The National Independent Electoral Commission (CNEI) delivered on Monday, March 22, the day after the presidential election, the first trends already giving outgoing President Denis Sassou Nguesso the winner almost everywhere. The African Union (AU) Observation Mission noted several dysfunctions in the vote, but welcomed the Congolese voters’ attachment to democratic values.
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“Voting started with a delay in 66.7% of witness polling stations,” explained Dileita Mohamed, head of the AU observation mission. The delay, which ranges from 30 minutes to one hour, is due to: the late arrival of the electoral staff: 36.4% for the arrangement of the polling stations: 27.3% for the late delivery of the election material: 18.2%
Observers from the African Union noted that “almost all polling stations complied with the opening formalities”, saying that “ballot papers were shown blank in the presence of representatives of candidates, observers and voters present but not systematically sealed.”
“The Commission noted shortcomings from some members of the polling station who did not appear to have fully mastered the procedures,” Dileita Mohamed continued. Votes that were unable to vote could benefit from adequate assistance in 72.22% of the open ballots. ”
