Concerns of Credibility and Transparency
Both opposition parties and independent observers have expressed reservations about the manner in which the voting process unfolded, casting doubt on the credibility of the eventual results. However, the National Election Commission (CENI) has refuted these claims and plans to release provisional results beginning Friday.
In response to concerns surrounding transparency, CENI has established a results center in Kinshasa named “Basolo,” which means “Truth” in the local Lingala language. This center will publicly share results from each polling station as they become available. Transparency has been a significant demand from opposition groups and civil society who believe that past elections lacked transparency, opening the door for potential fraud.
The CENI originally set a deadline of December 31 for the release of full provisional results. However, it remains to be seen whether this timeline will be adjusted due to the unexpected extension of the voting period.
Challenges and Observations
In an interview with Top Congo FM, Didi Manara, the vice president of CENI, stated that the logistical delays were beyond their control and should not be attributed to poor planning. He cited a precedent from the 2011 election in which voting was also extended to a second day in certain parts of the country.
This election saw the participation of around 44 million registered voters, despite a campaign period marred by incidents of violence. Opposition candidate Moise Katumbi, who has been closely monitoring the vote count, claimed to be leading in the results announced so far.
The influential Catholic Church in Congo has deployed over 25,000 observers to independently compile election results. This move mirrors their actions during the 2018 election when they contested the CENI’s vote count. The Church’s observer mission aims to ensure transparency and accuracy in the election process.