Independent National Electoral Commission (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
| Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante | |
CENI Headquarters in Gombe, Kinshasa | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 29 May 2003) |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Headquarters | Boulevard du 30 Juin, Gombe, Kinshasa |
| Agency executives |
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| Website | https://www.ceni.cd/ |
The Independent National Electoral Commission (French: Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante; CENI) is the official body responsible for organizing, supervising, and overseeing elections and referendums in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Initially established on 29 May 2003 as the Independent Electoral Commission (Commission Électorale Indépendante, CEI) to promote free, transparent, and credible elections, it was restructured and renamed as the CENI on 3 March 2011. The commission is managed by a national bureau that includes a president, vice-presidents, rapporteurs, quaestors, and several other members. Its mandate includes voter registration, candidate accreditation, election logistics, vote counting, and the compilation and publication of results.
With its headquarters on Boulevard du 30 Juin in Gombe, Kinshasa, the CENI's operations are supported by specialized commissions, provincial executive secretariats, and local antenna offices in all provinces and major cities. Members and leaders of the CENI are appointed by the National Assembly, with input and oversight from political, religious, and civil society stakeholders. Denis Kadima Kazadi has served as the CENI's president since 2021.
CENI's bank accounts are held at the BGFIBank Group. It held US$55 million as of May 2016. The same month, it borrowed an additional US$25 million from the BFGIBank, with $2.4 million in fees. According to Le Monde, the 2016 presidential elections were postponed on the grounds that the CENI lacked sufficient funds to register voters.