Kinshasa, May 6th, 2025 (CPA) – The president of the Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of Congo has gone to visited, on Tuesday, the central warehouse of this institution located in the municipality of Limete (centre of Kinshasa), to evaluate the inventory operations and the state of functioning of the electoral material in anticipation of the polls of 2028. “Last April 4th, we have published our Roadmap for the 2028 elections. One of the important steps is to make an inventory of the equipment used to identify and register voters, and find out how functional it is. This will enable us to identify the major problems with our electoral kits », has declared Denis Kadima, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to him, the machines have been examined over the past few weeks and, in most cases, they are in working order. « Of course, there are some that are having a few problems or have broken down. All these problems are being assessed. We have a team of highly-equipped experts who, using software, are able to determine the causes. There are physical tests to be carried out to determine whether or not the electoral kits are working properly or not. And this will give us an opportunity to find out how many machines need to be added and how many need to be repaired. This exercise will also enable us to determine budgetary requirements », he has said.
The INEC technical team at work
During his visit, the President of the electoral commission has followed the technical explanations provided by the team assigned to this crucial mission. This gave him a clear picture of the current state of the equipment, with a view to preparing for future electoral operations. This visit reflects a clear desire on the part of the INEC bureau to learn the lessons of previous electoral cycles, by anticipating critical stages and laying the foundations for a controlled and credible electoral process in the future. « There is no doubt that things will go as planned. We have started on time, unlike the past electoral cycle where we were forced to sprint during a marathon. This time, we’ve started in good time. I’m optimistic and convinced that we’re going to make good progress. The INEC, as usual, is doing its part, and if the resources are there, everything will be fine », has explained Denis Kadima. One of the three institutions supporting democracy in the DRC, the INEC is responsible for all electoral operations, from the registration and identification of voters, through the organisation and counting of ballot papers, to the publication of the provisional results, which will be confirmed or annulled by the Constitutional Court, the only body empowered to publish the final results, after dealing with all appeals lodged in the context of electoral disputes.