The East African Community (EAC) has announced that it will not have a physical presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to observe the country’s 2023 general elections. The decision is attributed to the relevant authorities not granting permission for the EAC to undertake the exercise.
In a statement, the EAC expressed its commitment to fulfilling its mandate for all member states and extended best wishes to the government and people of the DRC for peaceful elections. The EAC traditionally sends election observer missions to its member states, fostering transparency and credibility in electoral processes.
The general elections in the DRC are scheduled to take place on December 20, and the EAC’s withdrawal from physically observing the elections highlights the challenges in obtaining authorization for its mission.
The EAC, comprising eight member states, includes Burundi, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
