EU To Send Reduced Team To DR Congo Election
The European Union announced on Thursday that its election observation mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo for this month’s elections will go ahead but reduced to eight experts.
Last week the EU said it was cancelling its deployment of election observers throughout the country for the December 20 presidential, legislative, provincial and municipal elections due to « technical » reasons.
Nabila Massrali, spokeswoman for the EU’s top foreign policy official Josep Borrell, said the EU mission « has been reduced to a mission of electoral experts ».
The EU experts will stay in Kinshasa where they « will analyse the electoral process from the Congolese capital, in agreement with the DRC authorities », added Massrali.
Several sources told AFP that DR Congo had refused to authorise satellite equipment for EU election observers over fears it would be used to manipulate the presidential poll which will be held alongside parliamentary elections.
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The mission of eight European experts will « carry out a technical analysis of the electoral process and formally submit a report with their findings, conclusions and any recommendations to the national authorities for improving the electoral framework », the European Union said in a press release Thursday.
« The EU reiterated its commitment to an electoral process that is fully inclusive, free, transparent and peaceful. »
Outgoing President Felix Tshisekedi, who came to power after a controversial election in 2018, will face 20 opponents, but only a handful have the funds and resources to launch nationwide campaigning.
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In addition to Congolese civil society and churches, the US-based Carter Center will be monitoring the elections, as will a team from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
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