The leader of a European Union electoral delegation to the Democratic Republic of Congo declared on Tuesday the dispatch of 42 initial observers to the country in preparation for an upcoming election next month.
Malin Bjork, a Swedish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) leading the mission, informed journalists in the capital city of Kinshasa that 42 observers had arrived on November 17 and are set to be stationed across 17 out of the 26 provinces in the expansive central African nation.
“They will be our eyes and ears on the ground,” she said.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to conduct parliamentary and presidential elections on December 20. President Felix Tshisekedi, aged 60, is seeking re-election for a second term in office.
The extended-term EU observers will be supplemented by an additional 12 observers who will have a shorter stay duration.
Bjork mentioned that on the day of the election, the EU electoral mission intends to deploy between 80 and 100 personnel throughout the country.
A contingent of seven additional European Parliament (MEP) members will also accompany the delegation.
Tshisekedi assumed power following the 2018 election, which many observers, including representatives from the Roman Catholic Church in the DRC, deemed as unfair.