Will the DRC’s ‘sacred union’ deliver electoral reform?

The report analyzes the impact of President Felix Tshisekedi's 'sacred union' coalition on the Democratic Republic of the Congo's path toward the 2023 elections. While the coalition has given the president a parliamentary majority, the report highlights deep-seated distrust in the electoral system and the risk that reforms to the electoral laws and the CENI commission may be superficial or manipulated to ensure the president's re-election. It also discusses the contentious debate over a population census and the ongoing security crisis in the eastern DRC, specifically in North Kivu and Ituri.

• President Felix Tshisekedi has shifted the balance of power in his favor by creating the 'sacred union' (union sacrée) coalition, which has provided him with a new majority in Parliament. He has secured the support of key allies, including Jean-Pierre Bemba, Moïse Katumbi, and former FCC members Modeste Bahati Lukwebo and Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga.
• The DRC's electoral system is characterized by a deep lack of confidence among political actors, with every process since 2006 marred by violence and controversy. Critics argue that former President Kabila manipulated electoral laws, such as eliminating the presidential run-off in 2011, to maintain power.
• Proposed electoral reforms, including those by the G13 group and the National Council on the Agreement and Electoral Process (CNSA), seek to reintroduce a presidential run-off, remove the national threshold for parties to win seats, and ensure the direct election of governors. There is also a push to restructure the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to increase neutrality and exclude individuals affiliated with political parties over the previous five years.
• There is significant contention regarding whether a population census should be completed before the 2023 elections. While some argue it is essential for development and electoral accuracy, others, including opposition leader Martin Fayulu and various civil society actors, view the census as a 'diversion strategy' or a tool to postpone the elections.
• Security in the eastern DRC remains volatile despite military operations and the decree of a 'state of siege' in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Civilian deaths caused by armed actors have risen steadily from 914 in 2018 to 1,569 in 2020, with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) continuing to target civilians.
• The author identifies three potential scenarios for the 2023 election: an ideal scenario of thorough reform and military gains; a most likely scenario of 'half-baked reform' tailored to the president's ambitions; and a worst-case scenario where the process stalls due to persistent disagreements and a lack of consensus.

APA

Zounmenou, D. (2021). Will the DRC’s ‘sacred union’ deliver electoral reform? Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/car-20.pdf

Chicago

Zounmenou, David. Will the DRC’s ‘sacred union’ deliver electoral reform? Institute for Security Studies, 2021. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/car-20.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zounmenou |first1=David |title=Will the DRC’s ‘sacred union’ deliver electoral reform? |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=August 2021 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/car-20.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zounmenou2021will, author = {Zounmenou, David}, title = {{Will the DRC’s ‘sacred union’ deliver electoral reform?}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2021}, month = aug, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/car-20.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }