Kinshasa, January 29th, 2026 (CPA).– Graduates of the Electoral Training School in Central Africa (Efeac) were urged to put their skills to work in the service of innovation during an academic graduation ceremony held on Thursday in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
‘I offer you my sincere and warm congratulations on the completion of this demanding course, and urge you to put your skills to work in the service of innovation and the improvement of future electoral processes, not only in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but wherever duty calls,’ said Jacquemin Shabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior, personal representative of the Congolese Head of State at the ceremony.
Mr Shabani, also one of the graduates, reiterated the commitment of the DRC Government, through his ministry, to work to provide EFEAC with infrastructure worthy of a centre of excellence that meets the standards of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) in the DRC and to elevate it to the rank of a Continental Electoral Training School. Professor Marie-Thérèse Sombo, Minister of Higher Education, in turn, recalled that at this time, democracy, governance and electoral transparency are essential pillars of stability and development in states.
‘We live in an era where democracy, governance and electoral transparency are no longer mere theoretical concepts, but are now essential pillars of stability and development in our states,’ she said. She added: ‘The quality of our future depends on the rigour of our processes.’ Addressing the winners, she told them that they are the guardians of electoral integrity and the architects of social peace. ‘Efeac has given you an essential compass: that of integrity, rigour and transparency.
We place our deep trust in you. Your integrity and professionalism will be decisive in bringing about lasting change to electoral processes in Central Africa,’ she emphasized. In his speech, Professor Ferdinand Muhigirwa, Chairman of the EFEAAC Board of Directors, thanked President Félix Tshisekedi for sponsoring the ceremony. He also thanked Deputy Prime Minister Shabani for his efficient and exceptional commitment to the school, as well as the Minister of Higher Education for her commitment.
According to him, Efeac is the only center of excellence for governance and democracy within the civilian component of ECCAS. For his part, Dieudonné Mirimo, Efeac’s administrative and financial secretary general, who read the message from the director general, Christoph Stuckelberger, who was unable to attend, thanked the Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior for his exceptional commitment to supporting the school in achieving its noble objectives, including conflict prevention through the promotion of democratic governance, the organization of strategic and operational training, the promotion of applied electoral research and electoral assistance.
In his view, EFEAC has the potential to become a training school for the whole of Africa. « As President of the Republic, having agreed to place this ceremony under his high patronage, and as a father, EFEAC requests recognition of special diplomatic status in the DRC, the provision of staff and funding for its operation, the acquisition of infrastructure worthy of a center of excellence, and the political support necessary to promote its influence in Africa and around the world as the only school specializing in the electoral field. This will be a great legacy that the President of the Republic will leave to posterity in the DRC, Africa and the world, » said Dieudonné Mirimo, delivering Professor Stuckelberger’s message.
For the graduates, represented by Ms Sylvie Birembano, the electoral training acquired at their alma mater provides a solid and unshakeable foundation for more responsible electoral governance. ‘It enables us to contribute effectively to the organisation of credible elections and to the strengthening of peace, stability and development in the DRC and the countries of the sub-region,’ she said. The Electoral Training School in Central Africa (Efeac) is a centre of excellence of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).