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Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Politics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Direct elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo occur for the Presidency, National Assembly (lower house of the legislature), and provincial assemblies. The Senate (the upper house), and provincial governors are elected indirectly by members of the provincial assemblies.

Electoral law also provides for the direct election of local councils—commune, sector, and chiefdom—as well as indirect elections for city mayors, city councils, commune burgomasters, and sector chiefs. None of these were held in the first three election cycles under the current system. In the current cycle, as of April 2024, only the election of a limited number of commune councils has occurred.

These elections are run by the Independent National Electoral Commission, often referred to by its French acronym CENI. New elections should be run every five years.

Result in history

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1977 Zairean presidential election

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Mobutu Sese SekoPopular Movement of the Revolution10,492,24798.12
Against201,5571.88
Total10,693,804100.00

1970 Democratic Republic of the Congo parliamentary election

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PartyVotes%Seats
Popular Movement of the Revolution9,691,13299.26420
Against72,3780.740
Total9,763,510100.00420

Latest election

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Presidental

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Félix TshisekediUnion for Democracy and Social Progress (Democratic Republic of the Congo)13,058,96273.47
Moïse KatumbiTogether for the Republic3,256,57218.32
Martin FayuluCommitment to Citizenship and Development875,3364.92
Adolphe MuzitoNew Momentum200,8001.13
Soborabo Radjabho TebabhoCongolese United for Change70,0990.39
Denis MukwegeIndependent39,6390.22
Aggrey Ngalasi KurisiniIndependent37,2010.21
Constant MutambaRevolutionary Progressive Dynamic36,1970.20
Jean-Claude BaendeIndependent25,5840.14
Delly SesangaFlight17,7850.10
Loli Nkema Liloo BokonziIndependent17,0460.10
Patrice Majondo MwambaIndependent15,7930.09
Marie-Josée IfokuIndependent15,2660.09
Matata Ponyo MaponLeadership and Governance for Development14,1810.08
André Masalu AneduIndependent13,9740.08
Floribert AnzuluniIndependent13,7070.08
Noël K. Tshiani MuadiamvitaIndependent9,2760.05
Seth KikuniIndependent8,6210.05
Justin Mudekereza BisimwaIndependent7,5730.04
Joëlle Bile BataliIndependent6,9110.04
Franck DiongoProgressive Lumumbist Movement6,7800.04
Tony BolambaIndependent6,3070.04
Rex Kazadi KandaIndependent5,7570.03
Georges Buse FalayIndependent5,2880.03
Enoch NgilaIndependent5,1560.03
Théodore NgoyIndependent4,1320.02
Total17,773,943100.00

National Assembly

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Party or allianceVotes%Seats
Sacred Union of the NationUnion for Democracy and Social Progress (Democratic Republic of the Congo)1,664,0499.2669
Allied Actions–Union for the Congolese Nation903,9285.0334
Alliance of Democratic Forces of Congo890,7534.9635
Agissons and Buildings752,5594.1926
Allied Actions–All for the Development of Congo692,4913.8521
Alliance of actors attached to the people649,2263.6121
Alliance bloc 50546,0793.0420
Movement for the Liberation of the Congo471,3752.6219
Alliance for the Advent of a Prosperous and Greater Congo532,0662.9616
Alternative Action of Actors for the Love of Congo392,1402.1816
Alliance 2024443,8592.4715
It's up to us to build the Congo379,1352.1113
Congo Allied Action for the Convention390,1612.1710
Coalition of Democrats431,0282.409
Actions of the Allies of the Convention for the Republic and Democracy320,3701.789
Alliance of Progressive Congolese and Allies260,3921.459
Alliance for Democratic Alternation and Allies336,8131.878
Action for National Unity239,9691.338
Audible Actions for Good Governance191,0561.068
Alliance for Values330,8131.847
Alliance for the Triple and Allies305,7281.707
Allied Action for the Rise of the Congo284,2051.587
Alliance of Nationalists277,4601.547
Actions of Convention Allies–Unified Lumumbist Party215,8771.208
Alliance for the Solidarity Movement for Change291,2261.626
Alliances of Unified and Allied Tshisekedists287,9961.606
Another Vision of Congo and Allies187,3581.045
Alliance and Action for the Rule of Law258,2551.444
Political and Social Forces Allied to the UDPS206,7211.154
Christian Alternative for Congo190,6061.064
Alliance 2025232,6481.293
Alternative Vital Kamerhe 2018200,8991.123
UDPS/KIBASSA–A180,0541.002
Alliance of Political Parties Allied to the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo179,9291.002
Alliance for the Reform of the Republic179,8771.002
Action for the Federative Cause179,8471.002
Alliance for the Growth and Democracy of Congo221,8691.231
Alliance for Development Actions in Congo191,0531.061
Allied Action for the Love of the Republic/Convention for the Republic179,8511.000
Rally of Tshisekediast Democrats105,0460.580
Action for the Breakthrough and Development and Allies104,8760.580
Alliance of Christian Democrats of Congo99,7480.550
Alliance of Democrats for the Emergence of Congo and Allies33,1630.180
New Conscious Generation12,8620.070
Total15,425,41685.81447
Together for the Republic497,0092.7618
Avançons-MS202,7501.135
Alliance of Elites in the Service of the People and Allies179,9531.000
New Momentum179,8701.003
Dynamique Progressive Revolutionnaire179,8341.003
Alternation138,1750.770
Action of the Allies114,9700.640
The Progressives110,4610.610
Action of the Allies Acquired to Democracy104,8410.580
Alliance of Democrats for Renewal and Progress101,7860.570
Leadership and Governance for Development75,9440.421
Lumbist Social Movement66,5360.370
Action of the Nationalist Allies for Democracy66,1060.370
Actions of the Allies for Democracy and Development61,0460.340
Let's Act 750,9430.280
Popular Awakening49,1050.270
Action for Reconstruction and Work and Allies47,8420.270
Alliance for the Development and Integrity of the Homeland41,7310.230
New Political Order on the Horizon 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo37,4160.210
Alliance of Reformers for a New Leadership36,0900.200
Patriotic Front 202333,3830.190
Alliance of the Congolese for the Refoundation of the Nation32,8660.180
Party of the Flight of the DR.Congo29,1290.160
Mbonda24,6920.140
Citizen Alternative13,7630.080
Congolese United for Change10,0040.060
Love of the Neighbor and the Part of Congo5,4710.030
Independents59,4190.330
Annulled seats00.007
No election00.0016
Total17,976,551100.00500

History

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The 1960 elections, held just before independence, saw Patrice Lumumba become prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu president. In 1965 Mobutu Sese Seko seized power and declared himself president amid the Congo Crisis. He was formally elected to a seven-year term in 1970. Establishing the single-party Republic of Zaire, his presidency was renewed by show elections in 1977 and 1984 while legislative elections were abolished altogether by 1975. Mobutu ruled until 1997 when Laurent Kabila seized power after the First Congo War. When Laurent Kabila was killed in 2001, his son Joseph Kabila took over the presidency while the country was going through the Second Congo War (1998–2003). The Second Congo War was officially declared over in 2003. The period that followed was relatively peaceful, with the United Nations' largest peacekeeping force maintaining the peace. However, the Ituri Conflict marred the peace, with periods of violence in the northeastern Ituri Province. In December 2005 a referendum on a new constitution was held. It was approved, paving way for the first multiparty elections in 46 years.

The first multi-party elections in the country since 1960 took place in July 2006. Kabila was elected president and was reelected in 2011. His constitutionally-mandated term ended in 2016, but the government put off a new election, citing logistical problems and the ongoing conflict in the eastern DRC. The long delayed general election finally took place on 30 December 2018, which resulted in a surprise victory for Félix Tshisekedi, although this was questioned by election observers and led to accusations of voter fraud by another opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu. The Constitutional Court of the DRC dismissed Fayulu's challenge of the result, confirming Tshisekedi as the winner. Joseph Kabila stepped down in January 2019, with Tshisekedi being inaugurated as the 5th President of the DRC on January 24. This was the first democratic transition of power in the country since it gained independence in 1960. Tshisekedi was reelected with a large majority in December 2023, coming ahead of Moise Katumbi and Fayulu.

Upcoming elections

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2024 Election schedule and status as of 2 April 2025[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Public
start 		Election
day 		Election Type Status
1 Feb 29 Apr Senate and gubernatorial indirect checkY
1 Feb 2 May South Kivu governor runoff indirect checkY
1 Feb 24 May Equateur senators and governor indirect checkY
1 Feb 24 May Ituri senators indirect checkY
5 Apr 26 May Mai-Ndombe and North Kivu senators indirect checkY
5 Apr 26 May Mai-Ndombe governor indirect checkY
24 Apr 19 Jun Commune burgomasters and city councils indirect Indefinately delayed after candidate registration
26 Jul 7 Sep City mayors indirect Indefinately delayed
14 Nov 15 Dec Yakoma and Masimanimba national and provincial deputies do-over direct checkY
29 Mar
2025 		2 Apr
2025 		Kwilu and Nord-Ubangi senators and governors indirect Court result validation

Elections of the 4th cycle (2023–2028)

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Main articles: 2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election and 2024 Democratic Republic of the Congo Senate election

Presidential election

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National Assembly elections

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Provincial assembly elections

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Senate elections

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Gubernatorial elections

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See also

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transition; Last update August 1, 2006

References

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  1. ^ CENI (4 April 2024). "Communique de presse N° 020/CENI/2024" (PDF). ceni.cd (Press release) (in French). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  2. ^ CENI (15 April 2024). "Communique de presse N° 022/CENI/2024" (PDF). ceni.cd (Press release) (in French). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  3. ^ CENI (25 April 2024). "Communique de presse N° 026/CENI/2024" (PDF). ceni.cd (Press release) (in French). Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. ^ Timolo, Héritier (27 April 2024). "Ituri : La CENI reporte les élections sénatoriales prévues le 29 avril 2024". Le Potentiel (in French). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ Boasi, Melis (2 May 2024). "Sud-Kivu : Jean-Jacques Purusi élu Gouverneur au second tour". Le Potentiel (in French). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  6. ^ CENI (6 May 2024). "Communique de presse N° 032/CENI/2024" (Press release) (in French). Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via Facebook.
  7. ^ CENI (6 May 2024). "Communique de presse N° 033/CENI/2024" (Press release) (in French). Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via Facebook.
  8. ^ CENI (1 June 2024). "Communique de presse N° 043/CENI/2024" (Press release) (in French). Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via Facebook.
  9. ^ CENI (13 June 2024). "Communique de presse N° 044/CENI/2024" (Press release) (in French). Retrieved 13 June 2024 – via Facebook.
  10. ^ "Les élections législatives nationales et provinciales à Masimanimba et Yakoma programmées au 15 décembre". Radio Okapi (in French). 2 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Réorganisation des législatives à Masimanimba et Yakoma : la campagne électorale est lancée". Radio Okapi (in French). 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  12. ^ CENI (13 April 2025). "Communique de presse N° 004/CENI/2025" (PDF). ceni.cd (Press release) (in French). Retrieved 18 Mar 2025.
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