DRC ELECTIONS: OBSERVATION IN THE KIVUS

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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
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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
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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

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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
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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