On Friday, March 31, CENI granted a second extension of 10 days, from April 2 to April 11, for the registration process in Operational Area 3.

In a press release obtained by Radio Okapi, the election center attributed this extension to the influx of applicants to the registration centers on the eve of those operations’ closure (April 1).

According to the same document, the CENI also wanted to allow the Congolese of this corner of the country to meet the necessary conditions to obtain the voter’s card and appear on the electoral roll.

This extension affects the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, Maniema, Tshopo and two countries: Canada and the USA.

To that end, the Electoral Center has warned that there will be no third extension.

So she invited the stragglers from Operational Area 3 to take advantage of this opportunity and go en masse to the registration offices to report.

However, some observers believe the 10-day period is very short to enroll thousands of applicants, particularly in North Kivu.

The CENI speaks of more than 70% of the population already enrolled in the 3 cities and 4 territories of North Kivu province, with the exception of the Rutshuru and Masisi territories, where operations were never started.

This is due to the occupation of certain units in these two areas by the M23 rebels and their Rwandan allies.

The first 15-day extension expired this Saturday, April 1, as hundreds of applicants queued across North Kivu province.