DRC ELECTIONS: OBSERVATION IN THE KIVUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001267 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: OBSERVATION IN THE KIVUS ¶1. (U) Summary: The July 30 elections saw high turnout among North Kivu's 2.5 million and South Kivu's 1.6 million registered voters. Reports from EmbOffs who served as observers in the east indicate that despite logistical and voter education problems, elections in the Kivus were generally well-run and well-managed. End summary. North Kivu -------------- ¶2. (U) PolCouns observed elections in seven voting centers in Goma (the provincial capital) and Sake, North Kivu. The day before voting, she visited all seven centers to assess their preparations. In Goma, neither the elections workers nor the police had been paid, contrary to previous promises. The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) representative in Goma was completely uninformed on the issue. The workers were not paid either July 29 or July 30, and it is uncertain when or whether they were paid after that. (Note: CEI officials later announced that elections workers were to be paid beginning August 2. End note.) In Sake, voting centers were empty of all voting equipment Saturday morning, but thanks to a rapid mobilization by MONUC, ballots boxes and other items arrived Saturday afternoon and evening, making it possible for all three Sake centers that she visited to open between 600 AM and 700 AM on election day. ¶3. (U) PolCouns witnessed impressive organization at several of the centers she visited, including one in central Goma where all voters had cast their ballots by 200 PM. All centers closed promptly with no voters remaining at closing time. The police were well-disciplined, and there was a complete absence of FARDC soldiers, as they had been ordered to the barracks by 8th Military Region Commander General Amisi. (Note: Military family members voted in special polling centers set aside for them. They had to have a letter certifying their status from General Amisi as well as their voter card to vote. End note.) There were no security problems in either Goma or Sake. ¶4. (U) In the days following the elections, PolCouns also traveled to Masisi, Walikale, Kanyabayonga, and Rutshuru, North Kivu where residents said that, despite dire predictions to the contrary, there had been no security threats from either the FARDC or the militias in those areas. Indeed, in Walikale, where a long history of sexual violence against women could have prevented them from going to the polls, a CEI official said that female turnout was very high. ¶5. (U) PolsCouns noticed some logistical and voter education problems and heard about others during her post-election travels. In Sake, older illiterate women brought helpers with them to the voting centers. However, younger illiterate women generally came on their own and were much more confused. They needed constant instruction on how to vote for the candidate of their choice, how to fold their ballots, and how to place them in the ballot boxes. ¶6. (U) The voting centers in Goma were overflowing with a mix of international and national observers, many of whom had to stand since only eight chairs had been allotted for observers at each center. There were far fewer observers in Sake, and most of those were on the national level, particularly from local churches. In Goma, there were many RCD-G political party witnesses and, according to North Kivu Governor Serufuli, some 500 RCD-G witnesses registered in the province. South Kivu -------------- ¶7. (U) PolOff observed elections in ten voting centers in Bukavu (the provincial capital) and Kabare, South Kivu. The elections workers were helpful and knowledgeable, and the process worked well with a minimum of logistical problems. Police were present at all the centers and were uniformly helpful. There were FARDC soldiers present in Kabare, but they did not interfere with the vote and left during the day. Although there were always national observers and party witnesses present, PolOff said he was the only international monitor at the centers he visited. There were no complaints from observers or witnesses about the fairness or transparency of the vote. ¶8. (U) Voter turnout in Bukavu and Kabare was heavy and early. The majority of voters arrived in the morning, and by 400 PM, most voting centers were empty. At peak times, the wait was 45 minutes to an hour, but it never took more than KINSHASA 00001267 002 OF 002 five to ten minutes for any individual to vote once in the centers. Many voters did not know how to vote but knew exactly for whom they wanted to cast their ballots for president. For the parliament, an estimated forty percent of voters in the rural town of Kabare had no idea who any of the candidates were. ¶9. (U) Poloff attended the counting of presidential ballots in two Bukavu voting centers. Several ballots were invalid because they were blank or had been incorrectly marked. However, when a voter's intent was clear, the elections officials erred on the side of including the vote. All disputes regarding whether or not to count a ballot were resolved fairly by all present. Comment -------------- ¶10. (SBU) By all accounts, election day proceeded peacefully throughout the Kivus -- most notably also in localities that had been considered potential flash points. End comment. MEECE