DRC Closes Borders as Polls Open

GOOBJOOG NEWS | KINSHASA: The Democratic Republic of Congo has announced closure of its land, sea and air borders as the country holds its general elections.

General Directorate of Migration (DGM) announced on Tuesday announced in a statement that the borders will be closed on Wednesday from 0:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time to allow the country to calmly organize the general elections.

The statement adds that during this period, domestic flights will be suspended, except for international flights at international airports.

Presidential, legislative, and local polls will be held throughout the DRC on Wednesday, elections that has seen the East African Community (EAC) announcing that it will not send its observers to the country.

The regional bloc said it will not send a team to monitor the DRC elections on the ground, as is the tradition among member states, blaming the authorities in Kinshasa for refusing to accredit the team.

“[The) EAC will not physically be present in DRC to observe her 2023 General Elections as provided for in the Treaty Establishing the East African Community and as it has been the practice since the inception of the EAC, this development is due to the fact that although EAC was ready, the request to undertake the exercise has not been granted by the relevant authorities,” the bloc said in a statement.

The EAC however said it wishes the government as well as people of DRC peaceful elections and remains committed to discharge our mandate to all partner states.