Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize winner, announces his candidacy for the 2023 Presidential election

It's official: Denis Mukwege, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has announced his candidacy for the presidential election scheduled for December 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The announcement was made in a speech from Kinshasa, and it is expected that he will officially submit his application to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) this Tuesday, barring any last-minute unforeseen circumstances.

Denis Mukwege is standing as an independent candidate, but his candidacy is supported by the Alliance des Congolais pour la refondation de la Nation (ACRN), a new political coalition created this year and led by pastor Roger Puati.

This decision has been eagerly awaited, particularly since 18 September 2023, when Denis Mukwege received a generous contribution of 160 million Congolese francs from the general public in support of a possible candidacy.

At a recent press conference, Dr Mukwege raised the question of his candidacy, emphasising that he had never categorically rejected the possibility. He also questioned whether the mere fact of having a financial guarantee was sufficient to embark on such an undertaking.

In January this year, Dr Denis Mukwege had already expressed his views on the electoral process underway in the DRC, highlighting the crucial role of young people in this decisive phase in the country's history. At a conference organised by the youth of the eighth Community of Pentecostal Churches in Central Africa (CEPAC) in Bukavu, he responded to calls for his candidacy by calling for a "democratic revolution" led from below.

According to Dr Mukwege, this democratic revolution means that the Congolese people must mobilise to vote en masse and ensure that their votes are respected. He stressed the need for radical change, regretting that the DRC was still mired in a system of predation rather than genuine governance.

Dr. Mukwege, renowned for his commitment to women's rights and his fight against sexual violence in times of conflict, sees his possible candidacy as a response to the concerns of women and other segments of the population.

Dr Denis Mukwege has taken another step forward by making his candidacy for the presidential elections official, although many questions remain about his campaign and the challenges that await him in this crucial electoral race for the future of the DRC.