Decisive elections in the DRC
In
In December 2023, general elections are supposed to be held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a tense political and security environment. This paper tries to assess current challenges to the organisation of free and fair elections, within the political, security and historical context. This includes technical and organisational issues, the risks related to the conflict in the East, the strategies of the main political actors, and the risks for violence and derailing of the electoral process. The paper concludes arguing that prioritizing short-term stability threatens the fundamentals of the electoral process which is adequate representation.
(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons, MONUSCO)