Congolese Government launches revision of electoral register operation

The Congolese interior ministry is to embark on a campaign to revise its current electoral register.

The move, officials say, is to ensure all non-registered persons are catered for by the register.

Preparations for the presidential election in March are gaining momentum in Brazzaville.

Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou Zéphyrin has signed a decree in which he called potential voters to check that they are registered.

The government’s decision to launch the operation came a day after the adoption by the National Assembly of the new electoral law, awaiting endorsement by Senate.

When passed, it will provide for the establishment of an independent electoral commission in place of the former National Election Commission.

While the move has been received well, the opposition is calling for“an electoral commission whose independence is recognized by all.”

Elections hold on March 20.

But ahead of that, the two major cities, Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have experienced disturbances during the holding of a constitutional referendum which blew the Constitutional lock that prohibited the incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso to run for the next presidential election.