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In a joint statement, Congolese opposition members Moise Katumbi, Martin Fayulu, Delly Sesanga and Augustin Matata Ponyo demanded an audit of the electoral register by a recognized international firm before the date set by the CENI. They also asked the CENI to publish the provisional lists on its website along with the actual number of electoral kits ordered. The opposition called on all Congolese to take part in a demonstration on May 20 to protest against insecurity, the high cost of living and to demand a fair and transparent electoral process. If the government does not respond to the concerns of the opposition, the electoral process will be in danger and will further weaken the stability of the country.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the Democratic Republic of Congo has begun the external audit of the electoral register with the participation of five national and international experts. However, the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) declined to participate, raising concerns about the transparency of the audit. Some call for an international audit to ensure impartiality. The external audit of the electoral register is crucial to guarantee the credibility of the elections in the country and the authorities must guarantee full transparency.

The governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a communiqué to relaunch the process of facilitating the voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees to Rwanda and Rwandan refugees to the DRC according to the 2010 tripartite agreements. They will hold a technical tripartite meeting to define the practical details of these agreements within one month. This new agreement offers new hope for Congolese refugees in Rwanda and those from Rwanda in the DRC, who will finally be able to return home safely.

Following the natural disaster that occurred in the territory of Kalehe in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congolese Women’s Permanent Consultation Framework (CAFCO) issues recommendations to the government aimed at preventing future natural disasters. In this joint statement, CAFCO calls for the relocation of survivors, a ban on construction in high-risk areas and the securing of affected sites. The DRC must also face other challenges such as sexual violence, illegal logging and the issue of border security. The mobilization of the population and civil society actors is essential to provide concrete solutions and contribute to the construction of a fairer and more prosperous country.

Gentiny Ngobila, governor of Kinshasa, visited the site of the city’s central market, commonly known as Zando, on May 12 to assess the progress of the work. According to the engineers on site, the work is progressing satisfactorily. Ngobila announced the inauguration of the market for November 30, 2023 and encouraged companies to speed up the pace of work so that it is ready on time. The market is a large structure that includes more than 630 stores, several stalls, and a capacity of more than 80,000 people on a total area of ​​40,000 square meters. Its construction also includes a waste disposal mechanism to keep the market clean and functional. Its reopening will provide a quality space for the activities of merchants and customers.

Students, members of civil society and residents demonstrated in Bukavu to protest against the deplorable state of the national road number 2, following two fatal accidents. Tires were set on fire and the road blocked. The protesters demanded answers from the government regarding the delays in the rehabilitation works despite the funds allocated for it. Additional protests are planned if work does not begin soon. This demonstration takes place in a difficult political and economic context as well as security challenges.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has decided to carry out an external audit of the electoral register. However, the CENCO-ECC electoral observation mission recommends that the audit be entrusted to an independent and competent international body. The International Organization of La Francophonie having refused to participate, the CENI nevertheless maintains its schedule for the external audit. The credibility of the electoral process in the DRC is at stake and it is crucial to guarantee the integrity and transparency of the results of these elections.

In North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 674 women were victims of sexual violence from April 17 to 30, 2023, as they searched for firewood and food outside displacement camps. The six sites implicated in these rapes are places of permanent tension, arousing reactions of denunciation and indignation on the part of women’s rights activists. The latter called on the State to strengthen security around the camps for the displaced in order to protect the vulnerable populations. These tragic events underscore the urgency of the humanitarian situation in the DRC, which faces persistent political, economic and security challenges.

This article sheds light on the injustice and scandal that surrounds uncontrolled logging in the Democratic Republic of Congo and more specifically in the Mongala region. The Congolese company, Congo King Baisheng Forestry Development, is one of the key players in this illegal exploitation, accused of not respecting environmental and safety standards, of maintaining inhuman working seasons for local employees, and of not compensate the local community for the use of their natural resources. The article calls for action by Congolese authorities to regulate and supervise logging, so that the local community can equitably benefit from the economic benefits of this industry.

The article talks about the SACIM affair in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has brought to light the mismanagement of the country’s mineral wealth. Before President TSHISEKEDI came to power, the country’s rich resources were monopolized by corrupt personalities. One of the main players in this affair is Ngoyi Kasanji, accused of having given a large part of the DRC’s mineral wealth to the Kabila family. After TSHISEKEDI came to power, the government created the Tenders to allow all buyers to conclude the market freely, in compliance with the rules. Revenues collected by the public treasury have since greatly increased. The opening of the sale of SACIM diamonds to all Congolese, formerly reserved for 4 national operators, upset the established order and angered the executioners of the population. In short, the article underlines the determination of President TSHISEKEDI and his government to put an end to the monopolization of the country’s wealth by a handful of privileged people.