Contested election could lead to widespread violence, warns a coalition of 41 NGOs.
The technical preparations for the presidential and legislative elections scheduled on 28 November and the beginning of the electoral campaign in the East of Congo have generated suspicion that risks developing into a crisis of confidence in the whole electoral process.
Faced with the dilemma of respecting the constitutional deadline and organising botched elections, or ignoring that deadline and sliding into a situation of unconstitutional power, the Congolese authorities have chosen the first option.
Thierry Vircoulon, Crisis Group’s Central Africa Project Director, explains the consequences of Congo's election laws revision. Among others, the run-off system was eliminated, allowing the candidate with a plurality to claim the presidency. This constitutional revision increases the presidential powers.
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