Parliamentary elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in which the incumbent president faces a fragmented opposition, will continue on Thursday (December 21, 2023) after a voting day marked by logistical problems in areas where voters were unable to cast their votes and delays.
Almost 44 million people are eligible to vote in the Central African country with a population of 100 million. The elections are dial-in rounds and are taking place in a very tense political and security climate.
Outgoing President Félix Tshisekedi, 60 years old and in power since the beginning of 2019, is seeking a second term against 18 other candidates.
“Polling stations that have not opened at all will do so on Thursday,” Denis Kadima, president of the Independent National Electoral Commission, told official television.
The person in charge did not provide any information about the number of polling stations affected, but later explained that “the majority of the population,” which he estimated at “at least 70 percent,” was “eligible to vote” on Wednesday.
In some voting centers there are “problems” with the “voting machines” and with the “batteries,” explained the Archbishop of Kinshasa, Monsignor Fridolin Ambongo, after the vote.
“Solutions must be found quickly, otherwise the elections will be extended by several days,” he added.
Several missions sent observers to monitor the elections. The main one, led by a group of Catholic and Protestant churches, mobilized 25,000 agents. The leaders of this influential mission promised to conduct a “parallel count.”
gs (afp, Portal)