Booker Statement on Eve of Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Statement

"As the Congolese people head to the polls, it's imperative that officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) respect the democratic process, ensure unimpeded access for election observers, provide a timely and transparent tabulation of votes, publish comprehensive data on election results, and refrain from promoting destabilizing rhetoric or actions that could incite violence or undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

I recognize efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to overcome significant logistical and technical challenges in organizing these elections and have been monitoring ongoing concerns related to voter cards and registration. During this next stage of the electoral process, I urge the CENI to commit to maximum transparency so the Congolese people can have full faith in the election results.

Furthermore, I support the Biden Administration's stated intent to use all available tools to ensure accountability for anyone who seeks to undermine the democratic process in the DRC.

It's critical that the Congolese people are able to exercise one of their most fundamental rights--the right to vote--and the Congolese authorities, including CENI, must work to ensure all Congolese are able to exercise this right, through a fair and transparent process."

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