Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The 1960 elections, held just before independence, saw Patrice Lumumba become prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu president. In 1965 Mobutu Sese Seko seized power and declared himself president amid the Congo Crisis. He was formally elected to a seven-year term in 1970. Establishing the single-party Republic of Zaire, his presidency was renewed by show elections in 1977 and 1984 while legislative elections were abolished altogether by 1975. Mobutu ruled until 1997 when Laurent Kabila seized power after the First Congo War. When Laurent Kabila was killed in 2001, his son Joseph Kabila took over the presidency while the country was going through the Second Congo War (1998–2003). The Second Congo War was officially declared over in 2003. The period that followed was relatively peaceful, with the United Nations' largest peacekeeping force maintaining the peace. However, the Ituri Conflict marred the peace, with periods of violence in the northeastern Ituri Province.

In December 2005 a referendum on a new constitution was held. It was approved, paving way for the first multiparty elections in 46 years.

The first multi-party elections in the country since 1960 took place in July 2006. Kabila was elected president and was reelected in 2011. His constitutionally-mandated term ended in 2016, but the government put off a new election, citing logistical problems and the ongoing conflict in the eastern DRC. The long delayed general election finally took place on 30 December 2018, which resulted in a surprise victory for Félix Tshisekedi, although this was questioned by election observers and led to accusations of voter fraud by another opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu. The Constitutional Court of the DRC dismissed Fayulu's challenge of the result, confirming Tshisekedi as the winner. Joseph Kabila stepped down in January 2019, with Tshisekedi being inaugurated as the 5th President of the DRC on January 24. This was the first democratic transition of power in the country since it gained independence in 1960. Tshisekedi was reelected with a large majority in December 2023, coming ahead of Moise Katumbi and Fayulu.

{{Static row numbers}}

{{Main|2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|2024 Democratic Republic of the Congo Senate election}}

{{Election results

| color1 = #CF1020

| cand1 = Félix Tshisekedi

| party1 = Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|Union for Democracy and Social Progress

| votes1 = 13058962

| color2 = #027EFE

| cand2 = Moïse Katumbi

| party2 = Together for the Republic

| votes2 = 3256572

| color3 = #3365AA

| cand3 = Martin Fayulu

| party3 = Commitment to Citizenship and Development

| votes3 = 875336

| color4 = #158653

| cand4 = Adolphe Muzito

| party4 = New Momentum

| votes4 = 200800

| color5 = #FEEE5A

| cand5 = Soborabo Radjabho Tebabho

| party5 = Congolese United for Change

| votes5 = 70099

| cand6 = Denis Mukwege

| party6 = Independent

| votes6 = 39639

| cand7 = Aggrey Ngalasi Kurisini

| party7 = Independent

| votes7 = 37201

| color8 = #FEFF5B

| cand8 = Constant Mutamba

| party8 = Revolutionary Progressive Dynamic

| votes8 = 36197

| cand9 = Jean-Claude Baende

| party9 = Independent

| votes9 = 25584

| color10 = #F1F24E

| cand10 = Delly Sesanga

| party10 = Flight

| votes10 = 17785

| cand11 = Loli Nkema Liloo Bokonzi

| party11 = Independent

| votes11 = 17046

| cand12 = Patrice Majondo Mwamba

| party12 = Independent

| votes12 = 15793

| cand13 = Marie-Josée Ifoku

| party13 = Independent

| votes13 = 15266

| color14 = #D90100

| cand14 = Matata Ponyo Mapon

| party14 = Leadership and Governance for Development

| votes14 = 14181

| cand15 = André Masalu Anedu

| party15 = Independent

| votes15 = 13974

| cand16 = Floribert Anzuluni

| party16 = Independent

| votes16 = 13707

| cand17 = Noël K. Tshiani Muadiamvita|Noël Tshiani

| party17 = Independent

| votes17 = 9276

| cand18 = Seth Kikuni

| party18 = Independent

| votes18 = 8621

| cand19 = Justin Mudekereza Bisimwa

| party19 = Independent

| votes19 = 7573

| cand20 = Joëlle Bile Batali

| party20 = Independent

| votes20 = 6911

| color21 = #E1E344

| cand21 = Franck Diongo

| party21 = Progressive Lumumbist Movement

| votes21 = 6780

| cand22 = Tony Bolamba

| party22 = Independent

| votes22 = 6307

| cand23 = Rex Kazadi Kanda

| party23 = Independent

| votes23 = 5757

| cand24 = Georges Buse Falay

| party24 = Independent

| votes24 = 5288

| cand25 = Enoch Ngila

| party25 = Independent

| votes25 = 5156

| cand26 = Théodore Ngoy

| party26 = Independent

| votes26 = 4132

}}

{{Election results

|image=File:Democratic Republic of the Congo National Assembly 2023.svg

|alliance1=Sacred Union of the Nation|aspan1=45|acolor1=#DD0000|party1=Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|Union for Democracy and Social Progress

|votes1=1664049

|seats1=69

|color1=#CF1020

|party2=Allied Actions–Union for the Congolese Nation

|color2={{Party color|Union for the Congolese Nation}}

|votes2=903928

|seats2=34

|party3=Alliance of Democratic Forces of Congo

|votes3=890753

|seats3=35

|color3=#A03020

|party4=Agissons and Buildings

|votes4=752559

|seats4=26

|color4=#f4b515

|party5=Allied Actions–All for the Development of Congo

|votes5=692491

|seats5=21

|color5=#162578

|party6=Alliance of actors attached to the people

|votes6=649226

|seats6=21

|color6=#efe00b

|party7=Alliance bloc 50

|votes7=546079

|seats7=20

|color7=#3536a0

|party8=Movement for the Liberation of the Congo

|votes8=471375

|seats8=19

|party9=Alliance for the Advent of a Prosperous and Greater Congo

|votes9=532066

|seats9=16

|color9=#4785fd

|party10=Alternative Action of Actors for the Love of Congo

|votes10=392140

|seats10=16

|color10=#49df00

|party11=Alliance 2024

|votes11=443859

|seats11=15

|color11=#0399f9

|party12=It's up to us to build the Congo

|votes12=379135

|seats12=13

|color12=#085cf0

|party13=Congo Allied Action for the Convention

|votes13=390161

|seats13=10

|color13=#b70400

|party14=Coalition of Democrats

|votes14=431028

|seats14=9

|party15=Actions of the Allies of the Convention for the Republic and Democracy

|votes15=320370

|seats15=9

|color15=#109f50

|party16=Alliance of Progressive Congolese and Allies

|votes16=260392

|seats16=9

|party17=Alliance for Democratic Alternation and Allies

|votes17=336813

|seats17=8

|party18=Action for National Unity

|votes18=239969

|seats18=8

|party19=Audible Actions for Good Governance

|votes19=191056

|seats19=8

|party20=Alliance for Values

|votes20=330813

|seats20=7

|party21=Alliance for the Triple and Allies

|votes21=305728

|seats21=7

|party22=Allied Action for the Rise of the Congo

|votes22=284205

|seats22=7

|party23=Alliance of Nationalists

|votes23=277460

|seats23=7

|party24=Actions of Convention Allies–Unified Lumumbist Party

|votes24=215877

|seats24=8

|party25=Alliance for the Solidarity Movement for Change

|votes25=291226

|seats25=6

|party26=Alliances of Unified and Allied Tshisekedists

|votes26=287996

|seats26=6

|party27=Another Vision of Congo and Allies

|votes27=187358

|seats27=5

|party28=Alliance and Action for the Rule of Law

|votes28=258255

|seats28=4

|party29=Political and Social Forces Allied to the UDPS

|votes29=206721

|seats29=4

|party30=Christian Alternative for Congo

|votes30=190606

|seats30=4

|party31=Alliance 2025

|votes31=232648

|seats31=3

|party32=Alternative Vital Kamerhe 2018

|votes32=200899

|seats32=3

|party33=UDPS/KIBASSA–A

|votes33=180054

|seats33=2

|color33=#CF1020

|party34=Alliance of Political Parties Allied to the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo

|votes34=179929

|seats34=2

|party35=Alliance for the Reform of the Republic

|votes35=179877

|seats35=2

|party36=Action for the Federative Cause

|votes36=179847

|seats36=2

|party37=Alliance for the Growth and Democracy of Congo

|votes37=221869

|seats37=1

|party38=Alliance for Development Actions in Congo

|votes38=191053

|seats38=1

|party39=Allied Action for the Love of the Republic/Convention for the Republic

|votes39=179851

|seats39=0

|party40=Rally of Tshisekediast Democrats|votes40=105046|seats40=0

|party41=Action for the Breakthrough and Development and Allies|votes41=104876|seats41=0

|party42=Alliance of Christian Democrats of Congo|votes42=99748|seats42=0

|party43=Alliance of Democrats for the Emergence of Congo and Allies|votes43=33163|seats43=0

|party44=New Conscious Generation|votes44=12862|seats44=0

|atotalnv45=y|avotes45=15425416|aseats45=447

|alliance46=Together for the Republic

|votes46=497009

|seats46=18

|acolor46=#037efd

|alliance47=Avançons-MS

|votes47=202750

|seats47=5

|alliance48=Alliance of Elites in the Service of the People and Allies

|votes48=179953

|seats48=0

|alliance49=New Momentum

|votes49=179870

|seats49=3

|acolor49=#158653

|alliance50=Dynamique Progressive Revolutionnaire

|votes50=179834

|seats50=3

|alliance51=Alternation|votes51=138175|seats51=0

|alliance52=Action of the Allies|votes52=114970|seats52=0

|alliance53=The Progressives|votes53=110461|seats53=0

|alliance54=Action of the Allies Acquired to Democracy|votes54=104841|seats54=0

|alliance55=Alliance of Democrats for Renewal and Progress|votes55=101786|seats55=0

|alliance56=Leadership and Governance for Development|votes56=75944|seats56=1

|alliance57=Lumbist Social Movement|votes57=66536|seats57=0

|alliance58=Action of the Nationalist Allies for Democracy|votes58=66106|seats58=0

|alliance59=Actions of the Allies for Democracy and Development|votes59=61046|seats59=0

|alliance60=Let's Act 7|votes60=50943|seats60=0

|alliance61=Popular Awakening|votes61=49105|seats61=0

|alliance62=Action for Reconstruction and Work and Allies|votes62=47842|seats62=0

|alliance63=Alliance for the Development and Integrity of the Homeland|votes63=41731|seats63=0

|alliance64=New Political Order on the Horizon 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo|votes64=37416|seats64=0

|alliance65=Alliance of Reformers for a New Leadership|votes65=36090|seats65=0

|alliance66=Patriotic Front 2023|votes66=33383|seats66=0

|alliance67=Alliance of the Congolese for the Refoundation of the Nation|votes67=32866|seats67=0

|alliance68=Party of the Flight of the DR.Congo|votes68=29129|seats68=0

|alliance69=Mbonda|votes69=24692|seats69=0

|alliance70=Citizen Alternative|votes70=13763|seats70=0

|alliance71=Congolese United for Change|votes71=10004|seats71=0

|alliance72=Love of the Neighbor and the Part of Congo|votes72=5471|seats72=0

|alliance73=Independents

|votes73=59419

|seats73=0

|row74=Annulled seats

|votes74=0

|seats74=7

|row75=No election

|votes75=0

|seats75=16

}}

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system
• Independent National Electoral Commission

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050204052519/http://www.electionworld.org/congo-kinshasa.htm Electionworld]
• [http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/c/congodemrep/ Adam Carr's Election Archive]
• [http://africanelections.tripod.com/cd.html African Elections Database]
• [http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1417&fuseaction=topics.item&news_id=195889 Looking at the Congo's Historic Moment] An index of resources from the Woodrow Wilson Center on the DRC's democratic
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120426002412/http://politicsinspires.org/2011/11/how-are-election-preparations-unfolding-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-drc-hope-or-failure-two-perspectives/] A local and an international perspectives on the 2011 elections on 28 November 2011

transition; Last update August 1, 2006

{{reflist}}

{{Democratic Republic of the Congo elections|state=expanded}}

{{Africa in topic|Elections in}}

{{DRC topics}}