CATHOLIC BISHOPS SEND MIXED MESSAGE ON TRANSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001043

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO KDEM CG
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC BISHOPS SEND MIXED MESSAGE ON TRANSITION
EXTENSION


Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.4 B and D


1. (U) The Catholic Bishops' Conference (CENCO) issued a
statement June 22 in which it criticized "the automatic
extension" of the transition, as well as calls to bring the
transition down June 30th by "violence and chaos." The
Bishops want the government to explain why elections were not
organized by June 30th, and criticized the "lack of political
will" by transition actors. They warned, however, that
stopping the transition will only delay the organization of
elections.


2. (U) The bishops' statement refers to the "psychosis of
June 30th" and affirms makes note of social malaise,
corruption, insecurity, and lack of trust in the government.
It recommends a dialogue between "significant socio-political
forces," army and police integration, national
reconciliation, and continued support by the international
community.


3. (SBU) The bishops indicated that the Church will intensify
its campaign of civic and electoral education and launch a
national program of non-violence and reconciliation, calling
for calm, dialogue, and peace.


4. (C) Comment: There is something in the long statement for
everyone to like and to hate. There is a great deal of
criticism of the government and the transition, and the
criticism is generally fully justified. The timing, however,
is problematic. At the same time the bishops are calling for
peace, they are also sending out a condemnatory message that
opposition spoilers have already begun to exploit. End
comment.
MEECE