DRC / Elections : Voting Continues on Thursday after a Mixed Wednesday
The general elections that began on Wednesday continue into Thursday in the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) due to logistical problems that prevented the opening of some polling stations. Many irregularities have been observed in various places.
The Congolese government adopts an optimistic perspective on the conduct of the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), choosing to see the glass half full despite major logistical challenges. It commends the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) for maintaining the electoral schedule, expresses satisfaction with the mobilization of voters, and encourages the CENI to address the encountered difficulties.
However, several polling centers closed operations late into the night, and some have already started the counting process in the presence of witnesses and observers. Denis Kadima, the president of CENI, estimates that despite delays, malfunctions, violence, and adverse weather conditions, around 70% of the expected voters were able to cast their votes.
Considering all these irregularities, the CENI has extended the voting for an additional day for Congolese citizens who were unable to exercise their civic duty on Wednesday. However, the CENI expresses confidence in expediting the processes, announcing the possibility of publishing the first provisional results as early as Friday.
It’s worth noting that more than 44 million voters, out of a total population of around 100 million, were called upon to elect their president on Wednesday, along with their national and provincial deputies, as well as local councilors. Over 100.000 candidates were vying for the four elections, including 19 for the presidential election, which is a single-round election for which the opposition could not find a common candidate.
