DR Congo Election Begins Amid Delays, Logistics Issues

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Facts

• After a nearly three-hour delay, some 44M voters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) headed to the polls to cast their ballots in the presidential election on Wednesday. Issues that have arisen include people not seeing their names on voting lists and smudged ink on voting cards, making them illegible and resulting in their votes being discarded.¹
• In the city of Bunia, located in the country's violence-plagued eastern region, security forces reportedly fired warning shots after a voting station was vandalized and kits were destroyed amid protests by displaced citizens who want to vote in their hometowns. Authorities sought extra helicopters to open polling stations in areas lacking good roads or security.²
• According to the National Episcopal Conference of Congo and the Church of Christ in Congo observer mission, 31% of polling stations were open as of midday, with 45% of voting machines in stations that were open experiencing problems. The group also claimed that around 25K of its observers were unable to reach polling centers.³
• For the first time in the country's history, Congolese nationals living in five other countries — including South Africa and Belgium — have been allowed to cast their vote from abroad. In the eastern region, however, Human Rights Watch has said that upwards of 1.5M people may not be able to vote due to security issues.⁴
• With the Independent National Electoral Commission expected to announce the results on Dec. 31, Election chief Denis Kadima said voting would be extended in the affected areas, with polls due to reopen Thursday. Kadima also claimed there were at least 3,244 attempts to hack the commission's computers.⁵
• The election, in which incumbent Pres. Felix Tshisekedi is taking on 18 opposition candidates, comes as the world's third-largest copper producer faces crises of poverty and rebel violence. Among the opposition candidates, who have pledged to outperform Tshisekedi in bringing peace, stability, and economic development, is the 2018 runner-up Martin Fayulu.²

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²CNN, ³Guardian, ⁴Africanews and ⁵BBC News.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Daily maverick. Pres. Tshisekedi has not only done well for himself given the geopolitical and economic circumstances of the DRC, but he's done so as an underdog. While things certainly aren't perfect right now, Tshisekedi could win this election and build upon his successful accession into the East African Community and post-pandemic economic growth.
• Narrative B, as provided by The east african. The Congolese people shouldn't accept any election outcome if these widespread irregularities aren't fixed. Given the fact that the 2018 election was not fully accepted, 2023 should be one where every vote is counted and the voting process is tightly monitored. If it takes more time to ensure election integrity, then so be it.