November polls in DRC could be 'jeopardised' by falling commodity prices

The uncertainty surrounding the November polls in the Democratic Republic of Congo just got murkier.

The government’s hopes of funding the polls with revenue from its commodity export might not work after all as commodity prices continue to struggle on the world market.

Despite an earlier announcement that the government would fund the conduct of the polls, Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo has said the fall in commodity prices could jeopardise the exercise.

A revision of the DRC’s electoral roll expected to have been carried out before the main polls later this year now hangs in the balance.

In spite of the budgetary constraints however, the Prime Minister says reconnecting with international financial institutions was not a priority for the DRC.

But the situation could get worse as commodity prices are expected to further decline due to a fall in demand from China.

The DRC is going through a political crisis after the disputed elections of 2011.

The opposition accuses President Joseph Kabila who has been in power since 2001 of doing everything possible to remain in office although he is constitutionally barred from seeking another term.