Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA1179
2006-07-25 12:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL NYAMWISI THROWS VOTES TO

Tags:  PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0431
PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1179 2061252
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251252Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4438
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 001179 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL NYAMWISI THROWS VOTES TO
KABILA


UNCLAS KINSHASA 001179

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL NYAMWISI THROWS VOTES TO
KABILA



1. (SBU) Presidential candidate Mbusa Nyamwisi confirmed in
an interview July 23 with Radio France Internationale (RFI)
that he was urging his supporters to vote for incumbent
President Joseph Kabila. The interview confirmed growing
speculation that the one-time RCD-K/ML rebel leader's
lackluster campaigning, even in his home province of North
Kivu, signaled that he'd struck a deal with Kabila. Internal
MONUC documents from July 21 reported that RCD-K/ML Secretary
General and National Assembly Deputy Jean Ernest Kyaviro had
complained of mounting disarray in the party ranks as
RCD-K/ML party members walked out of a recent meeting with
Nyamwisi in Beni, North Kivu when the presidential candidate
would not deny an alliance with current president Kabila.


2. (SBU) Nyamwisi was optimistic about his chances in the
elections as recently as late June, when he met with poloff
to discuss his campaign. At that time, he had cemented an
alliance with Olivier Kamitatu, formerly the Speaker of the
National Assembly under the banner Forces for Renewal.
Nyamwisi also told poloff he was close to convincing Vice
President Azarias Ruberwa of the RCD party to join the
alliance. Unfortunately for Nyamwisi, the actual and
potential alliances he counted on disappeared. Kamitatu
joined the Presidential Majority Alliance (AMP),and Azarias
Ruberwa's RCD-G remains unaligned. Nyamwisi undoubtedly
realized his best hope lay with Kabila, although the latter
has not, to MONUC or Embassy's knowledge, promised Nyamwisi
any position for doing so.


3. (SBU) Officially, Nyamwisi told the RFI reporter that he
was rallying behind Kabila in the hope that he, Kabila, could
win the presidential election in the first round. He argued
that a first-round win would help stabilize the country and
reduce the prevailing tense political atmosphere. He said
that the legislative candidates of his umbrella party, Forces
for Renewal, had his full support and would continue to
campaign under that banner.


4. (SBU) Comment: Rumors are that other candidates have
more quietly done the same as Nyamwisi, i.e. thrown their
support to stronger rivals. While Nyamwisi never had a
serious chance of becoming president (even insiders like
Kyaviro called Nyamwisi a "small fish"),his name recognition
in northern North Kivu could have garnered him a percentage
of the vote. While Nyamwisi's supporters are not numerous,
their votes for Kabila will boost the president's chances of
a strong performance in North Kivu, if they follow their
leader's advice. End comment.
MEECE