DRC: Félix Tshisekedi promulgates controversial law on Ceni reform
The Congolese president to Félix Tshisekedi, May 18, 2021. AP - Ludovic Marin
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3 min
Congolese politicians will retain control over the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni).
With around two years of the next elections, differences persist, in particular on the architecture of the Commission.
President Felix Tshisekedi promulgated the reform on Tuesday evening July 6, dispensing with the demands of the opposition, civil society and religious denominations.
The stumbling block remains the depoliticization of the Ceni, also wanted by the United Nations.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Pascal Mulegwa
Civil society would like to lead the Ceni alone, failing to be in the majority in the plenary which must have 15 members.
It remains in the minority even if its quota goes from 3 to 5 members.
10 seats remain reserved for politicians, including 6 for the pro-Tshisekedi majority and 4 for the opposition.
In the management body office composed of 7 members, religious denominations from civil society retain the presidency of the Ceni.
The other positions will be occupied by two opponents and 4 members from the majority.
An imbalance that irritates religious leaders but not only.
The radical opposition tandem, Martin Fayulu and Adolphe Muzito, is categorical: "
The act taken by Mr. Felix Tshilombo [Tshisekedi, editor's note] is considered a declaration of war,
ton Prince Epenge, one of the spokespersons of the Lamuka coalition.
He decides to pass in force.
We reject this law and we call on the people to be attentive to the slogan that will be given by Lamuka, to be ready, to invade the streets of Kinshasa and the deep Congo to resoundingly reject the law that prepares the fraud in 2023. . It's not acceptable.
"
Kabila's FCC remains silent
So far, Joseph Kabila's coalition has remained silent on reform.
It was also mostly voted by deputies and senators in Parliament, even if some FCC caciques still plead for a consensus.
Long before the promulgation, one of the FCC group leaders, Constant Mutamba, had already planned a demonstration on Monday in the streets of Kinshasa to, he said, "
demand consensus around electoral reforms, through a dialogue electoral
”.
For its part, the Catholic Church via its episcopate, the CENCO, says it regrets the promulgation of the text.
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To read also: DRC: a report tries to relaunch the debate on the reform of the CENI ousted by the political crisis
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