Washington, DC — The Forum of Congolese Intellectuals Abroad (FICE) will officially release its election observation report following an on-site mission conducted from December 19th to December 22nd, 2023. The observation took place during the presidential, legislative, and municipal elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in countries where members of the Congolese diaspora were permitted to vote: South Africa, Belgium, Canada, the United States, and France.

Event Details
Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington D.C.

DOCUMENT: Interim Report of the FICE International Election Observer Mission

VIRTUAL EVENT

REGISTRATION FOR VIRTUAL EVENT

As the eagerly anticipated announcement of the final presidential election results approaches, FICE, a certified election observation organization, recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), will host a press conference to launch its comprehensive report.

This event, scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 2:00 PM at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., will feature representatives from CENI and firsthand observers present in the DRC during the elections. The press conference aims to provide valuable insights into the election proceedings and address queries from the press.

DR Congo - Now Africa's Largest French-Speaking Democracy

Although some media reports forecast that last month's elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo would be 'chaotic' and 'fraudulent', preliminary reports by several international observers concluded that the process met the standards to be considered free and fair, according to the U.S.-based The Forum of Congolese Intellectuals of Abroad (FICE), which deployed an observer team to monitor the voting. On December 31, the final vote tallies announced in Kinshasa by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) showed current President Felix Tshisekedi with almost 74 percent of the vote. While the Constitutional Court still has to adjudicate any complaint about the results, this may only be a formality since given Tshisekedi's lead, it is clear that he will be the first ever Congolese President to be democratically elected for a second term.

FICE was one of several Western, African, and Congolese entities certified by the Independent Commission for National Elections (CENI) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to observe the December 20th general elections (presidential, national, provincial, and local legislative elections) in the country. In an analysis, Professor Dr. Ngoie Joel Nshisso and Mr. Stephen Lande conclude that the elections "met the standards to be considered free and fair." despite protests by Tshisekedi's opponents contesting the results. "Tshisedeki was reelected mainly due to his record and his efforts," the authors argue. "World attention should now focus on working with the Tshisekedi Administration to make sure that the term is a success," they write. "The DRC needs it, Africa needs it, and the world needs it."

During the on-site mission, the FICE team conducted interviews with numerous voters, engaged with other local and international observers, and had access to the polling stations in the visited centers. The team affirms that the voting operations adhered to CENI's procedural rules and international standards.

The upcoming press conference will not only unveil the detailed election observation mission report but also offer a platform for an open dialogue between the press, CENI representatives, and many eyewitnesses to the election.

RSVP: fice@ficeclub.com

The mission of the Forum of Intellectual Congolese Abroad (FICE) is to unite Congolese intellectuals residing abroad for thoughtful reflection, exchange of ideas, and collaborative action on issues affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and their impact on development in their host countries.

For more information, visit FICE's official website.

Contact:
Adey Hailu, New York | Marie-Stella Mbala Heiser, D.C.
email: fice@ficeclub.com | phone: 704-910-7185

READ:
DR Congo Now Africa's Largest French-Speaking Democracy
analysis by Joel Ngoie Nshisso and Stephen Lande - FICE