Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KINSHASA1460
2005-09-12 07:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

CONTENTIOUS ELECTIONS DISCUSSION AMONG THE VICE

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM KPKO CG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001460 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPKO CG
SUBJECT: CONTENTIOUS ELECTIONS DISCUSSION AMONG THE VICE
PRESIDENTS

Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece. Reason 1.4 (b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001460

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPKO CG
SUBJECT: CONTENTIOUS ELECTIONS DISCUSSION AMONG THE VICE
PRESIDENTS

Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece. Reason 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary: A discussion of the state of election
preparations consumed nearly two hours during a September 6
meeting of the International Committee to Accompany the
Transition (CIAT) and the Espace Presidentiel (President
Kabila and four Vice Presidents). The discussion was marked
by contentious exchanges among the Congolese, including
several inflammatory and largely groundless accusations of
irregularities by Vice President Z,Ahidi Ngoma. All parties
expressed determination to step up efforts to resolve ongoing
logistics problems in voter registration. While registration
totals continue to grow (and now total over 9 million),the
start of registration has been delayed in Bandundu and
Equateur provinces because of the problems. The need for
rapid preparation of a general election law was also
reiterated. Separately, the Ambassador expressed his belief
to President Kabila that those outside of the Election
Commission should avoid speculation about needed voter
registration numbers, and focus instead in public statements
on the goal of providing registration opportunities to all
Congolese. Kabila concurred. Time and logistics are clearly
the major challenges to ensure general elections are held
before June 30, 2006. End summary.

Elections at the Top of the Espace Presidentiel Agenda
-------------- --------------


2. (C) The September 9 CIAT-Espace Presidentiel meeting
opened with a discussion of the current state of election
preparations. The South African Ambassador in introductory
remarks emphasized that time has become the principal
challenge for all involved in the DRC transition, to ensure
that general elections will be concluded by June 30, 2006.


3. (C) The Independent Election Commision (CEI) Vice
President, who had been invited to this portion of the
meeting, started the substantive discussion with a thorough
overview of the current state of the voter registration
process. This included an update on voter registration
totals, progress in getting registration centers open in the
eight provinces where registration is underway, and the

by-now familiar problems regarding deployments to rural areas
and general logistics support. The CEI Vice President also
reported some security concerns, including at least one
registration machine apparently stolen as a result of an
attack on a registration center (note: by Mai Mai). He did
report improvements in several areas, thanks largely to a
strong MONUC effort to increase its support efforts to
address the most critical needs. The CEI official concluded
his presentation by noting that the CEI had been obliged to
delay the start of scheduled registration in Bandunda and
Equateur provinces until at least September 15, and possibly
until September 25. The reason is that operations continuing
in other provinces preclude the required redeployment of
machines. The CEI is particularly focused now on operations
in Western Kasai and Katanga, both of which are significantly
behind schedule. (Comment: Voter registration totals by
Wednesday had passed the nine million mark. End comment.)


4. (C) Subsequent interventions by the GDRC Vice Presidents
primarily focused on criticisms of the registration process
and its integrity. Vice President Bemba questioned various
aspects of how materials and machines were being allocated,
and asked if the CEI should hire an international logistics
expert. (Comment: In fact, the CEI has available a number of
international experts, including those with experience in
organization and logistics, a fact Bemba should and probably
does know already. End comment.) Vice President Z,Ahidi
was particularly critical, citing various rumors and
allegations of irregularities, including the outlandish
charge that a number of registration machines have been
spirited away to Kampala and Kigali. Vice President Ruberwa
reiterated familiar concerns about registration of all Kivu
citizens, including the relatively large numbers of refugees
outside of the country (e.g., roughly 150,000 in Tanzania;
Banyamulenge refugees primarily in Rwanda). The CEI Vice
President responded in sometimes excruciating detail to each
charge or rumor of problems, for example working through the
list of deployments of all 10,000 registration machines,
numbers of broken generators, centers opened in recent days,
etc. The often-tense exchanges among the Congolese continued
for some time (Comment: possibly playing to a CIAT audience.
End comment).

Reiterate Need to Mobilize Logistics Support
--------------


5. (C) By the end of the roughly two-hour discussion, there
had been some useful conclusions. All reaffirmed the need to
reinforce efforts to obtain the resources necessary to
accelerate deployment of registration equipment, people, and
materials to rural zones. Predictably, CIAT members tended
to stress the need for the GDRC to utilize all available
resources, including those available at the provincial
government level, and to complete disbursements to fulfill
GDRC financial pledges to the CEI. The GDRC senior officials
appealed for as much international assistance as possible.
Vice President Ruberwa did promise that the Political and
Defense Committee that he chairs will examine ways in which
additional GDRC assets can be identified and utilized.


6. (C) All parties also underscored the importance of
starting operational planning for holding a constitutional
referendum, needed before the next (and final) transition
extension to be approved by December 31. Also, it is
important to complete drafting of the general election law,
and have it fully reviewed in the Parliament as quickly as
possible. (Comment: While the electoral law cannot legally
be formally adopted until after the constitutional
referendum, there is a consensus view that agreement on the
text needs to be obtained soon to permit the CEI to proceed
with necessary preparations, such as ballot design and
production, for general elections. End comment.)

Ambassador to Kabila: Avoid the Numbers
--------------


7. (C) In an earlier September 9 private meeting with
President Kabila, the Ambassador noted the controversy
created by EU Commissioner Michel,s recent public statement
that 15 million registered voters are needed to achieve
credible election results. (Note: Criticism has ranged from
accusations that Michel is seeking to limit the number of
voters to only 15 million, to predictions that the process
will never reach a total of 15 million registered, thus
dooming the election process per Michel,s own declaration.
End note.) The Ambassador noted that local journalists had
pressed him very hard to identify a required number as well.
He said he had refused speculating on numbers, referring
those questions to the CEI. Instead, he told Kabila that he
had asserted to reporters that the criterion for success
should be an opportunity offered to all eligible Congolese
citizens to register to vote. Regardless of final numbers,
that is the basis for a credible vote. Kabila agreed that is
a useful formulation for public statement.

Comment: Time and Logistics
--------------


8. (C) The rather gratuitous sniping by the Vice Presidents
is perhaps disappointing, but not surprising. Z,Ahidi, for
example, faces a very uncertain future in elections, and has
some vested interest in casting aspersions on the credibility
of the process. Bemba is always anxious to portray himself
as the expert professional manager in contrast to the
amateurs around him. Despite these internal tensions, a
regular feature of the transitional government, registration
is moving ahead. The logistics problems are the clear major
immediate problem, but signs of improvements are evident, and
the recent UNSC resolution authorizing increased MONUC
logistics support will help as well. Financing of the total
election bill totaling roughly $430 million (including
security costs) is still a concern, although the bulk of the
money has already been identified by donors, led by EU
pledges now totaling around $160 million, plus individual
government contributions. Everyone,s eyes are on the
calendar, with a keen awareness of the need to hold the
constitutional referendum before the end of the year, and to
have the entire election process completed prior to the
Transition's June 30, 2006 deadline. End comment.


MEECE