DRC: The government cancels the European Union’s election observation mission following technological concerns

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled a European Union (EU) election observation mission due to concerns over potentially intrusive technology.

At a press conference held on 19 December 2023 in Kinshasa, the Minister of the Interior revealed that the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) had introduced technology capable of compromising the electronic system of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and manipulating election results.

The Congolese government issued invitations to international organisations to observe the elections, but some of them brought in technology that could penetrate the CENI’s electronic system and manipulate the results. This is unacceptable”, said the Minister of the Interior.

The government informed EU officials of this concern and showed that the equipment brought did not correspond to the planned observation mission.

The minister stressed that the foreign observers had to limit themselves to the means of communication necessary to keep in touch with their management in Kinshasa and communicate their observations.

«You cannot come and observe with machines that can access CENI data. We have invited you, but these machines pose a problem. Find other ways. You should only have the necessary means of communication to be in contact with your management and communicate what you have observed», said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Yann ETERNEL