How electoral violence could threaten Congo’s general election
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is heading to the polls to elect a new leader in a period that has been marred by violence and turbulence.
Amid the ongoing conflict in the eastern DRC and the withdrawal of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in recent weeks, the Central African nation witnessed election-related violence less than a week to the December 20 general election which resulted in the death of two parliamentary candidates.
Candidates refuse to sign code of conduct
The DRC’s presidential elections have 25 candidates, including incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi. A code of conduct was extended to presidential candidates by the Congolese Electoral Commission (CENI) before the start of the official election campaign on November 19.
The code of conduct outlines the candidates' commitment to opposing all types of violence during the electoral, pre-election, and post-election phases. By signing it, candidates pledged to follow the law and accept the results of the election results.
In December it was reported that several presidential candidates refused to sign the code of good conduct proposed by the CENI.
“We will not sign this code of good conduct because we consider that since the start of the process, the CENI has not behaved in a good manner and that today Today, we do not always have any answers on what is happening on an operational and technical level,” said presidential candidate Delly Sesanga.
Threats and violent clashes
The head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Congo Bintou Keita, said that “violent clashes between supporters of rival political parties were occurring in many provinces.”
Freelance Congolese journalist John Kanyunyu told Journalist in Danger (JED) about threats made on his life ahead of the December polls.
“I received information from the services having been instructed to ‘take care of me’ because allegedly in the service of presidential candidate Moise Katumbi. I am made to wear a hat that I never tried to put on by the non-apparent services of power here in the city and my security has become too fragile so that I find myself unable to do my job. in this critical and sensitive period,” he said.
History of violence and controversy
The country has suffered from political instability and human rights abuses since its independence in 1960 and has faced two devastating wars that involved multiple neighbouring countries and claimed millions of lives.
The Congolese authorities postponed elections for more than two years, allowing Former President Joseph Kabila to hold office past the two-term limit stipulated by the nation’s constitution, which expired on December 19, 2016.
The previous elections in December 2018 were marred by delays, irregularities, and controversy. Voting in three opposition districts was moved to March 2019, which prevented over a million Congolese citizens from exercising their right to vote.
More than 1,000 polling centres in the nation's capital, Kinshasa, were abruptly closed, issues with voter lists and electronic voting equipment occurred, and many polling places opened later than planned, making it impossible for other voters to cast their ballots.
The opposition and civil society rejected the results and accused the electoral commission of fraud.
