As many as 44 million of Congolese are called to polls today Dec. 20 for general elections including much expected presidential election that has caused heated campaigns boding violence and fraud.
The voters will elect regional and provincial lawmakers as well as mayors. The climax of the process is the election of the leader of the country.
Two main contenders emerged from the campaigns: incumbent Félix Tshisekedi and former ally and governor Moïse Katumbi. They stole the show from 24 other candidates and secured support from seven other candidates. Four of the seven sided with Katumbi while the other three rallied behind Tshisekedi.
The campaign was marred by hate speeches and accusations of fraud and fear for violence on the voting day and after. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres according his spokesman Stephane Dujarric urged authorities, political leaders, civil society, and the Commission Electorale Nationale Independante (CENI) to ensure that all eligible voters have access to the polling stations and cast their ballots freely, without fear of intimidation or political persecution.
The UN Chief also deplores the violence during the electoral campaign and urges all political actors and supporters to refrain from actions that would further incite violence or exacerbate hate speech against certain communities or groups and attacks against women candidates, Dujarric told reporters.
The European Union (EU) will not observe the elections after Congolese denied its permit.
Peter Kazadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, accused the EU observation mission of bringing materials that did not fit in with election observation.
“The government of the Republic has issued invitations to international organizations to come and observe the elections. But some of these organizations came with technology that could penetrate CENI’s electronic system and manipulate the election results”, P. Kazadi said Tuesday December 19 during a press conference.