Congolese politicians will retain control of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni). With about two years after the next election, differences remain, especially as regards the structure of the Commission. President Felix Tshisekedi issued the reform on Tuesday evening, July 6, and abstained from demands from the opposition, civil society and religious denominations. The stumbling block remains the depoliticization of Ceni, even called for by the UN.
as reported from Kinshasa,Pascal Mulegwa
Civil society would like to lead the Ceni alone without being in the majority in plenary, which must have 15 members. It remains in the minority even if its quota goes from 3 to 5 members. 10 seats are still reserved for politicians, including 6 for the pro-Tshisekedi majority and 4 for the opposition.
In the office of the governing body consisting of seven members, religious denominations from civil society retain the Ceni presidency.
The other positions will be occupied by two opponents and four members from the majority. An imbalance that irritates religious leaders but not only. The radical opposition, Martin Fayulu and Adolphe Muzito, are categorical: “The action taken by Felix Tshilombo [Tshisekedi, NDLR] considered a declaration of war, ton Prince Epenge, one of the spokesmen for the Lamuka coalition. He decides to take effect. We reject this law and we urge the people to be aware of the slogan that Lamuka will give, to be ready, to invade the streets of Kinshasa and the deep Congo to forcefully reject the law that prepares for the fraud of 2023. That is not acceptable. “
Kabila’s FCC is silent
So far, Joseph Kabila’s coalition has been silent on the reform. It was also voted on by a majority of deputies and senators in Parliament, although some FCC caciques are still appealing for unanimity.
Long before the issue, one of the FCC group leaders, Constant Mutamba, had already planned a demonstration on Monday in the streets of Kinshasa to, “he said,” demand agreement on electoral reforms, through a dialogue election. “For his part, the Catholic Church says through its Bishop’s Place, CENCO, that it regrets the issuance of the text.
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