time to take stock after the political consultation of Owando

© Roch Bouka
Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso, May 18, 2021, in Brazzaville.

Congolese Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso ended Saturday, March 5 in Owando the work of the consultation initiated for a peaceful holding of legislative and local elections next July. The 250 delegates reached a consensus around twelve points, according to the final communiqué. But their reactions to the press differ.

With our correspondent in Brazzaville, Loïcia Martial

Regarding the updating of the electoral register, the participants in the consultation recommended that the lists be revised as soon as possible. They also recommended the creation of a budget line specific to the Electoral Commission, with a view to strengthening its independence from the State budget. The status quo regarding electoral boundaries: the next national assembly will still have 151 seats.

In addition, consensus was reached on the organization of elections throughout the Pool. In this neighboring province of Brazzaville, some constituencies were unable to vote in the 2017 legislative elections due to the socio-political crisis. In the next election, the public force will vote in advance as during the last presidential election last year.

“Very small progress”

« Owando will have been an important step in de-dramatizing the elections in Congo “Reacted Parfait Iloki, spokesperson for the Congolese Labor Party (PCT, in power).

The opponent Jean-Jacques Yhombi Opango, on the other hand, speaks of ” very small progress “, regretting the lack of real debates during the plenary sessions, in particular on biometrics.

« The recommendations, we always formulate them. The real problem is the application “, observed the moderate opponent Clotaire Mboussa Ellah.