Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KIGALI183
2006-02-24 07:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:  

2006 SECTOR-LEVEL ELECTIONS: ORDERLY, HIGH VOTER

Tags:  PGOV KDEM PHUM RW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7356
PP RUEHGI
DE RUEHLGB #0183/01 0550744
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240744Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2408
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KIGALI 000183 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C and DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM RW
SUBJECT: 2006 SECTOR-LEVEL ELECTIONS: ORDERLY, HIGH VOTER
TURNOUT, BUT FEW CANDIDATES

REF: KIGALI 146

This is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KIGALI 000183

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C and DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM RW
SUBJECT: 2006 SECTOR-LEVEL ELECTIONS: ORDERLY, HIGH VOTER
TURNOUT, BUT FEW CANDIDATES

REF: KIGALI 146

This is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: The second phase of 2006 Rwanda local
elections, conducted February 20 at the sector level,
proceeded smoothly. Polling sites were easy to find and
easy to access, and local National Electoral Commission
staff appeared to follow established guidelines and
procedures. Voters were generally provided voting
instructions and privacy. Security forces were present
outside polling stations, but unobtrusive. There were no
signs of intimidation or coercion of voters or other serious
procedural irregularities. Overall, the voter participation
level was high, ranging from approximately 75 to 90 percent
of the estimated 4.1 million registered voters. Observers
from various embassies noted, however, the low number of
candidates and high number of last-minute candidate
withdrawals, which created some confusion among voters and
raised questions about possible political influence in the
selection of candidates. End summary.

Balloting Procedure
--------------


2. (U) The direct elections, conducted by secret ballot at
the sector level, were generally well-organized and orderly,
starting at or close to the scheduled starting time of 7
a.m. and concluding promptly at 3 p.m. Voting was for two
positions -- a general sector representative to the District
Council and a female representative to the district level.
(Note: The Rwandan Constitution sets aside a minimum of 30
percent of all elected government positions for women. End
note.)


3. (U) Observers reported that voters lined up early to vote
and that the elections proceeded smoothly and technically
correctly, with voters generally given voting instructions
and afforded privacy in make-shift voting booths. The
number of ballots was sufficient, and most voters seemed
familiar with the procedure. National Police and Local
Defense Forces (LDF) were present but unobtrusive. While
some observers noted inconsistencies in the vote count, the
overall voting procedure, including the number of local
National Electoral Commission (NEC) staff per polling
station, was generally consistent across all polling sites.

Candidates were not present at the polling sites, but their
representatives were allowed to observe the proceedings
throughout the day, including the vote count. The vote
count was open and transparent, taking approximately 2-1/2
hours.

Weaknesses and Irregularities
--------------


4. (SBU) The balloting proceeded without coercion,
harassment, or intimidation of voters or other serious
irregularities. Observers noted, however, some weaknesses
in ballot box security and verification of prior voting.
While ballot boxes were sealed tight with tape and stamped
when the polls closed to prevent any tampering until
commencement of the vote count, observers noted that, except
when nailed shut, boxes were not tightly secured throughout
the balloting, although they were never out of the direct
sight of NEC staff and voters.


5. (SBU) In addition, the post-vote marking of fingers with
indelible ink and the annotation of voter cards were
inconsistent across polling stations. Observers noted that
NEC assessors did not appear to check voters' fingers for
evidence of prior voting to prevent multiple voting. Some
observers noted the presence of political figures at polling
sites. Other personnel, including non-uniformed "security
personnel," also wandered in and out of some polling
stations.


6. (SBU) During the vote count, NEC staff in most precincts
displayed ambiguously marked ballots to all observers,
including the candidates' representatives, and sought their
opinions as to whether the votes should be counted and, if
so, how they should be tallied. Consensus was generally
reached on these cases. At the end of the vote count,
however, when there was a discrepancy between the number of
ballots cast for a position and the number of voters who had
voted at a given station, NEC staff in several instances
simply decided to declare uncast ballots as spoiled/unmarked
to reconcile the discrepancy. In some cases with clear
victors, counting appeared to proceed with more interest in

KIGALI 00000183 002 OF 002


speed than accuracy, though this did not affect the overall
result.

Lack of Candidates and Last-Minute Withdrawals
-------------- -


7. (SBU) In a meeting with observers from other embassies
February 21 to share observations, all agreed that the non-
partisan elections were technically and procedurally
superior to the February 6 cell-level elections (reftel) and
the balloting procedure generally orderly and transparent.
The basic rules were observed, and there were no significant
problems. Observers noted, however, that at almost every
polling site there were candidates who had withdrawn, which
created some confusion among voters and raised questions
about possible political influence in the selection of
candidates.


8. (SBU) Observers questioned whether there was unauthorized
campaigning prior to election day, whether candidates were
listed on the ballot in any particular order, and if so, who
determined the order of candidates, and whether there was
favoritism for the candidate listed on top. Some noted that
candidates listed on top received most of the votes and that
their photos were clearest. One observer noted that at one
polling site, four of six candidates had withdrawn for
personal reasons. No further explanations were provided for
the withdrawals. Some voters in the polling station were
confused because the ballots still listed all the candidates
and they were not aware that candidates had withdrawn.
Another observer remarked that illiterate voters may have
simply voted for candidates pointed out by local NEC staff
on the ballot when providing voting instructions. Some
observers wondered whether the participation level was high
because Rwandans believe in the democratic process or
because they believe that voting is compulsory.

Media Coverage
--------------


9. (U) Government-owned Radio Rwanda, one of only two radio
stations that provided nationwide coverage of the elections,
reported that in the southern city of Butare there were
convicted genocidaires who had received their voting cards
prior to conviction but were not allowed to vote under the
electoral law which prohibits convicted genocidaries from
voting. Radio Flash FM did not report any irregularities.


10. (U) VOA reported that the elections went well,
commenting that "perfection is not humanly possible." It
also reported that "there were reports that some candidates
were forced to withdraw their candidacy." The Vice
President of the Electoral Commission, however, informed VOA
that candidates had made their own decisions and that no one
had forced them to withdraw. The Vice President also told
VOA that there was one NEC staff member who was detained for
not adhering to NEC regulations.


11. (U) According to pro-government newspaper "The New
Times," Minister of Internal Affairs Christophe Bazivamo
called upon the electorate to hold the newly elected local
leaders accountable. "Voters shouldn't only be active in
the elections and turn away from overseeing the commitment
of the elected leaders during their five-year tenure of
office," he commented. "They should be watchdogs to make
sure that the leaders deliver on what they promised.
Keeping an open eye helps to identify the leaders' mistakes
and monitor their performance." Bazivamo warned losers to
"respect the voters' decision since there has to be a loser
and winner in any democratic electoral exercise."


12. (SBU) Comment: Although voting is not compulsory at the
local elections level, voter turnout was very high. One
explanation for the high turnout may be the perception among
Rwandan voters that it is necessary to prove participation
in elections to receive some government services (e.g.,
passports). (Note: Every Rwandan citizen is issued a voter
identification card, which is stamped by an election
official after voting to verify participation. End note.)
The success of the elections reflected in part by the
overall high voter participation level, however, was offset
somewhat by the large number of unexplained last-minute
candidate withdrawals and low number of candidates. While
generally the non-partisan elections proceeded smoothly with
no serious irregularities or violations and balloting was
viewed as free and fair, observers questioned the extent of
political influence in the process.