This article deals with the controversy related to the recomposition of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While some members of the opposition feel that the CENI is not sufficiently independent, the president of the Dynamique Progressive Révolutionnaire, Me Constant Mutamba, says that the electoral process is going well and that Denis Kadima, current president of the CENI, is working with professionalism. Nevertheless, a planned march to demand the recomposition of the CENI was postponed until May 18, sparking tensions. The article highlights the importance of transparency and fairness in electoral processes in the DRC and encourages the opening of dialogue between stakeholders to ensure credible elections.
Congolese opposition leaders have decided to postpone their march in Kinshasa, initially scheduled for May 18, to May 20, 2023. Security reasons are behind this postponement, explain Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi, Delly Sesanga and Matata Ponyo. The purpose of this march was to protest against the aggression suffered by the DRC in the east of the country from Rwanda. Despite this postponement, opposition leaders are mobilizing for the 2024 presidential elections. bandits in Beni, an end to the misuse of physical space and tender offers for public works.
The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, encouraged Botswana economic operators to come and invest in his country which is full of opportunities during his official visit for the DRC-Botswana business forum. The DRC and Botswana seek to reinvigorate their bilateral relationship by building thriving economies. President Tshisekedi proposed to strengthen economic relations between the two countries by highlighting the strategic geographical position of the DRC, the legal stability of business relations in this country and the historical orientation of the Congolese economy towards the mining sector. The DRC also has significant natural resources such as oil and gas deposits as well as the large Inga project. President Tshisekedi announced the opening of the DRC Embassy in Gaborone, Botswana, to strengthen relations between the two governments.
The Civic Education and Electoral Observation Commission (EDUCIEL) in the DRC has called for the publication of voter statistics by electoral district as well as a consensual audit of the electoral register. It also asks for the possibility for Congolese not yet enrolled in areas dominated by armed conflict, and whose data has been lost through machine breakdowns, to be registered on the electoral list. The EDUCIEL request is crucial to ensure that the elections are fair and transparent.
The city of Beni, in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is particularly affected by crime. Operations aimed at dismantling groups of bandits are frequent, the latest having led to the arrest of 22 suspects. The population is called upon to collaborate with the forces of order to improve security, while the state of siege is still in force in the region. The citizens of Beni live in fear in the face of this continuing crisis. The fight against banditry constitutes a major challenge for the Congolese authorities in the pacification of the city and the surrounding region.
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has decided to put an end to the misuse of physical space to avoid floods, landslides and other natural disasters. This decision follows the floods that affected the country and caused hundreds of deaths. The government wants to put in place a land-use planning policy to fight against natural disasters and promote building regulations. A special commission has also been set up to help the families affected and draw up a toll of the dead and missing.
The article talks about the soaring price of a 50 kg bag of gray cement in Kindu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This increase is partly due to the delay in the delivery of bags of cement by train and the advanced state of the deterioration of the roads. The inhabitants of Kindu are called upon to find alternative solutions to obtain supplies of cement while waiting for a resolution of the problem. The economic situation in the DRC is worrying and complex, with persistent challenges in various sectors.
Transco, a Congolese transport company, has set up a transport system linking Kananga to Tshikaji, thus meeting the mobility needs of the inhabitants of the region. Travelers welcome the fluidity of traffic and the affordable price of one thousand Congolese Francs, which allows the poorest to use this means of transport. Currently, only this line is served and the inhabitants of the region want an extension of the service to the outskirts to improve the quality of life of all the inhabitants of the region.
Joseph Matungulu has been appointed as the new national coordinator of the Agricultural Sector Support Project in North Kivu (PASA-NK), with the mission of strengthening the achievements already made so far. The project aims to increase the yield of small producers by improving the productivity and profitability of four crops grown by local farmers, including maize, rice, potato and arabica coffee. The article also highlights the mobilization of all stakeholders for the success of this project, largely supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Distel Zola, a former Congolese international footballer, has been named a top advocate for healthy meals in the Democratic Republic of Congo to help address malnutrition and food insecurity in the country. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) aims to reach 500,000 students this year with school meals. The DRC faces an extremely difficult food situation, with nearly 26 million people facing food insecurity. Children are particularly affected, with 45% of deaths of children under five being linked to malnutrition. WFP needs US$285 million to meet growing humanitarian demands over the next six months.