DRC CAMPAIGN ELECTION UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001622

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC CAMPAIGN ELECTION UPDATE

REF: KINSHASA 1603

Classified By: POLOFF CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (SBU) Summary: Representatives of President Joseph Kabila
and Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba have signed an agreement
detailing the code of conduct for the presidential campaign.
There is not yet agreement, however, regarding the adoption
of a post-electoral accord providing certain guarantees to
the losing candidate. The two camps have restarted regular
Mixed Commission meetings, and Kabila and Bemba have met
personally. Security patrols continue in Kinshasa to reduce
the number of weapons in circulation, and DRC security forces
have agreed to deploy similar verification teams in
Kisangani. Several limited acts of violence have occurred in
eastern DRC between partisans of the two sides. End summary.

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CAMPAIGN CODE OF CONDUCT SIGNED
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2. (SBU) Representatives of President Kabila and Vice
President Bemba signed an agreement October 17 laying out a
code of good conduct for the presidential election campaign
already underway. The Kabila representatives had delayed
signing the accord after Bemba's camp added certain
amendments. MONUC officials said the sticking point was the
prohibition on the use of state resources by either candidate
in the course of the campaign. Kabila's camp ultimately
agreed to the provision. This is the fourth code of conduct
signed during the electoral process, following an initial
code adopted in 2005, an agreement to include independent
candidates in 2006, and regulations for media coverage signed
in September.


3. (U) The code of conduct calls on both camps to abstain
from any acts of intimidation against the candidates
themselves or their representatives, including attempts to
limit the freedom of movement or expression. In addition to
the prohibition of the use of state resources, the agreement
also asks for the respect of private property and rival
campaign materials. Finally, the accord stipulates that both
sides must remove any representative who violates the code of
conduct, and to turn such persons over to the competent
authorities.


4. (C) An agreement to govern the post-election period has
not yet been adopted. This accord would ensure certain rights
for the loser of the October 29 presidential contest. MONUC
officials said Bemba's representatives are seeking
clarification over whether a post-election agreement would be
valid if one party violates the campaign code of conduct.


5. (U) The most recent code of conduct was adopted in the
context of a Mixed Commission created to bring the Kabila and
Bemba camps together after the August 20-22 violence in
Kinshasa. The group met for the first time in two weeks
October 17, and again on October 18. Kabila and Bemba met
face-to-face October 16 on the margins of a regular
Presidential meeting in Kinshasa.

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MAINTAINING A "WEAPONS-FREE KINSHASA"
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6. (U) MONUC military spokesman Lt. Col. Stephane Lescoffit
said that the work of the mixed security patrols in Kinshasa
continue to produce results. The patrols, designed to created
a "weapons-free Kinshasa," have thus far conducted
inspections of 125 military personnel. In total, Lescoffit
said, 30 weapons have been seized and 30 people have been
arrested for possession of a firearm outside of their regular
duties. The security patrols include elements from the
Congolese police and military, MONUC, and EUFOR.


7. (U) Lescoffit said MONUC has established military
observers at several points throughout Kinshasa. The goal of
these teams is to survey military camps and depots and to
monitor the possible movement of equipment. Lescoffit did not
give details on how MONUC might control any suspicious troop
movements, saying only that MONUC "has the means to act."


8. (U) In an attempt to build on the relative success of the
Kinshasa patrols, MONUC has begun a similar effort in
Kisangani, the capital of Orientale province. Joint patrols
-- to include MONUC, the Congolese military and police, plus
the Republican Guard -- will take place before and after the

KINSHASA 00001622 002 OF 002


October 29 election.

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CAMPAIGN-RELATED VIOLENCE IN EASTERN DRC
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9. (U) A handful of security incidents and other harassment
related to the presidential campaign have been reported. In
Lubumbashi on October 18, a convoy of Bemba supporters was
attacked by a crowd of people wearing Kabila t-shirts and
caps while on its way to a rally in the city. The members of
the convoy, led by Pastor Theodore Ngoy, were stoned by the
crowd and quickly sought shelter in a nearby hotel. No
injuries were reported, although vehicles were damaged. The
pro-Kabila leader of a local political party, Gabriel Kyungu,
is suspected of being behind the attack. Kyungu reportedly
had recently told journalists that he and his party would not
allow Bemba supporters to campaign in Lubumbashi, and several
of his party's followers were heard shouting slogans to that
effect in the city yesterday.


10. (U) Another Bemba supporter has claimed he and his
colleagues were harassed by state security forces after
arriving in Bukavu in South Kivu province. Anselme Enerunga,
former Minister of Environment and member of the pro-Bemba
Mai-Mai Patriots party, claimed he was prevented from
campaigning by members of a Congolese military battalion, who
would not let his team put up Bebma posters. Enerunga also
claimed five of his guards have been missing since an army
raid at his residence in Bukavu earlier this week.


11. (U) The International Committee to Accompany the
Transition (CIAT) issued a communique October 19 welcoming
the campaign code of conduct. The CIAT members, however,
expressed their concern over the series of incidents that
have occurred in the first week of the electoral campaign.
The communique called upon all political parties to follow
the provisions of the code of conduct.
MEECE