DRC police disperse protest against slow M23 rebel pullback
Al JazeeraNov 25, 2022
The Facts
On Sunday, during church service, Catholic Priest Father Victor Ntambwe encouraged the congregation of St. Charles Lwanga church to register and vote in the upcoming Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) election. The DRC's catholic church network has for years promoted democratic elections and encouraged citizens to vote.
In Nov. 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced that the country would hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Dec. 20, 2023. The DRC faces several challenges to holding a secure and safe election including the transport of election materials, civil unrest, and health concerns with both Ebola and COVID.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The current state of the DRC and the suffering of the Congolese people lies with President Tshisekedi. Even with the challenges the nation faces, the country is not on its knees as it is often portrayed by the media. It will take time, but the new government will need to assess its successes and failures year by year to course correct any wrongs and snuff out any perceived corruption.
Pro-establishment narrative
When President Tshisekedi assumed the presidency of the African Union he seized an opportunity to show the world his commitment to a better DRC and a better Africa. The 2023 election is an opportunity to provide democracy and stabilization to the Congolese people. There will be challenges but with the help of the international community, the government and the people of the DRC can secure an election free from violence and corruption and chart a path to a better future.
