As the Democratic Republic of Congo gears up for elections on Wednesday, tensions are running high, raising concerns about potential violence.
With a massive 44 million registered voters in a country of about 100 million people, the polls include presidential, parliamentary, provincial, and municipal elections.
As learned by Quest Times, President Felix Tshisekedi, seeking reelection after a disputed 2018 win, is among the 100,000 candidates.
However, challenges arise due to the country’s vast size, poor infrastructure, and logistical difficulties in distributing voting materials to over 175,000 polling booths.
Moreover, Political scientist Gaucher Kizito Mbusa, speaking with AFP, has anticipated smooth voting in populated areas, but expects difficulties in rural zones due to insecurity and poor roads.
The UN Security Council granted logistical support, extending beyond the violence-affected eastern provinces.
Furthermore, Human Rights Watch warns of potential electoral violence, citing clashes between rival party supporters since October; the risk is heightened by concerns about intolerance in the political discourse and the prevalence of hate speech.
Amid fears of violence, the opposition has emphasized vigilance against fraud, accusing the government of influencing the electoral commission and the Constitutional Court.
HRW also said that the displacement caused by conflict in the east further complicates the election, with over 1.5 million Congolese unable to vote.
As 19 candidates remain in the presidential race, major opposition figures include Moise Katumbi, Martin Fayulu, and Denis Mukwege hence, observers speculate on Tshisekedi and Katumbi as frontrunners, but the outcome remains uncertain due to a fragmented opposition.
Conclusively, the announcement of results, expected days after polls close, poses potential risks, with rallies continuing until Monday.