Thousands rally against DRC capital election election News

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Kinshasa protesters are refusing to nominate President Felix Tshisekedi as the new head of the electoral body last month.
Thousands have taken to the streets of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to protest a move by President Felix Tshisekedi to put a close friend to the country’s election commissioner.
Tshisekedi’s move last month was a hindrance to political opposition and influential Catholic and Protestant religious leaders.
Critics say Denis Kadima, the new head of the CENI (Independent National Electoral Commission), is corrupt and too close to the president.
“This is our people, and no one will stop us from claiming our rights,” a Kinshasa protester told Al Jazeera.
“We are rejecting a politicized election commission. We want to change things in this country, ”he added.
Demonstrators also carried banners with slogans such as “Enough is enough” and “Not to a politicized CENI”. “We want to pay teachers,” said another after strikes in the education sector.
Al Jazeera’s Malcolm Webb, reporting the protests, said the protesters were “angry”.
“The appointment of a new election commissioner is seen [protesters] not to be neutral … and backed away from President Felix Tshisekedi, ”Webb said.
“Before the election, Tshisekedi is said to be part of a process that is taking control of all key institutions,” he added.
The next presidential election is set for December 2023.
Tshisekedi was elected in a very late election in December 2018, mixed with peaceful but fraudulent allegations. He said he plans to run again.
Some protesters demanded the return of former President Joseph Kabila, who ruled the DRC for 18 years before Tshisekedi came to power in January 2019.
“We need to be clear that the president thinks he will lead this country … [a] A fake election commission in 2023, then we’ll see what happens. We don’t need it again, it hasn’t led, ”one protester said.
Former Parliament Speaker Aubin Minaku, former Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala and former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary were present at the demonstrations.
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