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ABSTRACT
The article analyses how the 2018 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) contributed to a further opening up of the democratic space and shared expressions and sentiments of citizenship. Through an ethnography of the electoral process in the South Kivu province, we investigate how claiming rights that come with citizenship and how people’s political identity, shape and are being shaped by electoral processes. We introduce the notion of citoyenneté to capture the dynamic process of civic political mobilization and positioning. In the case of the DRC, the concept of citoyenneté encapsulates the ideas, positions and actions giving meaning to citizenship and refers both to a formal ideology of nation building and political hegemony; and to an ideology of resistance, guiding acts and strategies to claim rights. We look at the substantive aspect of citoyenneté, or the processes of transformation and re-ownership of the content of citizenship during moments of intensified political competition and change. This process, as we argue, confirms that citizenship is above all a social construction, guiding social behaviour that varies according to the demands being formed around the acquisition of new rights, the redefinition of the political community, existing power competitions and social grievances.
Acknowledgements
This article is an output of the Conflict Research Programme, led by the London School of Economics and Political Science, and funded by UK aid from the UK government (GB-1-204428); the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. The authors want to thank Bienvenu Mukungilwa, Alice Nalumva, Eric Batumike, Francine Mudunga, Irène Bahati, Chiza Kashura, Stanislas Bisimwe, Oscar Abedi, Lebon Mulimbi, Jérémie Mapatano, Mary Kaldor, Alex de Waal, Henry Radice and the anonymous reviewers.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Bienvenu Mukungilwa, Alice Nalumva, Eric Batumike, Francine Mudunga, Irène Bahati, Chiza Kashura, Stanislas Bisimwe, Oscar Abedi, Lebon Mulimbi and Jérémie Mapatano
3 See also: New York Times, January 11, 2019 and African Arguments, January 10, 2019.
4 Four major competing tendencies have been confirmed: Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) and allies, Group of 7 (G7), Union for the Congolese Nation and allies, and Congo Liberation Movement and allies.
5 They are Jean-Pierre Bemba (MLC), Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo (UDPS), Vital Kamerhe (UNC), Martin Fayulu (Commitment for Citizenship and Development), Moïse Katumbi Chapwe (G7), Matungulu (Congo na biso) and Adolphe Muzitu (Unified Lumumbist Party).
6 The voting machine is a touch screen voting device that was first used in DRC during the 2018 elections. Its use was initially rejected by 11 out of 21 presidential candidates in October 2018 because they feared that this machine could facilitate fraud by those in power.
7 Wanny, Wale wale, available on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS2xb_hVMBk (accessed on March 29, 2019).
8 Interview with Moise Bahari, Kisinza, 3 February 2019.
9 The most eloquent example is that of a businessman Mukubaganyi who used to organize free meals in restaurants throughout the campaign period. He was elected overwhelmingly in 2006 and 2011.
10 Direct observation, GEC-SH researchers during the electoral campaign, South Kivu, December 2018
11 Interview with the chief of the state post, Luhaango, 3 February 2018.
12 Interview with local witness, Mulenge, February 2019.
13 Interview with chief of sector and focus group, Cifunzi, 5 February 2019.
14 Interview with local respondent, Kaniola, 3 February 2019.
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