DR Congo gov't to fund country's electoral process

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) government has committed itself to fund the country's entire electoral process, an official source said Thursday.

"Today, the Presidential Majority (MP) camp and its government consider elections as an absolute priority. I want to assure you that DR Congo will single-handedly fund the entire electoral process," said Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, the co-moderator for the MP camp in the ongoing political dialogue.

According to the Congolese National Independent Electoral Commission, over a billion U.S. dollars will be needed to organize the forthcoming elections. Many international partners had promised to fund the electoral process but have not yet fulfilled their promises.

"We shall review our national priorities. We shall halt the construction of roads and railway lines, besides reducing the number of new schools and hospitals," Mwamba said.

The government's decision on funding of the electoral process comes at a time when the opposition had demanded for some guarantees for their continued participation in the national dialogue.

On Monday, the ruling party had proposed that the electoral cycle begins with local elections and end with the presidential elections. But the opposition side insisted that the presidential elections should be prioritized after a review of the electoral register.

On Wednesday night, representatives of both parties who met under the leadership of Facilitator Edem Kodjo, agreed to first organize presidential elections immediately after voter registration. Enditem