In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Electoral Commission has recently unveiled a revised electoral calendar following the general elections in the week of December 20, 2023. Anticipating several upcoming polls throughout the year, two indirect elections are scheduled for the spring of 2024, namely the senatorial and gubernatorial elections. These elections are deemed indirect due to their nature.
During the latter part of the year, regions excluded from the general elections in December 2023 due to security concerns will have the opportunity to elect their representatives at the national and local levels.
Notably, nearly a million Congolese citizens, as reported by the Electoral Commission, were unable to cast their votes in the December general elections in Masisi and Rutshuru in North Kivu in the east of the country, as well as in Kwamouth in Mai-Ndombe in the west of the DRC. Despite the freezing of seats allocated to these territories in various institutions, parliamentary sessions commenced on January 29 without their elected representatives.
Enrollment is scheduled for July, with the actual election set for October 5, 2024. The Commission states that voters will be enrolled throughout July, followed by the period for candidate nominations and dispute resolution. The electoral campaign is slated to run from September 4 to October 3.
Before these events, additional national and provincial legislative elections are to be conducted in constituencies where the December results were nullified due to irregularities. In Masimanimba in Kwilu and Yakoma in North Ubangi, voters will return to the polls on April 28.
This dynamic sequence of electoral activities signifies a crucial phase in the democratic process of the country. The Electoral Commission’s meticulous planning, from voter enrollment to the resolution of disputes, underscores the commitment to transparency and fairness in the electoral process. As the nation awaits these consequential events, the resilience and participation of the Congolese people in shaping their political landscape remain central to the democratic narrative of the DRC.