EXERCISE OF ELECTIVE PUBLIC OFFICE BY TRADITIONAL CHIEFS IN THE DRC: Constitutional law and customary

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, customary chiefs play a major role that has never been called into question since colonial times, and has even been strengthened by institutional and political developments since independence. Customary power is a reality common to the whole of France, Africa and even the world.Customary power structures are an integral part of the country's political and administrative organization. The process of integrating traditional political structures into the political and administrative organization of contemporary Congo began in 1891. The traditional chief is seen as a political player whose political games are governed by constitutional and legal provisions.The Congolese electoral system provides for the co-optation of traditional chiefs, and the legislator in turn has given traditional chiefs a place of choice within deliberative assemblies, through the co-optation mechanism. However, any customary chief wishing to hold an elective public office must submit to election.