If You See Something, Say Something
If You See Something, Say Something” is a national campaign to enhance public awareness regarding the signs of corruption and injustice concerning the upcoming December 2023 election. The campaign seeks to educate the public on recognizing suspicious activity and encourages them to report such instances through appropriate channels.
The campaign serves as a platform to educate citizens about the indicators of corruption and injustice that may be prevalent during the election period, empowering them with the knowledge to identify irregularities, misconduct, or any form of unethical behavior that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Furthermore, the campaign emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity, providing information on the appropriate procedures and channels through which individuals can report their concerns. This may involve engaging with electoral commissions, relevant government agencies, or independent organizations overseeing the elec tion process.
By raising public awareness and promoting a culture of vigilance, the campaign aims to foster a sense of responsibility among citizens to play an active role in upholding the principles of transparency, fairness, and accountability during the December 2023 election.
Our Mission
Sustainable democracy and electoral justice can only be achieved through the collaborative action of human rights, democratic governance, and citizen participation by promoting and protecting electoral processes, restoring ethics, and eradicating corruption at all levels.
OILICE, as an independent, non-profit organization, has a mission to ensure the democratic rights to vote and run for office for African citizens, promoting sustainable democracy in the African continent and worldwide through empowering citizens, strengthening political institutions, and promoting credible elections.
Our Vision
We vision an African Continent free of electoral injustice and corruption where the citizens are well-informed about their democratic rights and can exercise those rights wisely and stand for office, and are empowered to protect and promote the electoral process to achieve sustainable democracy.
OILICE strives to promote citizen participation and support political institutions in Africa to hold credible elections to achieve sustainable democracy and create nations with the rule of law.
Our Values
Our Target
OILICE'S PROBLEMATIC TARGETS OF ELECTORAL INJUSTICE AND CORRUPTION
Thus, the targets of oilice deserve ample assistance to change the course of things or even events
The Independent Electoral Center
The only authorized mouthpiece for electoral matters in countries in general, and in Africa in particular, does not shine in terms of transparency of provisional results. The last presidential, national, legislative, and provincial elections of December 30, 2018, speak for themselves, the case of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Not to speak of the president whose outcome depends overwhelmingly on the entire national territory, the common man had the impression that the results of the elections of both national and provincial deputies of his constituency have been appointed or better; the results are unnatural given the scores of the centers. Hence, cascading appeals follow in vain. Is this the materialization of the quote of the late Gabonese President Omar Bongo, "In Africa, we do not organize elections to lose them? " In any case, the country (the DRC) is still far from the standards of the old Western democracies, and the more time passes, the more fragile its democracy becomes.
Voters or Peoples
In Africa, there is a crying lack of electoral education among voters: not only do many not know why and whom to vote for, but they are not aware of the consequences of their choices. OILICE will conduct training sessions to accompany voters in their choices. So many evils to eradicate if we want fair elections, at least voters.
Political Parties
By definition, a political party is an organized group of people with the same ideology or who otherwise have the same political positions and who present candidates in elections, aiming to get them elected and thus implementing their program. Political parties nominate candidates according to ethnic-tribal origins, clientelism, and moral corruption. In some countries in Africa, the leader of a political party can change the result of a candidate in favor of one of his choices within the same political party in the same constituency. This situation creates frustration within the political parties.
Parliament
The electoral law is often passed at the level of the national assembly; this law often contains many parts. By perversion, some deputies have instituted cambium by using the parliamentary control mechanisms as a bargaining tool to create opportunities for political corruption.
Courts and Tribunals
In any case, fewer cases or rarely candidates before these noble courts have found satisfaction. Only the political way is always winning. Thus, during the processing of electoral disputes, we observed a blatant injustice because the judges based their decisions on the technical opinions of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which did not reflect the truth of the ballot boxes. In fact, there are even some unfortunate candidates who come out on top with high votes. But others from the same list who had obtained fewer votes were proclaimed elected by the CENI to the great consternation of the others, creating conflicts within the political party. Case of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Election of December 30, 2018.
Candidates
Indeed, during the pre-election period, we observed a phenomenon known as "occasional candidates" who were recruited without training or mastery of electoral issues. This is what lies at the root of the quest for the selfish interests of the newly elected officials in the provinces who work to the detriment of the wishes of their respective constituencies. They do so much scheming during the electoral campaigns. As one would say, "All means are good to achieve an objective," but for them, it is sadly mediocracy. Some even sell their last shirts in the hope of getting elected. And with these kinds of shenanigans, is it any wonder why they prioritize their personal interests over the general interest once in office? Absolutely not. The operation return, plus abnormal profit, would be the watchwords of a whole mandate, in this case, majority plural.
The Media
During the elections, the media plays an important role in democracy and the electoral process, and they must tell the truth.
Religious Organizations
In the Christian conception, power and freedom come from God and are, therefore, sacred. This sacredness is the foundation on which the Governments of African countries have relied to show solidarity with the struggle for freedom and the liberation of Africa from colonization. Thus, about the considerations that several African States grant to religion, certain African States, in the case of the DRC, have entrusted to the organizations of religious confessions the major responsibility as regards the appointment of the leaders of the national offices of the technical bodies in charge of the organization of the elections. The interventions of churches and faith communities in the political field are made possible in some countries thanks to the principle of the secularity of the State. Secularism translates first into the absence of a state religion. In other words, religious organizations are considered as associations of private persons. The Congolese State attributes to them the status of Associations (ASBL). Religious denominations are social actors whose role remains preponderant to prevent those who want to deviate from the democratic process to plunge the country back into a dictatorship. To achieve this, it is very useful that the leaders of religious concessions are aware of this responsibility. For this reason, OILICE has also chosen these organizations as targets because they play a prominent role in the electoral process in Africa today.
Our History
The International Organization to Combat Electoral Injustice and Corruption (OILICE) is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) of international character headquartered in Salt Lake City – Utah, USA, with the extended power of governance. It was established in March 2020 by three founding members, Dennis Edward Meservy, Chamberlain Mbongompasi Piba, and Eric Caillet, inspired by Mr. Chamberlain Mbongompasi Piba, the victim in December 2018 of fraud and injustice and under the assistance of Dr. Augustin Yamfu Mukau.
OILICE operates its network of branches in some states in the USA through its several offices and has country offices, all in charge of operational management, i.e., offices that strive to meet the vision and mission of OILICE.
OILICE was created, on a transparent basis, in the wake of the presidential elections in most of the countries in democratic transition in recent years, considering that all these elections illustrated a serious disintegration of the republican pact of these countries, particularly, the case of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It aims to combat electoral injustice and corruption and restore trust between citizens and their political representatives to achieve electoral integrity.
With its international headquarters in UTAH (USA) and field offices across the African continent, OILICE strives to combat critical issues facing democracy, governance, and elections in the African continent and worldwide. We are at the forefront of formulating innovative measures to provide citizens worldwide with the knowledge of their fundamental right to vote through programs aimed at securing electoral integrity and transparency and measures to empower underrepresented groups to participate in fair electoral processes fully.
The OILICE organization acts in respect of the fundamental rules of human rights. This policy ensures equality before the law of all citizens without distinction of origin, race, or religion.
Thus, its purpose is to carry out actions to rehabilitate representative democracy and promote ethics in politics to fight against injustice, corruption, electoral and tax fraud, or any other violation of probity at the local, national, and international levels. It advocates for the regular use of public funds.
OUR PEOPLE
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
composed of the founding members and the members of the Representative Office
THE ADVISORY BOARD
Body in charge of helping the organization in its task by providing certain expertise necessary for the success of its mission. Consisting of a maximum of 10 – 15 members, they are eminent personalities or experts from a multitude of different backgrounds and appointed based on their professional and academic achievements and experience in fields of importance to the activities of OILICE.
THE SECRETARIAT AND THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Secretariat is in charge of the daily management of the organization’s activities at the international level. They provide:
- Strategic Leadership for the Organization
- Is accountable for the overall execution of the organization’s activities
- Represents the Organization externally and builds strong relationships with local groups, all members, and other stakeholders.
The Secretary-General shall, as necessary, assign staff to carry out the programs of the Organization and coordinate the National Offices in the countries served by the Organization in cooperation with the Chairman of the Board.
In carrying out its programs, the OFFICE works with a network of experts spread throughout its outreach and with local groups.
ORGANIZATION OF THE LOCAL GROUPS
Consists of OILICE members whose mission is to promote the objectives and values of OILICE collectively and to ensure that they are respected. Its means of action are multiple (pedagogy and training, public meetings, working groups, etc.).
ETHICS AND MONITORING COMMITTEE
The Ethics Committee advises the Board of Directors on ethical issues and possible breaches of conduct by a member.
The Supervisory Board reviews the development of strategies, policy and program implementation, the risk control system, and the operations of the organization’s approach to achieving its mission.
