Kinshasa, July 9th, 2026 (CPA).- The Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni) has represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at the 10th Continental Forum of Electoral Management Bodies, held in Egypt from July 5th to 9th, 2026, presenting the Congolese experience of diaspora voting, which was piloted in 2023, CPA has learnt. “On this occasion, the First Vice-President of the CENI, Mr Bienvenu Ilanga Lembow, has spoken on the topic: ‘Diaspora voting: progress, shortcomings and prospects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’,” it is read.
According to the source, this presentation highlights the progress made by DRC with the participation, for the first time, of the Congolese diaspora in the 2023 electoral cycle, the legal, operational and logistical challenges encountered, as well as the prospects for reforms envisaged to strengthen the electoral inclusion of Congolese citizens living abroad.
“This conference brings together the continent’s electoral management bodies to discuss issues relating to the electoral participation of citizens in the diaspora, the sharing of national experiences, and prospects for improving the legal and operational frameworks governing elections,” the same source has indicated. It reports that, for the CENI, this meeting represents an opportunity to highlight the Congolese experience in involving the diaspora in the electoral process and to strengthen cooperation between African electoral administrations.
“Through its participation, the Congolese Electoral Commission reaffirms its commitment to inclusive, transparent and credible electoral processes,” the statement has concluded. It was in 2023 that the CENI has organised inclusive elections with the participation of the Congolese diaspora in South Africa, France and Belgium for Europe, as well as in Canada and the United States for the Americas, as pilot countries in a trial phase.