DRC Roundup: Elections, protests, food price hikes
Electoral Commission denies allegations
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) has said that reports of violence, vandalism and sabotage against some of their staff has come to its attention. According to news outlet Actualite.co, the acts were reportedly perpetrated by certain candidates in the elections. While condemning the actions, CENI also noted that it is firm in its commitment to release results as and when they are confirmed.
Opposition candidates request for election cancellation
Opposition candidates in the Democratic Republic of Congo elections have called for a cancellation of combined elections held from December 20 to December 22, 2023, local news outlet Radio Okapi has reported. The candidates, Moise Katumbi, Franck Diongo, Seth Kikuni, Matata Ponyo, Delly Sesanga allege that the elections have been fraught with irregularities which were reported at several polling stations across the country. They have also called for the resignation of the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) over what they say is the supervision of electoral fraud.
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Food price hikes
Prices of beef in Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province in the east of DRC has increased, Desk Eco has reported. Residents of the area allege that taxes imposed on them has resulted in the situation. They bemoaned the impact of the price hikes on families in the province which is a major supplier of beef to the province and other provinces.
Protest injuries
Sixteen persons have been injured in Kinshisha, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo after protests to demand for compensation from a Special Fund for Reparation and Compensation for Victims of Armed Activities of Uganda (FRIVAO). The FRIVAO initiative aims to repair the damage caused by the war to victims residing in some provinces in the country including Kisangani Ituri, Bas-Uele and Haut-Uele. According to local news outlet Radio Okapi, the victims were part of protesters who had gathered in front of the special office to denounce the delay in payment of their monies and barricaded the main road leading to the medical plateau and the University of Kisangani in the process. The protesters were dispersed by police who fired tear gas and live ammunition into the crowd, according to some witnesses.
Hydroelectric power project
The proposed 206 MW Ruzizi III hydroelectric project that consists of the construction of a run-of-river dam is estimated at $759 million, according to Desk Eco. The project located on the Ruzizi River between DRC and Rwanda in the North and Burundi in the South is expected to contribute to the economic and social development of all three countries which are members of the Great Lakes Economic Community. The Ruzizi III Regional Hydroelectric Project is supported by donors (AFD, ADB, EIB, WB, KfW and EU) who have agreed to give the Contracting States grants and concessional loans which will be retroceded to the project company to finance the construction work of the Ruzizi III hydroelectric power station and its associated infrastructure.
