DR Congo Election Hit by Protests and Delays Amid Accusations of Fraud

cobalt, a key component in the manufacturing of smartphones and electric car batteries. Any unrest could disrupt the global supply chain for these vital resources.

Cobalt is an essential component for the transition to green energy. However, there have been delays reported in various towns in the rebel-plagued eastern region of the DRC, as well as in the capital Kinshasa. Voting materials have not arrived at polling stations and voter lists have not been published.

Presidential candidate Martin Fayulu, who came in second in the controversial 2018 presidential election, described the situation as complete chaos. He noted that although the voting process was well-managed in the affluent Gombe district where he cast his vote, the same could not be said for the rest of the country.

Fayulu issued a warning that if everyone does not vote in all the polling stations designated by the CENI (national election commission), the elections would not be accepted. He also stated that he would lead the protest. In the eastern cities of Goma and Beni, there were reports of people having difficulty finding their names on the voter lists, which were only provided at their polling stations on Wednesday morning, according to witnesses from Reuters.

Security forces in Bunia, located in eastern Congo, fired warning shots to break up a protest after a voting center was vandalized and kits destroyed, according to a Reuters reporter. A provincial election commission official informed journalists that individuals displaced by violence in the region had demonstrated because they desired to vote in their hometowns.

The national election commission in Congo has long claimed that it would ensure a free and fair vote in Africa's second-largest country. However, independent observers and critics have pointed out irregularities that they believe will undermine the legitimacy of the results. Approximately 44 million Congolese are registered to participate in the elections, which also include regional ballots.

As the approaching voting day neared, authorities made efforts to secure additional helicopters, sparking concerns about the commission's ability to open polling stations in remote areas with poor infrastructure or security challenges. Provisional results are anticipated to be released by December 31.

Congolese presidential candidate Moise Katumbi (right) casts his ballot at the Bwakya School polling station in Lubumbashi on December 20, 2023.

Patrick Meinhardt/AFP/Getty Images

Electoral transparency

In his bid for a second term, President Felix Tshisekedi is facing competition from 18 opposition candidates in the mineral-rich but impoverished nation. During his final rally on Monday, Tshisekedi appealed for strength to continue the work and pledged to expand free education if re-elected.

Opposition candidates have enticed voters by promising to deliver stability, peace, and much-needed economic development that they claim was lacking during Tshisekedi's initial term. Meanwhile, religious and civil society election monitors have raised concerns about the transparency of the election, citing problems such as the voter list and unreadable ID cards.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition candidate Denis Mukwege casts his ballot at a polling station during the presidential election, in Kinshasa.

Nobel Laureate and opposition candidate Denis Mukwege declared on Monday, "It is clear that the most significant electoral fraud of the century is occurring." Despite the opposition's repeated claims of fraud, the election commission has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The election will be determined in one round, with a simple majority needed to win. The period leading up to the vote has been especially tense. On Dec. 15, two candidates for parliament were killed in separate incidents, adding to a series of violent acts related to the election that have been denounced by human rights organizations and the European Union.

Prior to the election day in Kinshasa, certain residents were doubtful about the significance of their votes. "Each time we cast our votes, we end up disappointed, but if I were to vote, it would be for a change," stated unemployed 43-year-old Lucie Mpiana.

The polls are scheduled to close at 1600 GMT (11 a.m. ET).