“The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), initially invited by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to observe the general elections to be held throughout the country on 20 December 2023, has finally been reduced to a mission of electoral experts, who will analyse the electoral process from the Congolese capital, in agreement with the DRC authorities”, announced Nabila Massrali, spokeswoman for the European External Action Service, in a press release on Thursday 7 December.
On 29 November, the EU-EOM, which was due to be deployed throughout the country, had to be cancelled (see EUROPE 13303/38), as it was unable to obtain authorisation to use satellite telephones. The request was made on 6 November.
The eight EU electoral experts, who will remain based in Kinshasa, are analysts in the electoral (including electoral technologies), political, legal, human rights/gender and minorities, media and social networks fields.
The spokeswoman explained that this mission of experts will carry out a technical analysis of the electoral process and will formally submit a report with its findings, conclusions and any recommendations to the national authorities to improve the electoral framework, on the basis of the international, regional and national commitments relating to the conduct of democratic elections to which the DRC has subscribed.
She added: “The EU reiterates its commitment to a fully inclusive, free, transparent and peaceful electoral process” (see EUROPE 13301/32). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)