absent from the report. This opacity prevents the Congolese public from having a clear and detailed vision of the CENI’s operations, which goes against the principles of transparency and publicity provided for by law.
For the sake of transparency and accountability, the CNPAV asks the CENI to develop an overall budget for the electoral process and to publish detailed reports of the financial operations carried out since 2022. This would allow the population to exercise citizen monitoring and allow also for control bodies, such as Parliament and the Court of Auditors, to carry out in-depth audits within the CENI.
It is crucial to emphasize that the lack of clarity in the management of electoral operations is not only detrimental to transparency and good governance, but can also create tensions between the CENI and the Ministry of Finance. By ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of electoral funds, it is possible to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and promote more active citizen participation.
It is essential that the government, in particular the CENI, takes immediate measures to remedy this situation and ensure transparent and accountable management of funds linked to the organization of elections. Transparency and accountability are essential pillars of democracy and must be respected at all levels of the electoral process. By providing detailed information, respecting public procurement procedures and allowing effective citizen control, the CENI can contribute to the construction of a solid and equitable democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In conclusion, it is imperative that the management of funds linked to the organization of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo be transparent and accountable. The publication of the CENI’s 2022 financial report highlighted gaps in transparency and disaggregation of information, which undermines public trust and the credibility of the electoral process. It is time for concrete measures to be taken to remedy this situation and guarantee transparent electoral management that respects standards of good governance.