As Kambale Ngayiremawa, in charge of legal and electoral disputes affairs at the Provincial Executive Secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) in North Kivu, reported the day before, there are not enough registrations and there is no candidate.
“We have some voters for Rutshuru and a very small number for Masisi but we have no candidates. That is why we cannot organize the elections,” the official told Radio Okapi.
According to the same source, many of these displaced people hope to be able to vote after registering. This is more or less than 10 percent of the expected voters in Rutshuru and one percent in Masisi, but according to the electoral body, the conditions for the opening of polling stations are not met.
Beyond registrations, the situation of insecurity in the areas is a bigger problem.
Although there is a 72-hour ceasefire in the region, fighting has intensified between DRC forces and March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, with the latter taking control of some towns and key roads.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi himself admitted that some parts of the country will not be able to take part in the elections after the failure of the military counteroffensive against the M23 insurgents.
Around 44 million registered voters will elect their president from 26 candidates on December 20th.
In addition, they must elect representatives, members of provincial bodies and municipal councils.
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