The Democratic Republic of Congo faces debates over the integrity of the electoral process. The Lay Coordination Committee (CLC) asks the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to respect the principles of the external audit of the electoral register by choosing authorized bodies, while the CENI appoints its own experts to self-certify a questionable electoral file. The CLC is also continuing its awareness campaign to support the Congolese populations in their assumption of responsibility and supports the march of the opposition on May 20. The CENI has announced the start of work on the external audit, but the process is disputed. The integrity and credibility of the electoral process are major challenges for the country in its consolidation of the rule of law and democracy.
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The Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Lubumbashi has issued an update denouncing the recent wave of insecurity in the city, with multiple cases of human rights violations, including kidnappings, rapes and murders . The appeal is made to the provincial assembly to investigate these cases of insecurity and to the provincial government to strengthen the security and order services by providing appropriate logistical support. Local authorities are also called upon to involve grassroots managers in the fight against insecurity and human rights violations. The security situation has been worrying since the beginning of 2023, with a new form of crime involving bodies discovered, tied up and bagged.
The delegation led by the Special Adviser to the Head of State and the Deputy Director General of the Office of Roads inspected the national road number 1 Kasumbalesa-Sakania section in the city of Lubumbashi in works carried out by the Congolese Agency for Large Works (ACGT) and the Chinese firm CCECC. The overall finding is far from satisfactory and a team of experts must be dispatched to the site to assess the situation and offer appropriate solutions to correct the defects noted. Professor Célestin Ekoto Loleke also attended the financing meeting for the implementation of projects within the framework of the transport infrastructure development program for the strengthening of trade between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Republic of Tanzania which was held in the province of Haut-Katanga. Officials of the Office des Routes work tirelessly to provide quality road infrastructure, in accordance with the vision of the President of the Republic Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo to improve the living conditions of citizens and boost trade with neighboring countries.
The Prime Minister of the DRC, Jean Michel Sama Lukonde, launched an international colloquium on constitutional justice and electoral disputes in Kinshasa. The Minister of State in charge of justice, Rose Mutombo, stressed the importance of constitutional justice as a limit to the action of political power. The various panels, moderated by speakers such as Professors Jacques Djoli, Evariste Boshab and Jean-Louis Esambo, discussed the contribution of constitutional justice to the rule of law and democracy in the DRC. These three days of reflection will provide a better understanding of the importance of constitutional justice for the consolidation of the rule of law and democracy in the country.
The city of Kinshasa was the scene of three political demonstrations on Saturday May 20, 2023. Governor Gentiny Ngobila authorized the participation of several political parties, including the opposition, provided that the marches are well supervised in order to preserve public order. . The routes planned for the various marches have been detailed by the provincial Minister of the Interior. Political parties were asked to educate their activists to avoid clashes and ensure the smooth running of demonstrations.
The city of Kasumbalesa has been in the grip of a serious crisis of incivility and public order disturbances for several months. At a meeting organized by the city’s urban authority, 18 resolutions were passed to restore peace and tolerance in the city. The authorities have asked state services to fully exercise their powers, political parties to register their members and political party members to participate in training activities. Educational messages of peaceful coexistence will be disseminated in the churches. The police will be in charge of acting in real time and any large-scale political activity will have to be reported to the local authority. Positive collaborations between services and political parties have been initiated to optimize efforts for a lasting peace.
The teachers’ strike in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to cause disruption in the education system. The teachers held a general meeting to assess the government’s broken promises to mechanize the New Teachers’ Units and the supplementary payroll. If no agreement is reached, the future of the 2022-2023 school year is in danger. This situation once again testifies to the non-respect of commitments on the part of the government, which weighs on education in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A minor child and an adult died in the dungeon of the N’Djili peace court in Kinshasa. The judicial authorities have opened an investigation to elucidate the circumstances of these deaths. The prosecution had already recorded a death in the past in the same circumstances. The situation in this amigo remains worrying and several sources indicate that the conditions of detention are not good. There is an urgent need for in-depth reform of the Congolese judicial system to guarantee respect for human rights and the protection of citizens.
This article presents the commemoration of Liberation Day in the DRC, where Germain Akili Shamavu, national coordinator of the club “Vision Modeste Bahati Lukwebo” returned to the triumphant arrival of Laurent Désiré Kabila in 1997, after having overthrown the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko. Although Laurent Désiré Kabila is considered the one who freed Zaire from foreign domination, opinions differ on his political legacy. The article also highlights persistent problems in the DRC such as insecurity, deadly violence, shortage of drinking water and the issue of transparency in the upcoming elections.
The rector of the Catholic University of Congo (UCC), Professor Abbé Léonard Santedi, met with ecclesiastical students to discuss the university’s identity, mission and university ministry. Professor Santedi underlined the importance of the UCC motto “Lumen Super Flumen” which means “to be a light which enlightens, which illuminates humanity”. He also called on clerics to help and accompany all souls attending the university to add moral and Christian values to their scientific knowledge. This initiative underlines the importance for the UCC to give a complete formation to the students by combining the acquisition of scientific knowledge and moral and Christian values.