election commission - The African Mirror

Jan

2024

Congo election commission overspent, awarded opaque contracts- report

CONGO'S national election commission failed to account for $400 million of funds it received from the state and awarded opaque procurement contracts ahead of the disputed December general election, an EU-funded civil society report. The report said the electoral commission, known as CENI, was also blighted by budget overruns, an issue that has plagued President Felix Tshisekedi's administration. It urged Congo's justice department to open investigations into the management of the funds allocated to CENI for the electoral process. Technical mishaps, missing materials and a last-minute extension of voting have stoked disputes over the December poll, leading main opposition candidates to allege fraud…

Jan

2024

By ANGE ADIHE KASONGO

Congo’s election commission cancels 82 candidates in disputed December polling

NEWS

CONGO'S election commission said it has cancelled votes cast for 82 of the 101,000 legislative candidates in the disputed December general election over alleged fraud and other issues, amid fresh opposition calls for a re-run of the vote. Those disqualified include contenders for national, provincial and municipal assemblies, the results of which are yet to be published amid the fallout from the December 20 poll that threatens to further destabilise the Democratic Republic of Congo, a top producer of cobalt and Africa's second-largest country. A CENI election committee statement on Friday did not address the presidential vote that also took…

Dec

2023

By ANGE ADIHE KASONGO and DJAFFAR AL KATANTY

Congo extends voting for some after election marred by delays

NEWS

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo will extend voting in its presidential and legislative elections into Thursday for those unable to vote on Wednesday due to issues in opening some polling stations, the election commission said. The decision, which caps a chaotic and delay-plagued election day, is likely to meet with pushback from the opposition and independent observers, who have already warned such an extension would undermine confidence in the results. At stake is not just the legitimacy of the next administration. Congolese election disputes often spark unrest with potentially far-reaching consequences. Congo is the world's third-largest copper producer, and the top…

Jul

2023

By The African Mirror

Sierra Leone’s ruling party wins 60% of parliamentary seats in contested vote

NEWS

UMARU FOFANA THE ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party has won 60% of the seats in a parliamentary election, the election commission said, as the main opposition party demanded a rerun of the vote that also saw President Julius Maada Bio win a second term. The SLPP won 81 seats while the opposition All People’s Congress won 54, according to the results read by the commission's chairman Mohamed Kenewui Konneh. The results showed the ruling party made significant gains in the bellwether diamond-rich district of Kono, winning seven of the 10 seats where they had none previously. They also made gains…