The United States has called on the Democratic Republic of the
Congo’s (DRC) Electoral Commission to release accurate results of
Sunday’s general election in the country, warning against manipulation.
The U.S. Department of State, in a statement by its Deputy
Spokesperson, Robert Palladino, said the Dec. 30 election was one of the
most important elections in DRC history.
The U.S. also regretted the internet shutdown and the clampdown on
the media saying, the internet must be restored and the media allowed to
report freely.
“The United States stands by the millions of Congolese voters who
went to the poll across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on
Dec. 30 to participate in presidential, legislative, and provincial
assembly election.
“Since independence in 1960, the DRC has never experienced a peaceful, democratic transfer of power,” the department said.
The United States was deeply concerned by the DRC’s National
Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) decision to deny accreditation
to several international election observers and media representatives,
it said.
“We also noted that confusion on election day over the location of
polling stations, the posting of voter lists, the late delivery of some
election materials, and CENI’s unfortunate decision to cancel elections
in Beni and Butembo in eastern DRC disenfranchised voters.
“Nevertheless, in spite of these challenges, millions of Congolese
citizens turned out peacefully across DRC on election day to cast their
ballots and make their voices heard.
“CENI must now ensure that these voices and votes are respected,” the statement said.
As the Congolese people, the region, and the world await patiently
for the results of these elections, the internet must be restored and
the media allowed to report freely, it stressed.
The U.S. strongly urged CENI to ensure that votes
are counted in a transparent and open manner, with observers present,
and that the results reported by CENI are accurate and correspond to
results announced at each of DRC’s 75,000 polling stations.
It expressed support to the African Union Election Observation
Mission to DRC’s expectation, expressed on Jan. 2, 2019, that the
announced results align with votes cast by the Congolese people,
according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.
As official results are tabulated and reported, the U.S. said it
continued to urge DRC government officials, leaders of the DRC security
forces, opposition party leaders, civil society representatives, and
stakeholders from all sides to respect the law and reject violence.
“There are moments in every nation’s history when individuals and
political leaders step forward and do the right thing. This is one of
those moments for the DRC.
“Those who enable a peaceful, democratic transfer of power out of
respect for DRC’s constitution and the results of this election will be
hailed, while those responsible for undermining democratic institutions
and processes, threatening the peace, security, or stability of DRC or
benefiting from corruption will be held accountable.
“Those who undermine the democratic process, threaten the peace,
security or stability of the DRC, or benefit from corruption may find
themselves not welcome in the United States and cut off from the U.S.
financial system.
“On December 30, millions of Congolese went peacefully to the polls.
“Now is the time for CENI to affirm that these votes were not cast in
vain by ensuring the accurate reporting of election results,” the U.S.
said.
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