CENI is undergoing "rebranding" to show people it has changed since past elections that were marred by irregularities and violence, CENI president Denis Kadima told Reuters in an interview in Washington on Friday. The 2011 elections, followed by the 2018 elections, have left many people so disappointed with the institution," said Kadima. He cited, as an example, that some of the 24 presidential candidates were in exile or barred from participating in 2018. Kadima, who was appointed in 2021, said observers from groups including the U.S.-funded Carter Center and the European Union were expected to monitor the elections. Washington remains concerned about "possible violence, threats to the press freedom and freedom of peaceful assembly, and attempts by certain parties to manipulate the vote," the spokesperson said.

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Persons: Simon Lewis WASHINGTON, Denis Kadima, CENI, Kadima, Critics, Felix Tshisekedi, Simon Lewis, Sonia Rolley, Grant McCool Organizations: Democratic, Electoral, Reuters, Carter Center, European Union, Kadima, State Department Locations: Democratic Republic, United States, Africa's, Washington, U.S, Congolese