DRC: the mandates of deputies from provinces experiencing great insecurity extended by several months
Although their mandate expired following the December 2023 elections, the 16 national deputies representing the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi in North Kivu, and Kwamouth, in the province of Mai-Ndombe, will remain in office until the organization legislative elections in these regions.
A ruling to this effect was pronounced by the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.
As a reminder, insecurity in these areas prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) from carrying out the polls last December.
Insecurity which still affects these regions of the DRC.
In Nsélé, north of Kinshasa, displaced people from Kwamouth gathered while waiting for a food distribution in December 2022. © Paulina Zidi / RFI
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with our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Patient Ligodi
Faced with a serious escalation of violence in the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru, and Kwamouth, the CENI is cautiously planning the identification and registration of voters from July 1 to 20, 2024.
This decision is, however, conditioned by the expectation of authorization and security guarantees from the government for staff, voters and electoral materials, due to the precarious security situation.
Particularly in Kwamouth, in the province of Maï-Ndombe, where
inter-community clashes between the Yaka and the Teke
have caused the destruction of almost half of the villages and the death of hundreds of civilians since 2022, according to United Nations experts.
The presence of the
Mobondo militia
, which has strengthened its offensive capabilities and now organizes attacks of a military nature, further complicates the situation.
Masisi and Rutshuru are not spared from the violence, with the
M23
continuing to strengthen militarily.
Also read: Fighting in eastern DRC: “Throughout Masisi, famine is setting in,” says a local official
The situation is further complicated by the confirmed presence of Rwandan soldiers and military equipment on Congolese territory, which represents an additional challenge for the holding of elections in the short term, according to a government source.
Read alsoDRC: violent clashes in Rutshuru during an offensive by the M23 rebels
For its part, the CENI, while preparing to deploy, underlines the importance of security to carry out the electoral process in these difficult conditions.
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