DR congo Election in 2018: Why were diplomats concerned about election fraud?

“This is a crucial election for the DR Congo. There are enormous risks in asking people to use electronic voting that they are not familiar with.” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said in a closed-door meeting of the Security Council.

[Fig. 1] U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley

“Paper ballots should be used to ensure that the Congolese people do not have any doubts about the outcome” she said.
She also warned to stick to paper ballots, which are “a reliable, validated, transparent and easy-to-use way to vote.” She said “the United States does not support electronic voting.”

Congo’s 2018 elections: There was the possibility of fraud.

France, one of the 15 Security Council members, echoed the same sentiment.
1. Despite the DRC’s high illiteracy rate, French is the only official language in the election.
2. the DRC’s elections require language assistance. Therefore, a secret election may not be guaranteed.
The DRC’s National Electoral Council (CENI) has a history of embezzlement.

However, CENI defends itself by saying, “If we can’t use e-voting systems, there will be no elections.”
CENI allocated $500 million for the election, 10% of the national budget.
This included the controversial purchase of “voting machines” (electronic voting systems).

(Source from France 24, 2018)

Diplomats from many countries were concerned about Congo’s elections.

Diplomats from many countries were concerned about Congo’s election at the time.
According to the diplomatic expert of the Korean Ambassador to Congo, representatives of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, and the EU gathered at the Korean Embassy in Congo on December 5, 2017.

The Korean ambassador personally arranged the meeting because embassies from each country raised concerns. The DR Congo Election Commission (CENI) tried to introduce electronic voting machines and electronic counting machines.

Who attended?

Ambassadors from the United States, Britain, Belgium and the EU were present at the meeting. Also in attendance were the EU Commissioner for Public Affairs, the U.S. Commissioner for Political Affairs, the German Commissioner for Political Affairs, the Canadian Minister for Political Affairs, the French Governance Cooperation Officer, and the OIF (French-speaking International Organization) Election Specialist. In Korea, A-WEB Secretary General Kim Yong-hee attended.

How they criticized the introduction of Korean-made electronic voting machines?

U.S. Commissioner

The (Congo) presidential election, scheduled for December 23, 2018, is likely to be the country’s first opportunity for horizontal transition of power.

The introduction of electronic projection tables could cripple the entire presidential election. Electronic projection markers are the worst choice and will have a very negative impact on Korea’s status.

British Ambassador

The Secretary of the Electoral Council is a Korean. We asked CENI to skip the international bidding process. It is inappropriate for CENI to have arranged for a Korean company to be selected. Isn’t this a way for the CENI to enrich itself?

EU Commissioner for Public Affairs

The presidential election is just a year away. There have been no trials of electronic voting machines. It is highly inappropriate to rush to introduce a new technology to an uninformed public.

OIF (French-speaking International Organization) Election Specialist

The selection of equipment vendors is unclear. And the infrastructure in the host country is very poor. Given this, it is unlikely that the presidential election will be conducted using electronic voting machines.

The reality of the situation in the DRC is that introducing electronic voting equipment is like trying to drive a Ferrari down a muddy road.

The DRC’s electoral commission explains that the equipment will come from ‘South Korea’. This seems to ignore Congolese opposition parties and the international community, and it also seems to borrow credibility from the Korean government. Everything is packaged as if it is being done with the approval and support of the South Korean government.

Belgian Ambassador

The DR Congo government is currently suppressing free political activity. There is no freedom of assembly. Transparent and credible elections must be held.

I am concerned about the use of electronic equipment to conduct presidential elections under these circumstances.

The ruling class will manipulate election results whenever they need to. Election equipment will become a ‘cheating machine’

AWEB- Kim Yong-hee

“Congo’s Election Commission made decision. I do not intend to intervene publicly in this at the A-WEB level.”

“The South Korean government has no legal right to forcibly interfere with the export of products by South Korean private companies,” a South Korean Foreign Ministry official said.