Lyn Frans
44 million voters are expected to cast their vote today December 20 ,2023, in the general elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) The exercise involves electing MPs, Local Government Leaders, and the President., where 19 candidates are vying for the Presidency.
DRC’s Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni) says that the deadline will be met to hold elections that have cost 44 million to prepare. The commission (Ceni) earlier sent a letter to President Félix Tshisekedi “urgently” requesting four fixed-wing aircraft and 10 helicopters to transport electoral material throughout the country. Unfortunately due to security challenges Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, will not participate in the voting exercise.
President Felix Tshisekedi is vying to defend his position and has asked voters to give him a second term. President Tshisekedi is in a keenly competitive race with his strongest opponents Moise Katumbi and Martin Fayulu who are both famously known as businessmen.
Some 44 million people almost half the population were expected to vote, but many, including several million displaced by conflict in the vast country’s east, could struggle to cast their ballots. The fighting has prevented 1.5 million people from registering to vote.
For the Congolese, this election could be historic: An incumbent could retain his seat through the ballot, or a new president could take power peacefully after the ballot making it only the second such occasion in the country’s six-decade independence.
Voting is expected to start at 12 Noon -today December 20 and will close at 11pm. The Electoral Commission is expected to announce the preliminary results on December 32, 2023.
