Several Congolese living in Burundi have been crossing the Kavimvira border since Monday, December 18, to participate in the elections this Wednesday, December 20, starting from the city of Uvira.
Among these Congolese nationals, there are students.
On December 18, the DRC's embassy in Burundi announced, via a statement, that it was offering a special free round-trip pass to all Congolese in the country.
For Ambassador Willy Mulamba Mabika, the goal is to facilitate the crossing and ensure the safety of the Congolese and to allow them to participate in the elections.
He had noted in the statement that the only condition to be met to benefit from this special pass is to present the original of one's voter card issued in 2023.
On the evening of Monday, December 18, and this Tuesday, long lines of buses transporting these Congolese are disembarking at the Congolese border of Kavimvira.
At this border, an arrangement has been put in place by the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) to ensure their registration according to the rules. Entry and exit counters have been multiplied, official sources at the border have reported.
These voters from Burundi complete the administrative formalities at the borders of the two countries before getting back into vehicles and heading towards the downtown area of Uvira (South Kivu).
On the other hand, the headquarters of the candidates and political parties have organized themselves in different cities of Burundi (Bujumbura, Gitega, Rumonge, Chibitoke, Ngozi, Nyanza…) to facilitate the transportation and stay of these Congolese in Uvira.
In Bujumbura, a list of voters is presented at the embassy for the delivery of the "special pass" to ensure the safety and freedom of movement of the Congolese within Burundi or across the borders.
The Congolese border will not be closed during Wednesday's polling, according to sources from the DGM.
The electoral campaign ended before the scheduled date
Moreover, the electoral campaign had remained timid since Saturday, December 16, in Uvira, after the announcement of the assassination of a candidate for provincial deputy.
Angry young protesters had vandalized, torn down, and destroyed most of the candidates' posters and effigies in the public square.
This situation slowed down the campaign activities for some while they were hoping to maximize their efforts in the last three days to engrave their names and numbers in the voters' minds.
On the other hand, there are other candidates who received the batch of campaign materials ordered a long time ago from abroad.
Others, lacking financial means, were visible on Monday evening in the public square, distributing pieces of paper with their names and numbers written on them.
MMC / RO