DRC denies EAC request to observe 2023 general elections

The EAC in a press release on December 18, announced that the bloc and its partner states would not be physically present to observe the elections as provided for in the treaty establishing the EAC.

The bloc also stated that an election observer mission was ready to be deployed to the DRC however, the request to carry out the mission was not granted.

“This is to notify EAC Partner States, Development Partners and all other Stakeholders that EAC will not physically be present in DRC to observe her 2023 General Elections as provided for in the Treaty Establishing the East African Community and as it has been the practice since the inception of the EAC. This development is due to the fact that although EAC was ready, the request to undertake the exercise has not been granted by the relevant authorities,” said the EAC in the press release.

“The EAC wishes the Government and the people of DRC peaceful elections and remains committed to discharge our mandate to all Partner States,” they added.

The DRC general election is scheduled to take place on December 20 amid recent violent activities that resulted in the death of two parliamentary candidates.