Title: The presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo: mobilization and transparency at the heart of the issues
Introduction :
The presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo raise many expectations and questions. As the date of December 20, 2023 approaches, opposition parties are mobilizing to guarantee the transparency of the electoral process. Maître Carlos Mupili, head of the electoral clinic of the Christian Dynamics for the Defense of Rights and the Environment (DCDHE), calls for the mobilization of 100,000 witnesses to cover all polling and counting stations. The objective is clear: to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to publish results consistent with the data listed by the witnesses. In this article, we will explore the Congolese opposition’s efforts to promote electoral transparency and ensure the smooth running of the 2023 presidential elections.
1. Mobilization of witnesses: a strategy to guarantee reliable results
Maître Carlos Mupili proposes that each opposition party deploy at least two witnesses per polling and counting station. With more than 64,000 to 75,000 polling stations planned across the country, this represents a significant logistical challenge. However, the presence of these witnesses is essential to take photos of the results sheets and send them to the electoral centers of the political parties. Thus, the data listed by the witnesses can be compared to the official results, forcing the CENI to publish compliant results.
2. Creation of electoral centers for precise counting of votes
To strengthen the transparency of the results, Maître Mupili suggests that each presidential candidate headquarters create an electoral center equipped with a digital system for receiving and compiling voting results. This would make it possible to collect and consolidate the data sent by witnesses in the field and obtain a complete and precise vision of the expression of votes. This approach aims to prevent any attempt to falsify the results and ensure that the provisional proclamation of results corresponds to the figures physically held at the polling centers.
3. The CENI awareness campaign for transparent elections
The CENI recently launched its awareness campaign in view of the general elections in December 2023. The objective is to train and inform voters on the legal and regulatory provisions relating to electoral operations. This initiative aims to guarantee quality participation from all citizens and to strengthen confidence in the electoral process.. Faced with doubts about transparency, Denis Kadima, president of the CENI, committed to ensuring the inclusion of all categories of the population in the electoral process and to guaranteeing a transparent vote.
Conclusion :
The presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo are an opportunity to strengthen democracy and transparency. The mobilization of witnesses by opposition parties, the creation of electoral centers and the CENI’s awareness campaign are all measures aimed at guaranteeing transparent elections and reliable results. It is essential that all stakeholders in the electoral process work together to ensure the integrity of the vote and voter confidence. In December 2023, the Congolese people will have the opportunity to make their voices heard and shape the future of the country.