TSHISEKEDI EXPELS UDPS MEMBERS ADVOCATING ALLIANCE

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001602 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: TSHISEKEDI EXPELS UDPS MEMBERS ADVOCATING ALLIANCE WITH BEMBA REF: KINSHASA 1508 ¶1. (U) Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) President Etienne Tshisekedi issued two decisions October 16 effectively expelling several high-ranking members of the party who have been advocating an alliance with presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba. Those named were members of the party's national committee and national secretariat, including senior Tshisekedi adviser Gaston Dyndo and spokesman Jean-Baptiste Bomanza. Tshisekidi's declarations stated that those named had "self-excluded" themselves from the party and could no longer consider themselves members nor represent it. ¶2. (U) Tshisekedi's pronouncement puts an end for the moment to the public squabbling and speculation over which candidate the UDPS might support in the October 29 presidential run-off election (reftel). He did not specifically mention pro-Bemba activities as the reason for the expulsions, but the 15 officials named had all publicly advocated UDPS alignment with Vice President Bemba, some even campaigning with Bemba and his political coalition. A competing faction of the party, led by UDPS Secretary General Remy Masamba and National Committee President Valentin Mubake, had publicly declared the party would not endorse either candidate. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: This development is only the latest in a continuing series of fractures in the upper echelon of the longtime opposition party. Tshisekedi's message is clear: the electoral process is not valid, the UDPS is not going to take a position in the presidential election, and it will continue to sit out the process. However, an increasing number of his supporters realize the damage the strategy has done to the party. End comment. MEECE