Congo’s traditional authorities call for fairness in the processing of presidential candidates
In an electoral context marked by rivalry between candidates, the National Alliance of Traditional Authorities of Congo (ANATC) took a position in favor of fair and objective treatment of candidacy files by the Constitutional Court. In a public statement, ANATC stressed the importance of prioritizing the general interest rather than the individual interests of candidates.
ANATC calls for inclusion and transparency in upcoming polls, saying it would be harmful to exclude candidates for irrelevant reasons. According to the organization, this would compromise national cohesion and living together. Traditional authorities express their support for the publication by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the list of admissible candidates for the presidential election.
This position comes at a time when certain candidacies are being contested before the Constitutional Court. Seth Kikuni, presidential candidate, requested the invalidation of Félix Tshisekedi’s candidacy, citing a lack of quality and fraud against the law. Likewise, a request to invalidate the candidacy of Moïse Katumbi, president of the Ensemble pour la République party, was filed with the Constitutional Court.
The call from traditional authorities for fair treatment of presidential candidates underlines the importance of guaranteeing the integrity of the electoral process and preserving national unity. This declaration highlights the democratic challenges facing the country and the importance of respecting the fundamental principles of democracy and justice.