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🇨🇩 DR Congo /Elections & Politics

DRC National Assembly Accepts Electoral Commission's 2025-2026 Report Amidst Challenges

From Radio Okapi · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The National Assembly has deemed the 2025-2026 report of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) admissible.
  • The report details the CENI's activities in 2025 and preparations for the upcoming electoral cycle, highlighting logistical, security, and funding challenges.
  • Proposed reforms for the 2028 elections include expanding participation for Congolese abroad, accounting for internally displaced persons, and enhancing biometric systems.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's National Assembly has accepted the 2025-2026 report from the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), paving the way for its review. The document outlines the commission's activities over the past year and its preparations for future elections.

During the presentation, CENI President Denis Kadima highlighted ongoing operations within the 2022-2027 electoral cycle, including the organization of senatorial and gubernatorial elections in the Kwilu and North-Ubangi provinces. He stressed the significant hurdles faced in organizing elections across the DRC, citing persistent logistical problems, insecurity in the eastern regions, outdated electoral infrastructure, and irregular funding.

logistical problems, the insecurity persistent in the East of the country, the obsolescence of electoral infrastructures, the irregularity of financings.

— Denis KadimaDuring his presentation of the CENI's 2025-2026 report, the CENI President detailed the significant challenges hindering election organization in the DRC.

Kadima also noted that several local elections, such as those for mayors and urban councilors, could not be held due to a lack of financing. He revealed that only a portion of the allocated budget for 2025 had been disbursed, impacting the commission's operational capacity.

several local elections, like those of the mayors, mayors and urban councilors, could not be organized for lack of financing.

— Denis KadimaThe CENI President explained why certain local elections were postponed, highlighting the impact of insufficient funding.

Looking ahead to the 2028 elections, the report proposes several reforms. These include broadening the participation of Congolese citizens living abroad, incorporating the needs of internally displaced persons, strengthening biometric mechanisms, and enabling electronic candidate applications. The CENI also suggests using the Bosolo Electoral Center to enhance transparency in the centralization and publication of results. Kadima cautioned against the risks of disinformation, cyberattacks, and digital manipulation that threaten modern electoral processes.

Deputies emphasized the critical need to ensure timely financial resources for the CENI to adequately prepare for upcoming polls. Many advocated for consistent funding to guarantee credible and peaceful elections in the DRC.

risks linked to disinformation, cyberattacks and digital manipulations that threaten modern electoral processes.

— Denis KadimaThe CENI President issued a warning about emerging threats to the integrity of elections in the digital age.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Radio Okapi in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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