AFRICA/DR CONGO - If elections are not held by November all institutions will be delegitimized

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - "The Democratic Republic of Congo is likely to become the only Country in the world where all institutions will not have a mandate, therefore, illegal and illegitimate". This is what is said in a note sent to Agenzia Fides by the Peace Network for Congo, which asks: "is it still possible to organize the presidential and national legislative elections by the end of November 2016, and the outcome of the results to be accepted by all without being contested"?.
These considerations arise from the announcement of the government in Kinshasa that says it does not have sufficient means to finance the electoral process. On its behalf, the Electoral Commission has not begun the task of revision and update of voter lists.
In the case of failed elections in the coming month of November, also the President of the Republic and the National Assembly of deputies will lose legitimacy because they will have exceeded the duration of their mandate. Already the Senate and the Assemblies of the provincial deputies have been illegitimate since January 2012, having been elected in January 2007 for a term of five years.
"It is a deadlock which, probably, a constitutional solution is difficult to give" the statement said.
"The solution to this deadlock can only be a political one and is through dialogue between the different parties Involved in the electoral process. The Electoral Commission already has an hoc committee: a tripartite, composed of Delegates of the Electoral Commission, political parties of the majority and the opposition parties", suggests the note.
As regards to the financing of elections, it is irresponsible to apply the principle of "national sovereignty" if the State as such does not have the necessary means for the organization of elections. It would be wise to seek the help of the international community which already said it is ready to collaborate as, indeed, it did in 2006", the statement concludes. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 06/05/2016)

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