DR Congo goes to polls amid concerns about transparency and ‘hate speech’

As millions of Congolese citizens Wednesday (20 December) head to polling stations to cast their vote one of the most anticipated elections of 2023, the European Union has, among others, expressed concerns about transparency, especially after its observer mission pulled out, and also about “the hate speech, violence and incidents that have marked the last few days of the campaign” in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The EU’s statement published Tuesday (19 December) follows a similar warning released by the Human Rights Watch about election-related violence across the DRC that risks undermining the general elections. The human rights NGO calls on Congolese authorities to urgently and impartially investigate violent incidents linked to the elections and prosecute those responsible, regardless of their political affiliation. In an unexpected move in late November, the EU called off its electoral mission to the central African nation, citing technical issues. The Congolese government faced criticism after it was revealed that the decision was a result of the EU’s prolonged request for permits for satellite equipment that the authorities refused to grant citing concerns about its possible use to manipulate the poll.
The DRC is a huge country with a population of around 100 million people, whose politics are an issue of global importance. This is also because it is one of the most resource-rich places on the planet, particularly in the kinds of metals found in most consumer electronics and in the batteries of electric vehicles. The high-stakes vote — in which 19 candidates are vying for the presidency including the incumbent president Felix Tshisekedi — could represent the second peaceful civilian-to-civilian transition in the country’s history since independence from Belgium in June 1960. However, there are serious doubts that this election will be free or fair also since hundreds of thousands of people in areas in the volatile east are unable to vote because of spiraling insecurity from armed groups.