Minister calls for participation in electoral rolls

Republic of Congo Interior Minister Pierre Oba on Tuesday called on opposition parties and civil society organisations to participate in the revision of electoral rolls in advance of elections, news agencies reported. "From this day forward, I am calling upon all political parties, organisations and associations involved in electoral matters to submit the names of their members to their local administrative commissions," AFP quoted him as saying. "In ten days, we expect to be collecting definitive electoral lists," he added. Oba's call has received some criticism. "It's bungling," PANA news agency quoted National Party President Yvon Norbert Gambey, as saying. "Only a national electoral commission is authorised to control the whole electoral process, including the drawing up of electoral rolls," he said. "The interior minister's appeal is part of our claims because the government cannot organise the electoral process alone. But, we prefer to wait and see how the operations will be carried out", Cephaste Ewangui, a civil society representative, was quoted by PANA as saying. However, the secretary-general of the Congolese association for openness, solidarity and salvation (ACOSS), Jacques Banangandzala, told PANA he was very pleased with the minister's appeal, which he called "part and parcel of a desire from the government to organise the elections in openness". He added: "It is now the duty of political parties to see the work done on the ground by the government as part of the inventory." The elections, he said, should "no longer be an excuse for civil wars in our country". As recommended by a national dialogue held in March and April, an electoral commission was established. It included representatives of the government, political parties and civil society. The government has not fixed dates for elections, but a referendum on a new constitution is due to take place in the latter half of December.