[{"command":"settings","settings":{"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"core\/picturefill,entity_embed\/caption,views\/views.ajax,views\/views.module","theme":"hrw_design","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__300008__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"300008","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/300008","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__300008__en","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0ae5601d8790ff50fca3cf23b9ac9170285f2f75823ebdc8d9cc054bc03a679b"}},"merge":true},{"command":"add_css","data":"\u003Clink rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 href=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/css\/css_reI-6YIYy-k9pvxm-gaCRrn5cSrTZRtyAMrp4YXDUJw.css\u0022 \/\u003E\n"},{"command":"add_js","selector":"body","data":[{"src":"\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_VkK39bvB4H6LLVemwPFz8QWcUMTFqZ3FFo_LBVv_4vs.js"}]},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":".js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__300008__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__300008__en\u0022\u003E\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022blog-block__content__description rich-text pt-6 mb:pt-10 mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EAs negotiations continue in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/africa\/democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003EDemocratic Republic of Congo\u003C\/a\u003E on implementing the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-299587\u0022\u003Epolitical deal\u003C\/a\u003E paving the way for elections before the end of the year, the national electoral commission (CENI) has forged ahead with its voter registration process.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tInstead of just registering the youth who came of age since the last elections in 2011 and members of the diaspora now allowed to vote, CENI decided to start from scratch and redo the entire voter list \u2013 ostensibly to \u201cclean up\u201d the voter rolls, and address allegations of fraud. But some see this as a government tactic to delay elections once again.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-right embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--right\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/30995\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/dsc_0006.jpg?itok=39Vgl-sX 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/dsc_0006.jpg?itok=tWFauTFM 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/dsc_0006.jpg?itok=tWFauTFM\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022496\u0022 alt=\u0022Deployment of registration materials in Goma, on December 15, 2016.\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003EDeployment of registration materials in Goma, on December 15, 2016.\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2016 Radio Okapi\/Alain Wandimoyi\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tCENI \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/02\/09\/actualite\/societe\/rdc-la-ceni-deja-enrole-13-millions-delecteurs#sthash.Va5eNpOT.dpuf\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E last week that about 13 million voters have already been registered. They are due to complete registration by July. In 2011, there were about 32 million \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/02\/09\/actualite\/societe\/rdc-la-ceni-deja-enrole-13-millions-delecteurs\u0022\u003Eregistered\u003C\/a\u003E voters.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tThe process has been marred by serious security and logistical challenges that highlight just how difficult organizing elections is in Congo.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tOne of the biggest challenges to the registration effort is the presence of \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2016\/12\/14\/actualite\/politique\/enrolement-des-electeurs-julien-paluku-demande-aux-groupes-armes-de\u0022\u003Earmed groups\u003C\/a\u003E in many parts of \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/congoresearchgroup.org\/mapping-of-armed-groups-in-eastern-congo-october-2015\/\u0022\u003Eeastern Congo\u003C\/a\u003E. In Lubero, North Kivu, the Mai Mai Guidon armed group is reportedly present in several villages where registration is ongoing. The territorial administrator Bokele Joys \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/18\/actualite\/securite\/rdc-lenrolement-des-electeurs-suspendu-mangurujipa\u0022\u003Etold Radio Okapi\u003C\/a\u003E and activists in the area told Human Rights Watch that Guidon fighters have reportedly tried to prevent members and suspected sympathizers of their main enemy, the largely ethnic Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), from enrolling. On January 19, Guidon fighters \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/22\/actualite\/en-bref\/nord-kivu-les-miliciens-ont-arrete-trois-agents-de-la-ceni-fatua\u0022\u003Eabducted\u003C\/a\u003E three CENI officials in Fatua village. They have since been released. According to local activists, the Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS) and Nyatura armed groups have also interfered with the registration process in Masisi territory.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tFurther north in Ituri province, the Front for Patriotic Resistance of Ituri (FRPI) armed group \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/14\/actualite\/societe\/ituri-les-miliciens-de-la-frpi-attaquent-un-centre-denrolement-aveba\u0022\u003Eattacked\u003C\/a\u003E a registration center in mid-January, kidnapping a CENI agent. Numerous armed groups, including the Raia Mutomboki and Nyatura, also attacked registration centers in South Kivu\u2019s Kalehe territory, including in Chibinda, Lumbishi, Lwana, Mianda, Mukaba, Muuna, Maibana, Makutano, and Matutira villages.\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EInsecurity has also affected the registration process in \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/09\/actualite\/societe\/ituri-toujours-pas-denrolement-des-electeurs-walendu-bindi\u0022\u003EWalendu Bindi\u003C\/a\u003E in Ituri province; \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/10\/actualite\/societe\/beni-la-ceni-va-delocaliser-certains-centres-denrolement\u0022\u003EBeni\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/03\/actualite\/societe\/rutshuru-linsecurite-retarde-lenrolement-des-electeurs\u0022\u003EBwito\u003C\/a\u003E and Walikale in \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2016\/12\/14\/actualite\/politique\/enrolement-des-electeurs-julien-paluku-demande-aux-groupes-armes-de\u0022\u003ENorth Kivu\u003C\/a\u003E province; \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/04\/actualite\/en-bref\/sud-kivu-des-hommes-armes-attaquent-un-centre-denrolement-kagabi\u0022\u003EKabare\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/16\/actualite\/en-bref\/shabunda-linsecurite-empeche-lenrolement-des-electeurs-dans-certaines\u0022\u003EShabunda\u003C\/a\u003E in South Kivu province; and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/08\/actualite\/securite\/tanganyika-les-kits-electoraux-entre-les-mains-des-groupes-armes\u0022\u003ENyunzu\u003C\/a\u003E in Tanganyika province.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tCENI officials face numerous logistical and resource challenges. In Milimba village in Fizi territory, officials do not have the equipment to laminate voter identification cards. In Kibombo in Maniema province and Sandoa in Lualaba province, there have been problems maintaining generators needed for electricity at the registration sites, while materials were reportedly stolen in Kabara and Kaniola villages in Walungu, South Kivu. In Fizi town, a registration center was shut down due to the lack of registration materials.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tMany activists we have spoken to have expressed concerns about the limited number of registration centers to cover vast territories \u2013 often in remote, insecure areas with poor roads and transportation options. People living in Vurondo, Beni territory, for example, need to walk nearly 20 kilometers to reach the closest registration center in Butuhe village, exposing themselves to roadblocks and other protection risks along the way. In the Mpati area in Masisi territory, there is only one registration machine for thousands of people.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tFurther south in Haut Katanga province and in the western \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/19\/actualite\/en-bref\/enrolement-les-parlementaires-de-lequateur-denoncent-linexperience-des\u0022\u003EEquateur\u003C\/a\u003E province, people have complained that CENI officials do not have the necessary training or skills to competently carry out the voter registration process. Logistical and administrative problems were also reported in \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/15\/actualite\/politique\/enrolement-des-electeurs-au-sud-ubangi-le-centre-mokonga-enzolo\u0022\u003ESub-Ubangi\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/19\/actualite\/societe\/le-depute-bokumwana-deplore-les-difficultes-denrolement-des-electeurs\u0022\u003EMongala\u003C\/a\u003E provinces in western Congo. In parts of Kalehe territory, South Kivu, there have been reports that CENI only hired members of one ethnic community and discriminated against members of other ethnic groups.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tActivists in many parts of the country say limited efforts have been made to inform the population about the registration process. In Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu, observers worry about a lack of participation of women in particular. In Ituri province, many people have reportedly deliberately abstained from participating in what they believe is an illegitimate process.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tIn Misisi, Fizi, CENI agents have reportedly asked for 2,000 Congolese Francs (about US$2) per person to obtain a registration card; similar reports have come in from parts of \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/07\/actualite\/societe\/ituri-les-policiers-mis-en-garde-contre-le-monnayage-de-lacces-aux\u0022\u003EIturi\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/01\/03\/actualite\/politique\/haut-katanga-les-policiers-accuses-de-monnayer-lenrolement-des\u0022\u003EHaut-Katanga\u003C\/a\u003E provinces. It is unlawful to charge people to register. In some places in Masisi, there have been reports of people bribing CENI agents to register several times. CENI officials have also complained that they are not being adequately \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/actualite.cd\/2017\/01\/11\/enrolement-a-beni-lasadho-tire-sonnette-dalarme-face-aux-irregularites\/\u0022\u003Epaid\u003C\/a\u003E in Beni territory, or that they are working in precarious conditions without sufficient protection in parts of Rutshuru, North Kivu.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tHaving a credible voter list and ensuring all eligible voters are given equal and fair opportunities to register will be critical to ensuring the legitimacy of any future elections. The Congolese government, along with international partners, should act now to improve the registration process, including by working to secure voter registration sites and providing adequate staffing and equipment to effectively register all eligible voters. Real political will to make this process a success is perhaps the most important ingredient.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\u003C\/div\u003E\n","settings":null}]