2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election
 | This article documents a current election. Information may change rapidly as the election progresses until official results have been published. Initial news reports may be unreliable, and the last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (18 December 2023) |
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| United Nations Mission |
 Democratic Republic of the Congo portal |
General elections are expected to be held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 20 December 2023. Simultaneous elections will be held for the President, almost all of the members of the National Assembly, almost all of the elected members of the 26 provincial assemblies, and, for the first time under the new constitution, members of a limited number of commune (municipal) councils. On election day, the Congolese government extended voting to 21 December for polling stations which had not opened on 20 December.[1][2] Agence France-Presse reported that some polling stations would open as late as 24 December.[3]
These elections are the first of the 4th election cycle under the 2006 constitution. Six more elections will follow in 2024, five of which are indirect.
Normal elections will not be held in the territories of Kwamouth, Masisi, and Rutshuru due to armed conflict.
Background[edit]
2018 electoral fraud[edit]
President Félix Tshisekedi's election in 2018 was extremely controversial, with most independent observers, including the Catholic Church, believing that opposition candidate Martin Fayulu had actually won in a landslide. They believe that outgoing President Joseph Kabila, realising his candidate couldn't credibly win, struck a deal with Tshisekedi to make him president while Kabila governed jointly with him.[4]
According to Jacques Mukena, Senior Governance Researcher at Ebuteli Institute, the election will most likely not be completely free and fair, but believes Tshisekedi and the CENI are aware of the fact that they would be under closer scrutiny than in 2018 because more local and international observers would be watching. Additionally, candidates such as Delly Sesanga have already declared that they would believe the Catholic Church’s opinion of who won the elections, not CENI’s.[4]
According to the Crisis Group, there is a fear of a wider political crisis if losing candidates or their backers do not accept the presidential results. Any crisis, while not inevitable, could worsen the already dire situation in the east.[5]
On 20 November, Fayulu advocated for transparent and impartial elections, he insisted that the Congolese "must no longer accept someone stealing their victory."[6]
Insecurity[edit]
The Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered from almost constant conflict in the east for the past 30 years. More recently, violence surged in the region after a new rebellion by the M23 group, supported by Rwanda, caused much of the North Kivu province to be occupied by rebels. This upsurge in violence comes as MONUSCO is expected to begin its "accelerated" withdrawal, as requested by Tshisekedi, after an almost 25-year presence in the country.[7][8]
Due to this, the eastern provinces will not be able to vote normally, but if Goma were to fall as it did in 2012, the whole process would be compromised.[7]
With the possibility of over a million voters being disenfranchised from instability, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has proposed sending a regional intervention force into eastern DRC to try to stabilise the area. The SADC Mission in the DRC was first proposed in May and was meant to go in by September but has been postponed, with its most recent summit concerning fiance.[4]
According to the Institute for Security Studies, it's hard to imagine the mission could go in and suppress all of eastern DRC’s many armed rebel groups in time to enfranchise those voters.[4]
Schedule[edit]
Selected dates from the electoral calendar:[9][10]
- 24 December 2022—17 March 2023: Voter registration.
- 24 December—23 January (30 days): Registration in Kongo Central, Kinshasa, Kwango, Kwilu, Mai-Ndombe, Equateur, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi and Tshuapa provinces.
- 25 January—23 February (30 days): Registration in Kasaï, Kasaï-Central, Kasaï-Oriental, Lomami, Sankuru, Haut-Lomami, Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and Tanganyika provinces; also for expatriates in South Africa, Belgium, and France.
- 16 February—17 March (30 days): Registration in Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Ituri, Tshopo, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Maniema provinces; also for expatriates in Canada and the United States.
- 21 May 2023: Publication of registration statistics per electoral district—registration totals will determine the size of the provincial assemblies and of the local councils (commune, sector, and chiefdom councils). They are also used to apportion seats to electoral districts.
- 23 May 2023—15 June 2023: Proportional allocation of seats to electoral districts based on voter registration numbers; drafted and passed as a law.
- 26 June 2023—8 October 2023: Candidate registration.
- 26 June—15 July (20 days): Candidates for the National Assembly.
- 3 August—22 August (20 days): Candidates for provincial assemblies and commune councils.
- 9 September–8 October (30 days): Candidates for president.
- 19 November 2023—18 December 2023: Electoral campaigns.
- 19 November: Start of 30 day campaigns for president, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies.
- 4 December: Start of 15 day campaigns for commune councils.
- 20 December 2023: Election day.
- 20 January 2024: Presidential swearing in ceremony.
Electoral system[edit]
The president is elected by plurality voting in one round.[11]
The 500 members of the National Assembly are elected by two methods. In electoral districts having been allocated only one seat, members are elected using first-past-the-post voting; while in those allocated multiple seats, the members are elected by open list proportional representation, with seats assigned using the largest remainder method. Proportional allocation of seats to electoral districts will be finalized by 15 June 2023. For the 2018 elections there were 62 single member constituencies with the remaining 438 members elected from multi-member ones.[12]
The provincial assembly elections also use the same two methods for electing members. For the commune councils all members of a council are in a single multi-member district and are elected using the open list method.
Candidates[edit]
There are 26 official candidates:[13]
Active[edit]
- Tony Bolamba
- Jean-Claude Baende
- Martin Fayulu, leader of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development
- Marie-Josée Ifoku
- Moïse Katumbi, leader of the Together for the Republic
- Denis Mukwege, winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize
- Adolphe Muzito, former prime minister (2008–2012)
- Enoch Ngila
- Théodore Ngoy
- Radjabho Tebabho Soborabo
- Félix Tshisekedi, incumbent president (2018–present) and leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress
- Constant Mutamba
- Justin Mudekereza
- Georges Buse Falay
- Rex Kazadi
- Abraham Ngalasi
- Nkema Liloo Bokonzi
- Floribert Anzuluni
- André Masalu
Withdrew[edit]
- Franck Diongo, withdrew in favor of Moïse Katumbi[14]
- Seth Kikuni, withdrew in favor of Moïse Katumbi[14]
- Matata Ponyo Mapon, former prime minister (2012–2016) withdrew in favor of Moïse Katumbi[15]
- Delly Sesanga, withdrew in favor of Moïse Katumbi[16]
- Joëlle Bile, withdrew in favor of Félix Tshisekedi[17]
- Patrice Mwamba, withdrew in favor of Félix Tshisekedi[17]
- Noël Tshiani, withdrew in favor of Félix Tshisekedi[17]
Opinion polls[edit]
Opinion polling is rare in the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to poor roads and lack of electricity. Nevertheless, a survey conducted by GeoPoll Socio-Political Barometer in the second quarter of 2023 found that voters expressed significant discontent with the governance under Tshisekedi, assigning him a satisfaction rating of 49.7%. Despite this, the survey also suggested that Tshisekedi would secure a second term thanks in part to perceived improvements, such as his free education initiative, and partly due to a divided opposition.[4][18]
An earlier 2022 poll by the same group found unemployment and insecurity to be the most cited dysfunctional areas, closely followed by the state of the country’s roads and rising prices. On the other hand, free education was found to be the most favorable policy.[19]
Results[edit]
President[edit]
| Candidate | Party | |
|---|---|---|
| Félix Tshisekedi | Union for Democracy and Social Progress | |
| Moïse Katumbi | Together for the Republic | |
| Martin Fayulu | Commitment to Citizenship and Development | |
| Denis Mukwege | Independent | |
| Floribert Anzuluni | Independent | |
| Jean-Claude Baende | Independent | |
| Tony Bolamba | Independent | |
| Georges Buse Falay | Independent | |
| Marie-Josée Ifoku | Independent | |
| Rex Kazadi Kanda | Independent | |
| André Masalu Anedu | Independent | |
| Justin Mudekereza Bisimwa | Independent | |
| Aggrey Ngalasi Kurisini | Independent | |
| Adolphe Muzito | New Momentum | |
| Enoch Ngila | Independent | |
| Théodore Ngoy | Independent | |
| Loli Nkema Liloo Bokonzi | Independent | |
| Soborabo Radjabho Tebabho | Congolese United for Change | |
| Constant Mutamba | Revolutionary Progressive Dynamic | |
| Patrice Majondo Mwamba | Independent | |
| Joëlle Bile Batali | Independent | |
| Noël Tshiani | Independent | |
| Seth Kikuni | Independent | |
| Delly Sesanga | Flight | |
| Matata Ponyo Mapon | Leadership and Governance for Development | |
| Franck Diongo | Progressive Lumumbist Movement | |
| Total | ||
References[edit]
- ^ Rolley, Sonia; Kombi, Yassin; Erikas, Fiston Mahamba; Kambale, Mwisi; Kyala, Crispin; Bashizi, Arlette; Prentice, Alessandra; Felix, Bate (20 December 2023). Richardson, Alex; Chopra, Toby; Maler, Sandra; Wallis, Daniel (eds.). "Congo extends chaotic election as opposition calls for rerun". Reuters. Kinshasa and Goma. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Voting extends to 2nd day in Congo elections amid fraud claims". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Calls for restraint in DR Congo after tense vote". France 24. AFP. 23 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e ISSAfrica.org (3 November 2023). "Is DRC heading for another chaotic election?". ISS Africa. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Elections in DR Congo: Reducing the Risk of Violence". www.crisisgroup.org. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Martin Fayulu à Bagata : « Nous allons avoir une armée de 500 000 personnes bien formées et bien équipée »". Radio Okapi (in French). 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ a b "DRC: campaigning for presidential elections officially launched". Africanews. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "DR Congo faces logistical, security challenges before pivotal December poll". France 24. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ CENI. "Synthese du Calendrier des Activites Electorales" (PDF) (in French). Radio Okapi. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ CENI. "Calendrier des Activites Electorales" (PDF) (in French). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "Constitution de la Republique Democratique du Congo" [The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo] (PDF). LEGANET.CD (in French). 20 January 2011. Article 71. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "DEC. 30, 2018 DR Congo election for Assemblée Nationale". ElectionGuide. IFES. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Présidentielle 2023 : la Cour constitutionnelle valide 2 nouvelles candidatures". Radio Okapi (in French). 30 October 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Elections 2023 : après Matata et Kikuni, Franck Diongo se rallie à Moïse Katumbi". Radio Okapi (in French). 20 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Présidentielle 2023 : Matata Ponyo se retire au profit de Moïse Katumbi". Radio Okapi (in French). 19 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Présidentielle 2023 : le candidat Delly Sessanga rallie Moise Katumbi". Radio Okapi (in French). 3 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Campagne électorale en RDC : désistement de 7 candidats président en un mois". Radio Okapi (in French). 18 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Kibuacha, Frankline (23 August 2023). "The GeoPoll Socio-Political Barometer Survey DRC - Q2 2023 Report". GeoPoll. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Angus-Hammond, Matt (23 December 2022). "Democratic Republic of the Congo - The GeoPoll Socio-Political Barometer Survey - Report Preview". GeoPoll. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
Further reading[edit]
- Walsh, Declan; Bashizi, Arlette (17 December 2023). "The Overlooked Crisis in Congo: 'We Live in War'". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
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| Parliamentary elections | |
| Provincial elections | |
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