Congolese bishops urge re-elected President Tshisekedi to work for unity

By Lisa Zengarini

The Bishops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have again questioned the legitimacy of the December 20 general elections, reportedly marked by serious irregularities and legal violations, as well as violence.

The elections won by incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi with an overwhelming 73% of votes, according to the National Election Commission (CENI), have been controversial, with opposition candidates saying the polls were fraudulent and refusing the results.  

Serious irregularities

During the voting process, many anomalies, including malfunctioning voting devices, unopened polling stations, vote buying, plundering of polling materials, shoddy electoral lists, and ballot stuffing, were reported, along with violent incidents and intimidations. Also, delays and logistical and technical problems led to an unscheduled extension of voting beyond December 20, something local observers and civil society organizations have called illegal.  

Early in January, Catholic and Protestant Churches had asked for an independent inquiry into the vote. However, CENI refused to meet the request, and Tshisekedi is set to be sworn in for a second term on January 20.

In a new statement released this week ahead of the presidential inauguration, the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO) deplored what it termed an “electoral catastrophe,” which has left the Congolese people “disillusioned and traumatized.”

The bishops lamented that, as confirmed by international observers, the elections were tainted “by fraud, large-scale corruption, vandalism, incitement to violence, illegal detention of electronic voting devices (DEVs), vote-buying, intolerance, and attacks on human rights, human life, and the dignity of people.”

Responsibilities of the Independent National Election Commission

The statement again called into question the responsibilities of the Independent National Election Commission for the bad organization of the electoral process, and for not ensuring effective oversight over irregularities, which led it “to violate the electoral legal framework and administrative regulations.”

These numerous irregularities, incidents, and reported fraud “seriously affected the elections and undermined voters' confidence," the bishops decried, also cautioning against the risks of the country returning to a single-party system, which, they said, “would be a major setback for our fledgling democracy.”

DR Congo has a history of disputed elections that can turn violent, and many of its citizens harbour little trust in the country’s institutions.

In view of the many socio-political, economic, and security challenges facing the African nation, the bishops urged all the competent bodies responsible for ensuring stability, justice, and national cohesion “to use their wisdom and conscious intelligence to build a new Congo, in unity and peace.”

Appeal for unity and national cohesion

They called on the President to “be the guarantor of national unity and territorial integrity," adding that they are willing to contribute to help him succeed in his second and final term “for the benefit of the Congolese people.”

The leaders of the Catholic Church also called on the government to “take the necessary and urgent measures to discourage xenophobia and tribalism," which also marked the electoral campaign, and “to put in place a political mechanism to strengthen national cohesion.”

They invited the Congolese people to “remain vigilant and committed to the exercise of our sovereignty” and "live together in solidarity" so that the DR Congo does not plunge into violence and division.

The future of a country depends on its people

“The future of a country depends on its people. Let us remember that we do not liberate a people; the people liberate themselves. Let every Congolese feel involved in building our country,” CENCO members said.

The Congolese bishops further called on young people “not to allow themselves to be manipulated and used by political actors who exploit them for their own selfish interests.”

The statement concluded by reiterating the call on all the Congolese people “for dialogue, calm, peace and appeasement.”