Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA1573
2006-10-13 12:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
DRC ELECTIONS: RUBERWA DECLARES HIMSELF NEUTRAL
how-toVZCZCXRO8598 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #1573 2861239 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 131239Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4946 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 001573
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: RUBERWA DECLARES HIMSELF NEUTRAL
FOR SECOND ROUND
UNCLAS KINSHASA 001573
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: RUBERWA DECLARES HIMSELF NEUTRAL
FOR SECOND ROUND
1. (U) Vice President Azarias Ruberwa announced October 12
that he and his party -- the Rally for Congolese Democracy
(RCD) -- will remain neutral in the upcoming presidential
runoff election between President Joseph Kabila and Vice
President Jean-Pierre Bemba. The RCD's Founder's College
released a statement after meeting in Kinshasa October 12
stating that the party has opted for a position of "positive
neutrality." Although the RCD did not endorse either
candidate, it called on its members to vote, and to do so
according to their consciences.
2. (U) The RCD is the last major Congolese political party to
declare its position in the forthcoming electoral contest. It
is also the only major party (aside from the UDPS, which is
boycotting elections) not to align with either Kabila or
Bemba.
3. (SBU) Comment: The RCD has little to offer either
candidate in any case, as it won just 15 seats in the
500-member National Assembly, and as Ruberwa himself captured
less than two percent of the vote in the first-round
presidential election. End comment.
DOUGHERTY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: RUBERWA DECLARES HIMSELF NEUTRAL
FOR SECOND ROUND
1. (U) Vice President Azarias Ruberwa announced October 12
that he and his party -- the Rally for Congolese Democracy
(RCD) -- will remain neutral in the upcoming presidential
runoff election between President Joseph Kabila and Vice
President Jean-Pierre Bemba. The RCD's Founder's College
released a statement after meeting in Kinshasa October 12
stating that the party has opted for a position of "positive
neutrality." Although the RCD did not endorse either
candidate, it called on its members to vote, and to do so
according to their consciences.
2. (U) The RCD is the last major Congolese political party to
declare its position in the forthcoming electoral contest. It
is also the only major party (aside from the UDPS, which is
boycotting elections) not to align with either Kabila or
Bemba.
3. (SBU) Comment: The RCD has little to offer either
candidate in any case, as it won just 15 seats in the
500-member National Assembly, and as Ruberwa himself captured
less than two percent of the vote in the first-round
presidential election. End comment.
DOUGHERTY