2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election

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2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg
←  2018 20 December 2023 (2023-12-20)2028 →
Presidential election
Registered41,738,628
Turnout42.65% (Decrease2.svg 4.92pp)
  Felix Tshisekedi in 2021.jpg Moise Katumbi en 2016.tiff
Nominee Félix Tshisekedi Moïse Katumbi
Party UDPS Ensemble
Alliance USN Congo ya Makasi
Popular vote13,058,9623,256,572
Percentage73.47%18.32%
2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo presidential election by province.svg
2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo presidential election by territory.svg
President before election

Félix Tshisekedi
UDPS

Elected President

Félix Tshisekedi
UDPS

Legislative election
484 of the 500 seat National Assembly
251 seats needed for a majority
Prime Minister beforePrime Minister after
Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, premier ministre de la RDC (cropped).png Sama Lukonde
ACO (USN)		 Judith Suminwa
UDPS (USN)		 TULUKA 2023 (profile).jpg

General elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 20 December 2023. Combined elections were held for the President, 484 of the 500 members of the National Assembly, 700 of the 716 elected members of the 26 provincial assemblies, and for the first time under the new constitution, 951 members of a scaled down number of commune (municipal) councils. On election day, the Congolese government extended voting to 21 December for polling stations that had not opened on 20 December. [1] [2] Agence France-Presse reported that some polling stations would open as late as 24 December. [3]

Contents

These elections were the first of the 4th election cycle under the 2006 constitution. Six more elections are scheduled to follow in 2024, five of which are indirect.

Elections were not organized in the territories of Kwamouth, Masisi, and Rutshuru due to ongoing armed conflict

Incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi was provisionally declared the winner on 31 December by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), winning about 73% of the vote. [4]

Background

2018 electoral fraud

President Félix Tshisekedi's election in 2018 was extremely controversial, with most independent observers, including the Catholic Church, believing that opposition candidate Martin Fayulu had actually won in a landslide. They believe that outgoing President Joseph Kabila, realising that a chosen successor candidate couldn't credibly win, struck a deal with Tshisekedi to make him president while Kabila governed jointly with him. [5]

According to Jacques Mukena, Senior Governance Researcher at Ebuteli Institute, the election will most likely not be completely free and fair, but believes Tshisekedi and the CENI are aware of the fact that they would be under closer scrutiny than in 2018 because more local and international observers would be watching. Additionally, candidates such as Delly Sesanga have already declared that they would believe the Catholic Church's opinion of who won the elections, not CENI's. [5]

According to the Crisis Group, there is a fear of a wider political crisis if losing candidates or their backers do not accept the presidential results. Any crisis, while not inevitable, could worsen the already dire situation in the east. [6]

On 20 November, Fayulu advocated for transparent and impartial elections, he insisted that the Congolese "must no longer accept someone stealing their victory." [7]

Insecurity

Map of the M23 offensive with Goma on the north shore of Lake Kivu at the bottom M23offensive.png
Map of the M23 offensive with Goma on the north shore of Lake Kivu at the bottom

The Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered from almost constant conflict in the east for the past 30 years. More recently, violence surged in the region after a new rebellion by the M23 group, supported by Rwanda, caused much of the North Kivu province to be occupied by rebels. This upsurge in violence comes as MONUSCO is expected to begin its "accelerated" withdrawal, as requested by Tshisekedi, after an almost 25-year presence in the country. [8] [9]

Due to this, two territories of the province will not be able to vote normally, but if Goma were to fall as it did in 2012, the whole process would be compromised. [8]

With the possibility of over a million voters being disenfranchised from instability, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has proposed sending a regional intervention force into eastern DRC to try to stabilise the area. The SADC Mission in the DRC was first proposed in May and was meant to go in by September but has been postponed, with its most recent summit concerning finance. [5]

According to the Institute for Security Studies, it's hard to imagine the mission could go in and suppress all of eastern DRC's many armed rebel groups in time to enfranchise those voters. [5]

Schedule

Selected dates from the electoral calendar: [10] [11]

Electoral system

Presidential election

The president is elected by plurality voting in one round. [12] For the first time, some Congolese living abroad were able to vote in the presidential election. These were those living in Belgium, Canada, France, South Africa, and the United States.

National Assembly, provincial assembly, and commune council elections

Electoral districts and seat allocation

Except for the four National Assembly districts of Kinshasa, all electoral districts are simply administrative subdivisions of the country; the four exceptions are themselves groupings of administrative divisions of Kinshasa.

Contested electoral districts of the 2023 general election [13]
Forthe Districts areTotal
in Provincesin KinshasaDistrictsSeatsCandidates [14]
National Assembly territories a and cities Kinshasa I-IVb179 (64)c484c. 25,000
26 Provincial assemblies communes 199 (37)700c. 32,000
113 Commune councils communes d113 (0)951c. 49,000
Notes: a) Postponed in the territories of Kwamouth, Masisi, and Rutshuru due to armed conflict. b) Kinshasa I: Lukunga, II: Funa, III: Mont-Amba, IV: Tshangu. c) Total single member districts in parentheses. d) Only the communes of Kinshasa and the 25 provincial capitals.

At the start of every five year election cycle voter registration takes place. The results for each province, including Kinshasa, are first used to proportionally distribute the 500 National Assembly seats and the 780 total seats of the provincial assemblies to the provinces. This determines the size of the provincial delegation in the National Assembly and the size of each provincial assembly. The second phase proportionally allocates provincial seats to each assembly district—in the case of the provincial assemblies, up to 10% of seats are reserved for the co-option of traditional leaders and are not allocated to an assembly district.

For the 2023 election, voter registration could not be carried out in some areas of the territories of Kwamouth, Masisi, and Rutshuru due to armed conflict. To deal with this, it was decided to postpone the elections in these territories, to reserve the same number of seats for these districts as they had in 2018, and to proportionally distribute the remaining seats to the other districts. The result was that only 484 National Assembly seats and 700 provincial assembly seats were to be contested.

Lumumbaville elected its first National Assembly deputy and its first deputy to the Provincial Assembly of Sankuru. This was the only new legislative district of the 2024-2028 legislature. [15]

In the case of a commune council election, the commune is the single multi-member electoral district with the number of members determined by the number of registered voters in the commune according to a fixed table.

Getting on the ballot

Each candidate for these elections are part of a three-person ticket which includes candidates for first and second substitute. It is not unusual for a candidate to run for both a national and provincial assembly seat in which case they can keep but one and a substitute takes the other.

A new rule requires participating political parties and alliances to contest at least 60% of the seats up for renewal in an election. So for example, each party/alliance had to register at least 290 candidates to participate in the National Assembly election. [16]

Election method

The method by which members are elected are different in districts having more than one seat, the most common case, from those that end up with only one seat. [17]

In multiple-member districts, members are elected by open list proportional representation, with seats assigned using the largest remainder method. Candidates who win more than half the vote in their district are automatically assigned a seat. [18] Otherwise, a party or independent candidate must meet an election threshold to qualify for seat assignment. [17] The election thresholds for the National Assembly, a provincial assembly, or a commune council are 1% of the vote nationally, 3% provincially, and 10% in the commune, respectively. [19]

In single member districts, members are elected using first-past-the-post voting. [17]

Candidates

The 26 official presidential candidates were: [20]

Active up to election day

Withdrew in favor of another candidate

Opinion polls

Opinion polling is rare in the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to poor roads and lack of electricity. Nevertheless, a survey conducted by GeoPoll Socio-Political Barometer in the second quarter of 2023 found that voters expressed significant discontent with the governance under Tshisekedi, assigning him a satisfaction rating of 49.7%. Despite this, the survey also suggested that Tshisekedi would secure a second term thanks in part to perceived improvements, such as his free education initiative, and partly due to a divided opposition. [5] [25]

An earlier 2022 poll by the same group found unemployment and insecurity to be the most cited dysfunctional areas, closely followed by the state of the country's roads and rising prices. On the other hand, free education was found to be the most favorable policy. [26]

Conduct

Pre-election violence

While the lead-up to the election was generally calm, several violent incidents were reported. On 14 July 2023, Chérubin Okende Senga, spokesperson for ENSEMBLE and former transport minister, was fatally shot in Kinshasa. The murder, described by Katumbi as a "political assassination," led to legal action by Senga's relatives in Brussels, accusing the head of the DRC's military intelligence of involvement. [27] [28] Later in the year, a Katumbi rally in Moanda was broken up by live rounds, injuring several people. The provincial government blamed Katumbi's guards, stating that they fired warning shots after the crowd grew rowdy. Katumbi blamed the police. [29]

Violent clashes between supporters of different parties were also observed across various provinces, with candidates facing death threats on the campaign trail. On November 4, suspected UDPS activists attacked the convoy of Martin Fayulu in Tshikapa, Kasai province. On November 7, UDPS supporters clashed with ENSEMBLE supporters at a rally in Kasumbalesa, followed by ransacking of the local UDPS headquarters by Ensemble supporters.

On November 28, during Katumbi's march in Kindu, UDPS supporters threw stones at Dido Kakisingi, leader of ENSEMBLE's Maniema youth league, to then be run over and killed by a truck belonging to the campaign team of Maniema Governor Afani Idrissa Mangala. [30] After his killing, more UDPS supporters were seen throwing stones, and gunshots were recorded, presumably from the Congolese National Police. [31] Two people were sentenced to five years in jail in relation to the killing of Kakisingi.

At least 19 deaths, including two candidates, have been attributed to election-related violence. [32]

Election preparations

The CENI was reportedly woefully underprepared for the election. Due to the state of the country's roads compared to its size and the lack of funding, the CENI was forced to resort to doing almost everything via plane. As transporting by air is costly, the CENI had to get Egypt to send two C-130 Hercules planes to help deliver ballot papers at the last moment. Additionally, the CENI begged the UN to use its aircraft. [33]

Election day

On election day voting offices were scheduled to open at 6 AM, but delays were observed nationwide, resulting in the formation of exceptionally long lines. Various logistical issues further compounded the situation, including the late arrival of materials, malfunctioning voting machines, failed batteries intended to sustain their operation, and instances of lost ballot papers. This prolonged waiting period reportedly led to frustration among poorly informed and/or impatient individuals, resulting in attacks on poll workers and polling stations. Additionally, 11,000 voting stations didn't even vote at all or were not counted. [33]

According to Schadrack Mukad, an adjunct executive national secretary of the Civil Society Organization for Peace in Congo, which deployed 75,000 observers during the vote, "there were cases of machines that were seized by certain candidates and others by certain agents of the CENI outside voting places.” He expressed concern about the involvement of certain politico-administrative authorities and electoral candidates, who he says diverted CENI agents away from polling stations for a significant duration. Mukad attributed these violations to members affiliated with Tshisekedi's coalition. [33]

Controversially, the election necessitated an extension into a second day, a move which was declared illegal by local observers and civil society, and parts of the country were still casting ballots five days after election day. [34]

The CENI recognised cases of fraud, vandalism and intimidation, as well as the use of illegal voting machines. [34]

Analysis

According to Nicolas Niarchos, in his piece for The New York Review of Books, the CENI's polling station data, "although impressive in detail", showed "strange" results. In the Fayulu stronghold of Kinshasa, for example, only 1,756,303 votes were counted–just ten percent of the capital's population. [33]

Tafi Mhaka, in an opinion piece for Aljazeera, described the elections as "shambolic," calling for the Southern African Development Community to uphold electoral standards in every single member country. [35]

Alternatively, Albert Kasanda, in his piece for The Conversation, partially attributes the opposition's failure to unite behind a single candidate and their campaign strategies, compared to Tshisekedi, who had the backing of major political figures which provided him a broad territorial network and a foothold in various regions of the country. [36]

Results

President

CandidatePartyVotes%
Félix Tshisekedi Union for Democracy and Social Progress 13,058,96273.47
Moïse Katumbi Together for the Republic 3,256,57218.32
Martin Fayulu Commitment to Citizenship and Development875,3364.92
Adolphe Muzito New Momentum200,8001.13
Soborabo Radjabho TebabhoCongolese United for Change70,0990.39
Denis Mukwege Independent39,6390.22
Aggrey Ngalasi KurisiniIndependent37,2010.21
Constant Mutamba  [ fr ]Revolutionary Progressive Dynamic36,1970.20
Jean-Claude Baende Independent25,5840.14
Delly Sesanga Flight17,7850.10
Loli Nkema Liloo BokonziIndependent17,0460.10
Patrice Majondo MwambaIndependent15,7930.09
Marie-Josée Ifoku Independent15,2660.09
Matata Ponyo Mapon Leadership and Governance for Development14,1810.08
André Masalu AneduIndependent13,9740.08
Floribert AnzuluniIndependent13,7070.08
Noël Tshiani Independent9,2760.05
Seth Kikuni Independent8,6210.05
Justin Mudekereza BisimwaIndependent7,5730.04
Joëlle Bile Batali  [ fr ]Independent6,9110.04
Franck Diongo  [ fr ]Progressive Lumumbist Movement6,7800.04
Tony Bolamba  [ fr ]Independent6,3070.04
Rex Kazadi KandaIndependent5,7570.03
Georges Buse FalayIndependent5,2880.03
Enoch NgilaIndependent5,1560.03
Théodore Ngoy Independent4,1320.02
Total17,773,943100.00
Valid votes17,773,94399.85
Invalid/blank votes26,2520.15
Total votes17,800,195100.00
Registered voters/turnout41,738,62842.65
Source: CENI [37] as amended by the Constitutional Court [38]

National Assembly

Prominent opposition figure Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy and his coalition, the Common Front for Congo (FFC), just like with the presidential election, did not partake in the electoral process, citing unmet demands such as representation of the FCC within the CENI, an independent, balanced constitutional court, a consensual electoral law that guarantees greater transparency, security for opposition members, and the restoration of security in the eastern part of the DRC as well as in the province of Mai-Ndombe. [39] Another prominent opposition figure, Fayulu, blocked his party from participating in the parliamentary election. [40]

The provisional results, initially due on January 3, 2024, were delayed by 10 days due to reported fraud and irregularities denounced by CENI. [41] According to the provisional results, 44 parties and/or political groupings had met the threshold for representation in the National Assembly. [42] The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the names of 477 of the 500 deputies, pending the results from constituencies where unrest and violence were recorded. This includes 177 constituencies, as the results of Masimanimba in Kwilu and Yakoma in Nord-Ubangi were annulled for fraud, and in the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru in North Kivu and Kwamouth in Maï-Ndombe, elections were not held due to the activism of armed groups. [42] [43] [44]

After CENI invalidated 82 candidates, the ruling UDPS/Tshisekedi party won the most seats, giving President Félix Tshisekedi a comfortable parliamentary majority.[ citation needed ] Matata Ponyo Mapon, Constant Mutamba, Jean-Claude Baende and Adolphe Muzito, who also stood in the presidential election, were elected in Kindu, Lubao, Mbandaka and Kikwit respectively, while a large number of the president's allies, including the two presidents of the houses of parliament: Christophe Mboso and Bahati Lukuebo, Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, and the candidate deputy prime ministers Vital Kamerhe, Jean-Pierre Lihau and Christophe Lutundula, won their seats once again. [45] [46]

Provisional results
Democratic Republic of the Congo National Assembly 2023.svg
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Sacred Union of the Nation Union for Democracy and Social Progress 1,664,0499.2969+37
Allied Actions–Union for the Congolese Nation 903,9285.0535+19
Alliance of Democratic Forces of Congo890,7534.9735–6
Agissons and Buildings 752,5594.2026–
Allied Actions–All for the Development of Congo 692,4913.8621–
Alliance of actors attached to the people 649,2263.6221–
Alliance bloc 50 546,0793.0520–
Movement for the Liberation of the Congo 471,3752.6319–3
Alliance for the Advent of a Prosperous and Greater Congo 532,0662.9716–
Alternative Action of Actors for the Love of Congo 392,1402.1916–
Alliance 2024 443,8592.4815–
It's up to us to build the Congo 379,1352.1213–
Congo Allied Action for the Convention 390,1612.1810–
Coalition of Democrats 431,0282.419–
Actions of the Allies of the Convention for the Republic and Democracy 320,3701.799–
Alliance of Progressive Congolese and Allies 260,3921.459–
Alliance for Democratic Alternation and Allies 336,8131.888–
Action for National Unity 239,9691.348–
Audible Actions for Good Governance 191,0561.078–
Alliance for Values 330,8131.857–
Alliance for the Triple and Allies 305,7281.717–
Allied Action for the Rise of the Congo 284,2051.597–
Alliance of Nationalists 277,4601.557–
Actions of Convention Allies–Unified Lumumbist Party 215,8771.207–10
Alliance for the Solidarity Movement for Change 291,2261.636–
Alliances of Unified and Allied Tshisekedists 287,9961.616–
Another Vision of Congo and Allies 187,3581.055–
Alliance and Action for the Rule of Law 258,2551.444–
Political and Social Forces Allied to the UDPS 206,7211.154–
Christian Alternative for Congo 190,6061.064–
Alliance 2025 232,6481.303–
Alternative Vital Kamerhe 2018 200,8991.123–
UDPS–KIBASSA–A180,0541.002+2
Alliance of Political Parties Allied to the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo 179,9291.002–
Alliance for the Reform of the Republic 179,8771.002–
Action for the Federative Cause 179,8471.002–
Alliance for the Growth and Democracy of Congo 221,8691.241–
Alliance for Development Actions in Congo 191,0531.071–
Allied Action for the Love of the Republic/Convention for the Republic 179,8511.000–
Total15,425,41686.09447New
Together for the Republic 497,0092.7718New
Avançons-MS 202,7501.135+4
Alliance of Elites in the Service of the People and Allies 179,9531.000–
New Momentum 179,8701.003–
Dynamique Progressive Revolutionnaire 179,8341.003–
Alternation138,1750.770–
Action of the Allies114,9700.640–
The Progressives110,4610.620–
Rally of Tshisekediast Democrats105,0460.590–
Action for the Breakthrough and Development and Allies104,8760.590–
Action of the Allies Acquired to Democracy104,8410.590–
Alliance of Democrats for Renewal and Progress101,7860.570–
Alliance of Christian Democrats of Congo99,7480.560–
Leadership and Governance for Development 75,9440.421–
Lumbist Social Movement66,5360.370–
Action of the Nationalist Allies for Democracy66,1060.370–
Actions of the Allies for Democracy and Development61,0460.340–
Let's Act 750,9430.280–
Popular Awakening49,1050.270–
Action for Reconstruction and Work and Allies47,8420.270–
Alliance for the Development and Integrity of the Homeland41,7310.230–
New Political Order on the Horizon 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo37,4160.210–
Alliance of Reformers for a New Leadership36,0900.200–
Patriotic Front 202333,3830.190–
Alliance of Democrats for the Emergence of Congo and Allies33,1630.190–
Alliance of the Congolese for the Refoundation of the Nation32,8660.180–
Party of the Flight of the DR.Congo29,1290.160–
Mbonda24,6920.140–
Citizen Alternative13,7630.080–
New Conscious Generation12,8620.070–
Congolese United for Change10,0040.060–
Love of the Neighbor and the Part of Congo5,4710.030–
Annulled districts7+7
Total17,917,132100.00484–16
Valid votes17,917,13295.54
Invalid votes748,0793.99
Blank votes88,8390.47
Total votes18,754,050100.00
Source: CENI [47] [48] USN members [49] opposition members [50]

Provincial assemblies

Combined provisional results
Party AbbreviationVotes%Seats+/–
UDPS/TSHISEKEDI 10259
AFDC-A  [ fr ]66–2
A/A-UNC 48–
2A/TDC 39–
AB 34–
AACPG 30–
MLC 296
ANB 26–
ENSEMBLE 23–
4AC 21–
A/B50 18–
A24 17–
CDER17–
AAAP 16–
ACP-A 14–
AAD-A 10–
AEDC-A 10–
AAeC 10–
AAC/PALU 9–
A3A 8–
APA/MLC 8–
ARDEV-A8–
A25 7–
AV 7–
AA/C 7–
FPAU 7–
A/VK2018 6–
AN 6–
A2R 6–
AVC-A 6–
ATUA 5–
APCF 5–
A1 5–
AACRD 4–
ALTERNANCE4–
AAAD4–
AMSC 3–
A73–
1A/A3–
CRP3–
NOU.EL 3–
AE 2–
AABG 2–
AUN 2–
AADC-A 2–
ALDEC2–
AVANCONS-MS 2–
CODE 2–
AAAVC2–
MSL2–
DTC2–
ADCN2–
ASOD2–
AESPA 1–
AAAR/CRD 1–
LP1–
DYPRO 1–
ART&A1–
LGD 1–
ACSCO1–
Other parties and
independents		0 
Annulled12 
Total700–15
Valid votes17,960,91099.53
Invalid/blank votes84,4380.47
Total votes18,045,348100.00
Registered voters/turnout41,738,62843.23
Source: CENI [51] [52] [53]

Composition of provincial assemblies

ProvinceElected seats
TotalVParty
Bas-Uele 17AAeCUDPS/T.A1MLC2A/TDCABAFDC-AANBENSEM.
532211111
Equateur 19FPAUAFDC-ACDERABAPA/MLCMLCAAAPDYPROUDPS/T.
433222111
Haut-Katanga 44ENSEM.UDPS/T.2A/TDCARDEV-AAB1A/A
11108843
Haut-Lomami 24ABAFDC-AANBENSEM.UDPS/T.AAAPALDECAUNALTER.AMSC
4333322211
Haut-Uele 18A/A-UNCA1A24UDPS/T.2A/TDCA/VK2018A/B50
4333221
Ituri 43A/B50AACPGA/A-UNCAFDC-A4ACA2RMLCUDPS/T.AAeCMSL
7655444422
Kasai 30UDPS/T.A/A-UNCAFDC-A2A/TDCAACPGA2RA3AAPCFDTCACSCO
6543322221
Kasai Central 31UDPS/T.A3A2A/TDCAFDC-AA/A-UNCAACPGAPCFATUA
65443333
Kasai Oriental 22UDPS/T.4ACA24AFDC-AAADC-AAV2A/TDC
8333221
Kinshasa 44UDPS/T.ACP-A4ACAFDC-AMLCANBAACPG
14966621
Kongo Central 36A/A-UNCAVC-AUDPS/T.AFDC-ACDERABAVAAAP
86644332
Kwango 22AAC/PALUAACRDABUDPS/T.4ACAAD-AAFDC-AA25AAAR/CRDAEDC-ACDER
33332221111
Kwilu 438AACPGAAC/PALUAA/CANBAFDC-A2A/TDCNOU.ELAV
76554332
Lomami 252A/TDCAACPG4ACAFDC-AUDPS/T.A24ACP-AATUAA3AAMSC
4433322211
Lualaba 22A24A25ENSEM.A/A-UNCALTER.UDPS/T.ANART&AAVAN.-MS
444322111
Mai-Ndombe 172AAAPAAeCACP-A2A/TDCADCNAFDC-AUDPS/T.
5331111
Maniema 20AACPGA24UDPS/T.A/A-UNCENSEM.A25AAAPAACRDABLGD
5332211111
Mongala 18MLCUDPS/T.FPAUA/A-UNCAA/CA24A25CDER
44322111
Nord-Kivu 4414A/B50AAD-AABCRPUDPS/T.A/A-UNCAAAVCAEDC-ACODEAMSC
7533322221
Nord-Ubangi 1742A/TDCAFDC-ACDERMLCA/A-UNCADCNAESPAASODUDPS/T.
222211111
Sankuru 232A/TDCUDPS/T.ABANBA/A-UNCAAAPAEA/VK2018AAD-AAFDC-A
4433222111
Sud-Kivu 44A/A-UNCAFDC-AUDPS/T.2A/TDCAEDC-AANA/B50A/VK2018AAAP
887444333
Sud-Ubangi 26CDERAFDC-AAPA/MLCANBLPMLCABUDPS/T.ASODAACPG
6244142111
Tanganyika 23AFDC-A4ACAB2A/TDCAABGANBENSEM.UDPS/T.ALTER.AVAN.-MS
5332222211
Tshopo 27AFDC-AAAADANBMLCA/A-UNCAEDC-AUDPS/T.A7
54443331
Tshuapa 17ABA7AAD-AANBAPA/MLCA24ANMLCUDPS/T.
522221111
Total71628
Source: CENI [51] [52]

Aftermath

On 6 January 2024, Katumbi released a statement disputing the results of the election on the grounds of "massive fraud and treachery" and calling for the resignation of Denis Kadima, the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Two days later, his party stated that he had been placed under house arrest, with a spokesman reporting the presence of "heavily armed soldiers traveling in armoured vehicles surrounding his house". [54] The security forces were subsequently ordered to withdraw by the provincial governor Jacques Kyabula Katwe. [55]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moïse Katumbi</span> Democratic Republic of the Congo politician

Moïse Katumbi Chapwe is a Congolese businessman and politician. He leads the Together for the Republic party. He was Governor of Katanga Province, located in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from 2007 to September 2015. He was a member of the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) until September 2015. He has been described by The Economist as "probably the second most powerful man in the Democratic Republic of Congo after the president, Joseph Kabila". Jeune Afrique named him "African of the Year" in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Democratic Republic of the Congo Senate election</span>

Senate elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 14 March 2019 to elect the 108 Senators. Former DRC President Joseph Kabila, who stepped down from office in January 2019 following the inauguration of the recently elected Félix Tshisekedi, has also joined the upper house of the legislature as a senator for life, for a total of 109 seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election</span>

The 2018 general election was held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 30 December 2018, to determine a successor to President Joseph Kabila, as well as for the 500 seats of the National Assembly and the 715 elected seats of the 26 provincial assemblies. Félix Tshisekedi (UDPS) won the presidency with 38.6% of the vote, defeating Martin Fayulu and Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary (PPRD). Fayulu alleged that the vote was rigged against him by Tshisekedi and Kabila, challenging the result in the Constitutional Court. Election observers, including the Catholic Church, also cast doubt on the official result. Nonetheless, on 20 January the Court declared Tshisekedi the winner. Parties supporting Kabila won the majority of seats in the National Assembly. Tshisekedi was sworn in as the 5th president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 24 January 2019, the first peaceful transition of power in the country since its independence from Belgium in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noël K. Tshiani Muadiamvita</span> Congolese economist and politician

Noël Kabamba Tshiani Muadiamvita is a Congolese economist and politician. He was a presidential candidate in the 2018 and 2023 general elections. In 2021 and 2023, Tshiani proposed a law to restrict various government positions to only individuals who were born to Congolese parents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Félix Tshisekedi</span> President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2019

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo is a Congolese politician who has been the fifth president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 24 January 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Fayulu</span> Congolese politician (born 1956)

Martin Madidi Fayulu is a Congolese politician. He is the leader of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development party.

Seth Kikuni is a Congolese entrepreneur, businessman, and politician who was one of the candidates in the 2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo presidential election. He was the youngest candidate.

The Sacred Union of the Nation is the ruling parliamentary coalition within the parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It comprises several parties including the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, the Union of Mobutist Democrats , the Union for the Congolese Nation, the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, the Unified Lumumbist Party, and the Alliance of the Democratic Forces of Congo and Allies. It was formed in December 2020 by Felix Tshisekedi following a falling out between the Heading for Change coalition and Joseph Kabila's Common Front for Congo. In April 2021 the coalition was able to take control of the government after a four-month-long power struggle. As of June 2023, the coalition is made up of 391 members coming from 24 different political parties.

Chérubin Okende Senga was a Congolese politician of Ensemble pour la République. He served as Minister of Transport and Communication from 2021 to 2022. He also served as technical administrator of Lignes Aériennes Congolaises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Together for the Republic</span> Political party in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Together for the Republic is a political party of the Democratic Republic of Congo created on 18 December 2019 by businessman Moïse Katumbi. Until his death in 2020, Pierre Lumbi was the secretary general of the party. replaced in April 2021 by Dieudonné Bolengetenge Balea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delly Sesanga</span> Congolese politician

Delly Sesanga Hipungu Dja Kaseng Kapitu is a Congolese lawyer and deputy in the National Assembly representing Luiza Territory. He was a candidate in the 2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election, but withdrew in favor of Moïse Katumbi. He is also the head of political party Envoi de la RDC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floribert Anzuluni</span> Congolese politician and activist

Floribert Anzuluni Isiloketshi is a Congolese politician and activist, and the president of the Alternative Citoyenne party. He unsuccessfully ran for president during the 2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Democratic Republic of the Congo Senate elections</span>

Senate elections will take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2024 and early 2025 to renew the 108 elected members of the Senate elected by indirect ballot by the members of the 26 provincial assemblies. The elections will take place in four parts. The election of the 84 senators representing Kinshasa and 19 provinces will be held 29 April at the same time as the gubernatorial elections. This is followed by the election of the senators of Equateur and Ituri on 24 May, and on 26 May those of Mai-Ndombe and North Kivu for a total of 16 senators. The election of the last 8 senators will be scheduled after the December elections to complete the provincial assemblies of Kwilu and Nord-Ubangi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congo River Alliance</span> Coalition of rebel groups and political parties in the DR Congo

The Congo River Alliance is a political-military coalition of rebel groups and political parties led by former Independent National Electoral Commission President Corneille Nangaa that seeks to overthrow the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The principal member of Congo River Alliance is the U.S. and UN sanctioned March 23 Movement, a Rwanda-backed rebel group.

References

  1. ↑ Rolley, Sonia; Kombi, Yassin; Erikas, Fiston Mahamba; Kambale, Mwisi; Kyala, Crispin; Bashizi, Arlette; Prentice, Alessandra; Felix, Bate (20 December 2023). Richardson, Alex; Chopra, Toby; Maler, Sandra; Wallis, Daniel (eds.). "Congo extends chaotic election as opposition calls for rerun". Reuters . Kinshasa and Goma . Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Voting extends to 2nd day in Congo elections amid fraud claims". Anadolu Ajansi. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Calls for restraint in DR Congo after tense vote". France 24 . AFP. 23 December 2023. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "DR Congo election: President Felix Tshisekedi declared landslide winner". BBC. 31 December 2023. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Is DRC heading for another chaotic election?". ISS Africa. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Elections in DR Congo: Reducing the Risk of Violence". www.crisisgroup.org. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Martin Fayulu à Bagata : " Nous allons avoir une armée de 500 000 personnes bien formées et bien équipée "". Radio Okapi (in French). 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  8. 1 2 "DRC: campaigning for presidential elections officially launched". Africanews. 19 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "DR Congo faces logistical, security challenges before pivotal December poll". France 24. 16 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  10. ↑ CENI. "Synthese du Calendrier des Activites Electorales" (PDF) (in French). Radio Okapi. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  11. ↑ CENI. "Calendrier des Activites Electorales" (PDF) (in French). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Constitution de la Republique Democratique du Congo" [The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo](PDF). LEGANET.CD (in French). 20 January 2011. Article 71. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  13. ↑ Tabulated from the lists of candidates for the National Assembly, the provincial assemblies, and the commune councils available at the CENI website Archived 5 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine . See for example the list of provincial deputy candidates of Tshuapa province Archived 28 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine .
  14. ↑ Glez, Damien (3 January 2023). "Élections en RDC : pas de " glissement ", mais des reports". Jeune Afrique (in French). Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "Liste des meilleurs élus aux législatives nationales de décembre 2023" [List of those elected with absolute majorities in the National Assembly elections of December 2023](PDF) (in French). CENI. 19 January 2024. p. 7. Retrieved 19 March 2024.; "Voici les députés provinciaux élus: Nord-Kivu, Nord-Ubangi, Sankuru, Sud-Kivu, Sud-Ubangi, Tanganyka, Tshopo et Tshuapa". Forum des As (in French). 24 January 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  16. ↑ "RDC: plus de 20.000 candidatures pour 484 sièges à l'Assemblée". Le360 Afrique (in French). with AFP. 11 August 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 "Elections 2023 : 688 candidats élus provisoirement députés provinciaux (CENI)". Radio Okapi (in French). 22 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  18. ↑ "RDC: Carole Agito, Matata Ponyo et Sakombi Molendo parmi les députés les mieux élus". Actualite.cd (in French). 14 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  19. ↑ "Pour obtenir un siège dans les assemblées, le nombre de voix ne suffit pas". Studio Hirondelle-RDC (in French). 9 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  20. ↑ "Présidentielle 2023 : la Cour constitutionnelle valide 2 nouvelles candidatures". Radio Okapi (in French). 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Elections 2023 : après Matata et Kikuni, Franck Diongo se rallie à Moïse Katumbi". Radio Okapi (in French). 20 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "Présidentielle 2023 : Matata Ponyo se retire au profit de Moïse Katumbi". Radio Okapi (in French). 19 November 2023. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "Présidentielle 2023 : le candidat Delly Sessanga rallie Moise Katumbi". Radio Okapi (in French). 3 December 2023. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 "Campagne électorale en RDC : désistement de 7 candidats président en un mois". Radio Okapi (in French). 18 December 2023. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  25. ↑ Kibuacha, Frankline (23 August 2023). "The GeoPoll Socio-Political Barometer Survey DRC - Q2 2023 Report". GeoPoll. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  26. ↑ Angus-Hammond, Matt (23 December 2022). "Democratic Republic of the Congo - The GeoPoll Socio-Political Barometer Survey - Report Preview". GeoPoll. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  27. ↑ "La Prospérité : " Chérubin Okende : les Evêques catholiques exigent la tête de Caïn ! "". Radio Okapi (in French). 14 July 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  28. ↑ "Relatives of slain Congolese politician file suit in Belgium against Intelligence chief". The Brussels Times. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  29. ↑ Christensen, Sofia; Kasongo, Ange. "Congo opposition candidate suspends presidential campaign after violence". Reuters .
  30. ↑ "DR Congo: Electoral Violence Threatens Vote". HRW. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  31. ↑ Stoecklin, Sarah; Giannardi, Riccardo (10 December 2024). "Retracing the Congolese March Where Dido Kakisingi was Killed". Bellingcat. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  32. ↑ "Carter Center preliminary statement on the Democratic Republic of the Congo general elections - Democratic Republic of the Congo | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  33. 1 2 3 4 Niarchos, Nicolas (16 January 2024). "'A Simulacrum of Elections' | Nicolas Niarchos". The New York Review of Books. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  34. 1 2 "DR Congo's President Tshisekedi sworn in for second term amid disputes". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  35. ↑ Mhaka, Tafi. "DR Congo's shambolic election should be a wake-up call for the SADC". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  36. ↑ Kasanda, Albert (17 January 2024). "DR Congo's election – the key to Félix Tshisekedi's victory". The Conversation. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  37. ↑ "Résultats des élections combinées du 20 décembre 2023" [Results of the combined elections of 20 December 2023] (in French). CENI . Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  38. ↑ Audience publique du 09 janvier 2024 – Contentieux des résultats de la présidentielle [Public Hearing of January 09, 2024 - Litigation over the presidential election results] (video) (in French). Constitutional Court. 9 January 2024. Event occurs at 1:47:00. Retrieved 13 January 2024– via Facebook.
  39. ↑ "Kinshasa : le FCC réitère les préalables à sa participation au processus électoral". Radio Okapi (in French). 16 October 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  40. ↑ "DR Congo: A Full Plate of Challenges after a Turbulent Vote | Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  41. ↑ Joslin Lomba (14 January 2024). "Proclamation des résultats législatives : Voici les 44 partis et regroupements politiques ayant atteint le seuil". mediacongo.net. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  42. 1 2 "RDC : Les résultats provisoires des législatives nationales dévoilés". Actualite.cd (in French). 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  43. ↑ Bruno Nsaka (13 January 2024). "Publication des résultats des législatives nationales : Ce qu'il faut savoir avant l'heure H". Actualite.cd (in French). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  44. ↑ "L'Avenir : "Crash électoral : La CENI invalide 82 candidats "". Radio Okapi (in French). 8 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  45. ↑ "Résultats provisoires des législatives nationales : 477 députés élus pour le compte de 44 partis et regroupements politiques (CENI)". Radio Okapi (in French). 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  46. ↑ Patient Ligodi (14 January 2024). "Premiers résultats des législatives en RDC: probable majorité parlementaire pour Félix Tshisekedi". RFI (in French). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  47. ↑ ""Législatives nationales : Liste des partis/regroupements politiques ayant atteint le seuil de représentativité"" [National legislative elections: List of parties/alliances that have reached the electoral threshold] (in French). CENI . Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  48. ↑ "CENI : Voici la liste sur la répartition des sièges des partis et regroupements politiques à la députation nationale" [Here is the list of the allocated seats to the parties and electoral alliances for the national deputies] (in French). CENI . Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  49. ↑ "Membres Signataires de la Charte de l'USN". Site officiel de l'Union Sacrée de la Nation (in French). Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  50. ↑ "Assemble nationale : l'opposition parlementaire accorde le poste de rapporteur adjoint à Ensemble pour la République". Radio Okapi (in French). 21 April 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  51. 1 2 "La liste des élus à la députation provinciale de 2023" [The list of those elected as provincial deputies in 2023] (in French). CENI. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  52. 1 2 "COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE N° 010/CENI/2024 Portant publication des résultats provisoires à l'élection des Députes nationaux et provinciaux dans les circonscriptions électorales de Budjala, Bomongo, Ilebo, Kikwit, Kole, Makanza et Mobayi-Mbongo" [PRESS RELEASE No. 010/CENI/2024 Publication of provisional results for the election of national and provincial deputies in the electoral districts of Budjala, Bomongo, Ilebo, Kikwit, Kole, Makanza and Mobayi-Mbongo] (in French). CENI. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  53. ↑ CENI (21 January 2024). Législatives provinciales en RDC : la CENI a proclamé 688 candidats provisoirement élus [Provincial elections in the DRC: The CENI proclaims 688 candidates provisionally elected] (video) (in French). 3PLMek officiel. Event occurs at 12:35. Retrieved 9 February 2024– via YouTube.
  54. ↑ "DR Congo opposition politician Moïse Katumbi blocked from leaving home". The New Times. Rwanda. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  55. ↑ "Moïse Katumbi in DR Congo: Troops surrounded poll loser's home". BBC News. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

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