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With 24 candidates in the race, the Democratic Republic of Congo is gearing up for its presidential elections, scheduled for December 20th, 2023. With the country facing a range of challenges, it promises to be a crucial election that will be shaping the future of this African nation.
Photo by Element5 Digital via Unsplash
24 candidates, under which include previously sidelined presidential hopefuls, old rivals, as well as first-time contenders, the 2023 elections represent the country’s complex political history. The list of candidates was shared at the beginning of October on X (formerly known as Twitter) by the DRC CENI Election Commission, but a final list will be given by the Constitutional Court in November.
Among the candidates are notably:
Felix Tshisekedi: Current President Tshisekedi is seeking a second term in office. With a presidency that began in 2019, he succeeded Joseph Kabila, who was in power for 18 years.
Martin Fayulu: After accusing Tshisekedi of having done “an electoral coup” in the 2018 Congolese presidential elections, Martin Fayulu is vying for the presidency again. The Congolese politician wants to bring change to the Congolese political landscape.
Denis Mukwege: Being an acclaimed Nobel laureate and gynecologist, Denis Mukwege strives for presidency. He is most known for his work with sexual violence survivors in conflict zones.
Moïse Katumbi: Known as Jeune Afrique’s “African of the Year 2015”, Katumbi also goes for presidency. He has already enjoyed significant popularity in several regions, being the former governor of the Katanga province.
Marie-Josee Ifoku: Aiming to make her mark in the male-dominated world of Congolese politics, Marie-Josee Ifoku throws her hat into the political ring again. She is a notable Congolese politician who already was a presidential candidate in the 2018 elections.
Matata Ponyo Mapon: Another key contender for presidency and currently serving as Senator for Maniema, is Matata Ponyo Mapon. He has served as Prime Minister of the DCR from 2012 to 2016, as well as Minister of Finance from 2010 till 2012.
However, The Democratic Republic of Congo at the moment comes with its share of challenges, so do thus the elections. Among the challenges are the problem of logistics with transporting ballot materials to the various remote areas of DCR, as well as the health concerns regarding Ebola and COVID-19. Also, the difficult tensions between Rwanda and Congo add an extra layer of complexity to the electoral process. Furthermore, as has been observed in the December 2018 election, delays of the election could happen.
Additionally, an observer mission has been deployed by the European Union to monitor the upcoming elections. This way the European Union will try to ensure fairness as well as transparency. This is very much necessary because of the risk of electoral fraud, as was exemplified in 2018, when current president Tshisekedi was accused of an “electoral coup”. He however, secured his first term as president of the DCR after the Constitutional Court of the DCR confirmed the results in january 2019.
With the many candidates, there is a growing concern that there will be a divided opposition vote. This potentially will increase the chances of a second term for current president Tshisekedi. Nonetheless, the Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing for a pivotal election that will, hopefully, be peaceful and transparent, but most of all, will respect the will of the Congolese people and contributes to the stability and development of the nation.
References
Jazeera, A. (2022, 26 november). DRC schedules presidential elections for Dec 2023 amid M23 unrest. News | Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/26/congo-schedules-presidential-elections-for-dec-2023
Rolley, S., & Makangara, J. (2023, 9 oktober). Twenty-four candidates sign up for Congolese presidential race in December. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/twenty-four-candidates-sign-up-congolese-presidential-race-december-2023-10-08/
Nws, V. (2023, 2 oktober). Nobelprijswinnaar Denis Mukwege gaat de strijd aan met Félix Tshisekedi voor Congolees presidentschap. vrtnws.be. https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/10/02/denis-mukwege-presidentskandidaat-congo/
Reporter, G. S. (2023, 2 oktober). Nobel-prize winning gynaecologist announces plans to run for President of DRC. the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/02/denis-mukwege-announces-plans-run-for-drc-president
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