Politics

Presidential candidates in Congo DR want urgent measures to ‘save’ election

Published

1 year ago

October 31, 2023

On Tuesday, candidates in the next presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo called for urgent measures to prevent malpractices in the upcoming voting exercise.

Every opposition candidate has voiced worries about possible electoral fraud and a lack of openness. The candidates, in a joint statement, vowed to resist any manipulation of results and demanded a number of measures from the electoral commission, including the publication of electoral lists and the mapping of polling stations.

Nobel Peace Prize winner, Denis Mukwege, Moise Katumbi, the former governor of the wealthy mining province of Katanga, and Martin Fayulu, the runner-up in the 2018 presidential election, were among the signatories of the statement.

According to the electoral commission, CENI, about 43.9 million voters have been registered for the elections compared to 40.4 million in the previous poll, but the countdown to the election on December 20 has been tense. International partners and human rights organisations have claimed—and the government has refuted—that the authorities are repressing dissent and the right to free speech.

Denis Kadima, president of CENI, met with American representatives in Washington earlier this month as part of a “rebranding” campaign to allay concerns regarding the commission’s prior performance.

“After so much vagueness and lack of seriousness that characterised all the pre-electoral operations…, it is necessary that a few days before the electoral campaign, urgent measures be taken to save the electoral process,” the statement said.

The candidates specifically mentioned the shoddy voter cards that were distributed—they claimed to be inadmissible—and the hold-ups in releasing the voter and polling place lists.

President Felix Tshisekedi is likely to face fierce opposition from Katumbi as he seeks a second term.

Related Topics:Congo DR Elections Featured

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.