Title: The challenges of the ongoing electoral process in the DRC: a response from the CENI to the concerns of the opposition
Introduction :
The electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to fuel debate and political tension. While opposition leaders are expressing concerns about the transparency of the process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) has responded to these concerns through an official statement. In this article, we will analyze the main responses of the CENI and the reactions of the opposition to them.
Context and concerns of the opposition:
Following exchanges with the president of the CENI, Denis Kadima, the leaders of the Congolese opposition, including Adolph Muzito, expressed their demand for an external audit of the electoral register. According to them, this audit is essential to guarantee the transparency of the ongoing electoral process. They also recommended that this audit be carried out by an independent and qualified international body.
The response of the CENI:
In its public statement, the CENI underlined that the external audit of the electoral register is not a legal or regulatory requirement in the DRC. However, she recalled that this audit is part of the good practices recommended in her Strategic Plan to ensure transparency in the constitution of the file and other electoral operations. The CENI said it voluntarily agreed to submit to a previous external audit, stressing that the findings of that mission were not seriously challenged. Consequently, she considers that there is no solid justification for undertaking a new external audit of the electoral register.
Opposition reactions:
Opposition leaders, particularly Martin Fayulu, reacted strongly to the CENI’s response. Fayulu called this position of the CENI an attempt at electoral fraud and stressed that the Congolese are not sheep of Panurge ready to accept such a situation. He announced that he would speak to the press to highlight the problems of the ongoing electoral process.
Conclusion :
The ongoing electoral process in the DRC continues to generate tension and debate. The opposition’s request for an external audit of the electoral register was rejected by the CENI, which considers that it is not necessary in the absence of solid justifications. This divergence of opinions raises questions about the transparency and credibility of the electoral process