In Congo-Brazzaville, the presidential election will take place on March 21. But the defense and security forces will be called to the polls on Wednesday, March 17. This is a preliminary study and a first experiment that the country is trying. For the authorities, this vote should save time because the police will only deal with securing the vote on D-Day. The opposition and civil society see it rather as an opportunity created for deception.
as reported from Brazzaville, Loïcia Martial
According to the National Independent Electoral Commission (CNEI), the number of voters in the police force is estimated at between 55,000 and 60,000 people, taken from the general file of more than 2.5 million voters.
At least 131 offices will be open this Wednesday between 19 and 17 throughout the country.
“This early vote is only an application of the law, which states that law enforcement votes first. It certainly saves time, ”a source told CNEI to justify the move. She specified that the counting and preparation of this early vote would take place at the same time as the general vote on 21 March.
The opposition as a whole fears fraud, as does activist Franck Nzila Malembé, who wonders how secure this early vote will be.
“Why this early vote by the military, when we know that the military has always voted on the same day as civilians? What are the objectives behind this vote? Once the vote is organized, the ballot boxes will be organized by who, where and how?” Asked Mr Nzila Malembé.
Congo has already received observers to oversee the presidential election, in particular from the member states of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
► Reread Guest Africa:Congo-Brazzaville Presidential Election: Mathias Dzon Candidate for Alliance and Democracy Alliance
■ Several opposition parties as well as the platform for civil society organizations in Congo call for a boycott of the presidential election on March 21
Detention of political opponents, irregularities in the organization of elections, favoritism of the party by President Denis Sassou Nguesso … they draw up a long list of tensions and ask the people not to vote and Clément Mierassa, interim president of the Congolese opposition alliance explains why .
In the French newspaper Le Monde, a collective of civil society organizations calls on France to “condemn the worsening deterioration of the political and bourgeois climate”. “What we are asking for is that in 2021, both the Republic of Congo and French diplomacy will return to democracy.”
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