The 2023 Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Opportunities

This research paper analyzes the December 20, 2023, general elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), examining the political landscape, the roles of electoral institutions, and the impact of regional instability and natural resource competition on the democratic process.

• The 2023 electoral cycle is characterized by the highest voter registration ever, driven by a desire among Congolese citizens to vote against a "quasi-institutionalised system of rigged elections". For the first time, the process includes citizens living in the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, and South Africa.
• President Félix Tshisekedi faces significant challenges to his re-election, including a 49.7% poor satisfaction rating in a Q2 2023 GeoPoll survey and failure to address unemployment, insecurity, and hyperinflation. While he promotes achievements in free education and maternity care, opposition candidates like Moïse Katumbi focus on restoring peace in eastern provinces.
• The National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) and the Constitutional Court are viewed as compromised. The CENI is accused of lacking transparency in voter registration and using poor-quality ink for identification cards, while the Constitutional Court is perceived to rule in favor of the government, exemplified by the September 2023 seven-year sentence of candidate Jean-Marc Kabund.
• Security instability in North-Kivu and Ituri poses a critical threat to the election. President Tshisekedi declared a state of emergency in these provinces in 2023, which limited registered votes in areas likely to oppose him. The M23 rebel group, supported by Rwanda, has created a parallel administration in Masisi and Rutshuru, hindering CENI's operations.
• The DRC has experienced a severe decline in infrastructure and economic health since its 1960 independence. GDP per capita in purchasing power parity dropped from $3,036 in 1960 to barely $1,000 in 2019. Decent roads decreased from over 145,000 km in 1960 to no more than 24,000 km in 2022, and well-equipped health facilities fell from over 5,000 to approximately 85.
• The election outcome has significant international and regional implications due to strategic minerals, particularly cobalt, which is a point of competition between China and the US. Regionally, Rwanda is accused of smuggling minerals worth an estimated US$1bn per year, while Angola's relationship with the DRC is tied to the extraction of crude oil from Block Ring 14.

APA

Kisangani, E. F. (2023). The 2023 Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Opportunities. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/the-2023-elections-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-challenges-and-opportunities

Chicago

Kisangani, Emizet F. The 2023 Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Opportunities. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2023. https://afripoli.org/the-2023-elections-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-challenges-and-opportunities.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kisangani |first1=Emizet F. |title=The 2023 Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Opportunities |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=19 December 2023 |url=https://afripoli.org/the-2023-elections-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-challenges-and-opportunities |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kisangani20232023, author = {Kisangani, Emizet F.}, title = {{The 2023 Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Opportunities}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://afripoli.org/the-2023-elections-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-challenges-and-opportunities}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }