The President of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), Denis Kadima Kazadi, has just launched specific training for flight personnel responsible for the mobility of electoral materials and agents across the country. In order to facilitate the deployment of electoral materials in areas of difficult access, the CENI has acquired 28 boats, including 9 catamarans and 19 walhys. This initiative aims to strengthen the logistical capacities of the CENI in anticipation of the elections scheduled for December 20.
The geographical configuration of the Democratic Republic of Congo requires the use of different means of transport to transport electoral materials to remote areas. Boats then become essential to reach certain villages or towns located along rivers and streams. Thanks to these 28 boats acquired by the CENI, the convoy of electoral materials and agents will be facilitated and improved.
President Denis Kadima Kazadi wanted to emphasize that despite some delays noted in the execution of planned operations, the date of the elections of December 20, 2023 remains unchanged. The CENI undertakes to respect its electoral calendar and to ensure that the polls are held within the planned deadlines.
The training for seagoing personnel will extend over two days and will focus on practical aspects such as boat handling, use of safety equipment and vessel maintenance. The main objective of this training is to provide the CENI with efficient navigation personnel, capable of ensuring efficient deployment of electoral equipment and respecting navigation rules.
In preparation for the combined polls on December 20, 2023, the CENI will have to transport equipment from four main hubs to 255 training sites, in order to supply more than 75,000 polling stations across the country. The boats play a crucial role in this complex logistical operation, thus strengthening the deployment capacity of the CENI on the ground.
The training launch ceremony was marked by a river hike during which CENI members were able to evaluate the performance of the boats while navigating on the Congo River.
This CENI initiative demonstrates its commitment to ensuring the smooth running of the electoral process by putting in place the necessary logistical means to reach all regions of the country. Thanks to these 28 new boats, the CENI is strengthening its deployment capacity and ensuring that electoral materials will reach each polling station within the required time frame.
In conclusion, the training of sailing personnel and the acquisition of these new boats represent significant progress for the CENI in the organization of the elections of December 20, 2023.. These measures make it possible to optimize logistics and ensure that the electoral process takes place transparently and efficiently throughout the national territory.