Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA1635
2006-10-24 11:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
DRC ELECTION CAMPAIGN UPDATE
how-toVZCZCXRO8306 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #1635/01 2971145 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 241145Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5019 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 SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001635
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTION CAMPAIGN UPDATE
REF: A. KINSHASA 1623
B. KINSHASA 1622
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001635
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTION CAMPAIGN UPDATE
REF: A. KINSHASA 1623
B. KINSHASA 1622
1. (U) Summary: With five days remaining until the DRC's
October 29 presidential and provincial assembly elections,
logistical aspects remain on track. A post-election agreement
governing the status of the electoral loser has yet to be
agreed upon, with advisers to President Kabila calling such a
document "unconstitutional." The general security situation
in the country remains calm, although minor security
incidents between rival political camps have been reported in
the east. The European Union Force (EUFOR) is sending an
additional 220 troops to Kinshasa to bolster its presence in
the capital, while in Kisangani, patrols to reduce the number
of weapons in circulation has been deemed a "success" by
MONUC's commander there. End summary.
-------------- -
LOGISTICS STILL ON TRACK, PROCEDURES CLARIFIED
-------------- -
2. (U) The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) reports no
substantial delays or logistical problems with the delivery
of election materials to the 50,045 voting sites throughout
the country. The chiefs of voting centers will begin training
the nearly 250,000 polling station workers October 24. The
training will serve as a refresher course and introduce minor
procedural changes.
3. (SBU) The CEI published October 20 a list of changes aimed
at improving voting operations. It clarified logistical
aspects of the vote-counting and compilation processes. One
change will allow spouses and children of military and police
personnel, who are posted in a region different that there
they originally registered, to vote in their districts by
special dispensation. The only other voters allowed to vote
outside their registered districts are members of the
Electoral Commission, accredited political party witnesses,
and election observers, plus journalists and government
employees on official business. Voting by military family
members in some parts of eastern DRC during the July 30
election was a point of confusion, leading to allegations of
fraud by some political party witnesses.
4. (U) The CEI also clarified the process of transporting and
compiling ballots and tally sheets by detailing the specific
chain of custody required. Collection of voting material was
a major logistical problem during the first round, creating
significant delays in reporting results. The CEI transmitted
procedures and timetables for paying agents. It reminded all
polling agents that it was their responsibility to provide
their own food during voting operations. Many had complained
that the CEI, although under no obligation to do so, had
failed to provide food during the first round vote.
5. (U) The CEI also released a separate decision authorizing
the destruction or recycling of voting materials used in
previous elections. Faced with a limited amount of storage
space, the CEI ordered the destruction of unused documents
and ballots from the voting registration period, the December
2005 constitutional referendum, and the July 30 presidential
and legislative elections. Unusable cardboard voting booths
and plastic ballot boxes will also be destroyed. Special
national, provincial and local commissions have been
established to review procedures for the burning or recycling
of the material. The CEI decreed that such activity take
place before political party witnesses and journalists.
6. (SBU) Two voting center chiefs were arrested October 19 in
Aru in northern Ituri District for stealing the salaries of
poll workers. The two supervisors had disappeared with
approximately 3,400 USD, which also included funds to cover
operational and transport needs. According to the CEI in Aru,
the officials were arrested by Congolese police and are
currently being detained for questioning. The accused have
been replaced pending a final decision by the CEI.
--------------
STILL NO POST-ELECTION ACCORD
--------------
7. (SBU) An agreement governing the status of the political
minority and the presidential election loser has not yet been
signed. Francois Muamba, Secretary General of Vice President
Jean-Pierre Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo
(MLC),and Thomas Luhaka, the MLC's Executive Secretary, both
KINSHASA 00001635 002 OF 003
said the party is prepared to sign the accord. Alliance for
the President Majority (AMP) spokesman Olivier Kamitatu said
in a press conference October 19 that Kabila and his
supporters consider any separate agreement a violation of the
law, as the DRC's new constitution (adopted in December)
outlines the rights of the opposition. Kamitatu said any laws
governing the status of the minority or opposition must come
from the new National Assembly.
--------------
CAMPAIGN INCIDENTS IN EASTERN DRC
--------------
8. (U) Isolated incidents of campaign-related violence have
been reported in the southern city of Lubumbashi. Bemba
supporters Pastor Theodore Ngoy was attacked by Kabila
supporters and forced to seek refuge in his local hotel (ref
B). On October 20, Kabila partisans continued harassment of
Ngoy and MLC supporters and prevented them from leaving the
hotel. MONUC police eventually intervened and escorted Ngoy
to MONUC headquarters. Meanwhile, several posters with
Bemba's image throughout the city were defaced or torn down.
9. (U) The governor of Katanga called a meeting of the two
camps October 21. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for
October 23, but according to press reports, local Kabila
organizer and former Katanga governor Gabriel Kyungu arrived
late and said he could not take part because of pressing
campaign duties. He reportedly refused to shake Ngoy's hand
because he believed Ngoy had insulted Kabila in his campaign
speeches.
10. (U) MONUC-operated Radio Okapi reported October 23 that
MLC campaigning was hindered the weekend of October 21-22
from campaigning in the city of Kindu in the eastern province
of Maniema. The MLC's federal president said several of the
party's supporters were attacked for wearing MLC or Bemba
t-shirts. In addition, MLC posters were burned in several
quarters of the city. Kabila's mother, Mama Sifa, campaigned
in Kindu this past weekend.
11. (SBU) MONUC military reports stated that on October 20,
elements of the Congolese police and military surrounded the
residence of Anselme Enerunga, the MLC campaign director in
Bukavu. Enerunga, who had accused Congolese security forces
of harassment earlier in the week (ref B),had arrived in
Bukavu with eight uniformed guards in his capacity as
Minister of Environment. When his term expired the following
day, he lost the right to be provided armed protection, and
five of his guards were therefore taken under the command of
the local FARDC commander. The police and military elements
arrived to disarm the remaining three. The MONUC South Kivu
Brigade commander and the MONUC-Bukavu Head of Office arrived
at the residence to defuse the situation. MONUC reports that
the MLC is freely campaigning throughout the province.
12. (U) In North Kivu province, Radio Okapi reported that
AMP-affiliated candidates were prevented from campaigning in
Masisi October 22 by non-integrated elements of the Congolese
military. AMP regional coordinator Jules Mugira claimed he
was blocked by members of the FARDC 81st Brigade (suspected
of being loyal to rebel General Laurent Nkunda) from entering
the village of Karuba while trying to distribute pro-Kabila
campaign material. Mugira said he was told military training
was ongoing in the area and access was being restricted,
although other vehicles were being allowed to pass. Radio
Okapi also reported that two independent candidates for
provincial assembly seats were arrested in the town of
Kitshanga by soldiers loyal to Nkunda. Both were released
after being held for a brief period. Nkunda had reportedly
agreed that his forces would not prevent any candidates from
campaigning in the area.
--------------
"WEAPONS-FREE" KISANGANI DECLARED A SUCCESS
--------------
13. (U) Joint security patrols in Kisangani began October 13
to reduce the number of arms in circulation in the city.
MONUC-Kisangani Force Commander Col. Edouard Mbengue claimed
the patrols have thus far been a "big success," particularly
in diminishing the number of military personnel moving about
the city at night. Mbengue said everyone has obeyed the new
regulations and only those authorized to do so have the right
to move about the city while armed. There have been no
reports of weapons confiscated or arrests made, however. The
KINSHASA 00001635 003 OF 003
patrols in Kisangani are expected to continue until November
20, unless the security situation there requires their
continuation.
--------------
EUFOR BRINGS IN ADDITIONAL FORCES
--------------
14. (U) EUFOR spokesman Lt. Col. Thierry Fulsaba said October
20 the EU mission is bringing in 220 additional German and
Dutch troops to augment the EUFOR presence in Kinshasa. The
supplemental forces will be flown in from their base in
Libreville, Gabon, to assist in the joint security patrols
and rapid-reaction units already in place. The total EUFOR
presence with these new troops will reach some 1,400 soldiers.
15. (U) EUFOR commander General Karl Viereck said in an
October 23 press conference in Kinshasa that he does not
believe it necessary to extend EUFOR's mandate past November
30. Viereck said he was convinced the elections will take
place peacefully.
MEECE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTION CAMPAIGN UPDATE
REF: A. KINSHASA 1623
B. KINSHASA 1622
1. (U) Summary: With five days remaining until the DRC's
October 29 presidential and provincial assembly elections,
logistical aspects remain on track. A post-election agreement
governing the status of the electoral loser has yet to be
agreed upon, with advisers to President Kabila calling such a
document "unconstitutional." The general security situation
in the country remains calm, although minor security
incidents between rival political camps have been reported in
the east. The European Union Force (EUFOR) is sending an
additional 220 troops to Kinshasa to bolster its presence in
the capital, while in Kisangani, patrols to reduce the number
of weapons in circulation has been deemed a "success" by
MONUC's commander there. End summary.
-------------- -
LOGISTICS STILL ON TRACK, PROCEDURES CLARIFIED
-------------- -
2. (U) The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) reports no
substantial delays or logistical problems with the delivery
of election materials to the 50,045 voting sites throughout
the country. The chiefs of voting centers will begin training
the nearly 250,000 polling station workers October 24. The
training will serve as a refresher course and introduce minor
procedural changes.
3. (SBU) The CEI published October 20 a list of changes aimed
at improving voting operations. It clarified logistical
aspects of the vote-counting and compilation processes. One
change will allow spouses and children of military and police
personnel, who are posted in a region different that there
they originally registered, to vote in their districts by
special dispensation. The only other voters allowed to vote
outside their registered districts are members of the
Electoral Commission, accredited political party witnesses,
and election observers, plus journalists and government
employees on official business. Voting by military family
members in some parts of eastern DRC during the July 30
election was a point of confusion, leading to allegations of
fraud by some political party witnesses.
4. (U) The CEI also clarified the process of transporting and
compiling ballots and tally sheets by detailing the specific
chain of custody required. Collection of voting material was
a major logistical problem during the first round, creating
significant delays in reporting results. The CEI transmitted
procedures and timetables for paying agents. It reminded all
polling agents that it was their responsibility to provide
their own food during voting operations. Many had complained
that the CEI, although under no obligation to do so, had
failed to provide food during the first round vote.
5. (U) The CEI also released a separate decision authorizing
the destruction or recycling of voting materials used in
previous elections. Faced with a limited amount of storage
space, the CEI ordered the destruction of unused documents
and ballots from the voting registration period, the December
2005 constitutional referendum, and the July 30 presidential
and legislative elections. Unusable cardboard voting booths
and plastic ballot boxes will also be destroyed. Special
national, provincial and local commissions have been
established to review procedures for the burning or recycling
of the material. The CEI decreed that such activity take
place before political party witnesses and journalists.
6. (SBU) Two voting center chiefs were arrested October 19 in
Aru in northern Ituri District for stealing the salaries of
poll workers. The two supervisors had disappeared with
approximately 3,400 USD, which also included funds to cover
operational and transport needs. According to the CEI in Aru,
the officials were arrested by Congolese police and are
currently being detained for questioning. The accused have
been replaced pending a final decision by the CEI.
--------------
STILL NO POST-ELECTION ACCORD
--------------
7. (SBU) An agreement governing the status of the political
minority and the presidential election loser has not yet been
signed. Francois Muamba, Secretary General of Vice President
Jean-Pierre Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo
(MLC),and Thomas Luhaka, the MLC's Executive Secretary, both
KINSHASA 00001635 002 OF 003
said the party is prepared to sign the accord. Alliance for
the President Majority (AMP) spokesman Olivier Kamitatu said
in a press conference October 19 that Kabila and his
supporters consider any separate agreement a violation of the
law, as the DRC's new constitution (adopted in December)
outlines the rights of the opposition. Kamitatu said any laws
governing the status of the minority or opposition must come
from the new National Assembly.
--------------
CAMPAIGN INCIDENTS IN EASTERN DRC
--------------
8. (U) Isolated incidents of campaign-related violence have
been reported in the southern city of Lubumbashi. Bemba
supporters Pastor Theodore Ngoy was attacked by Kabila
supporters and forced to seek refuge in his local hotel (ref
B). On October 20, Kabila partisans continued harassment of
Ngoy and MLC supporters and prevented them from leaving the
hotel. MONUC police eventually intervened and escorted Ngoy
to MONUC headquarters. Meanwhile, several posters with
Bemba's image throughout the city were defaced or torn down.
9. (U) The governor of Katanga called a meeting of the two
camps October 21. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for
October 23, but according to press reports, local Kabila
organizer and former Katanga governor Gabriel Kyungu arrived
late and said he could not take part because of pressing
campaign duties. He reportedly refused to shake Ngoy's hand
because he believed Ngoy had insulted Kabila in his campaign
speeches.
10. (U) MONUC-operated Radio Okapi reported October 23 that
MLC campaigning was hindered the weekend of October 21-22
from campaigning in the city of Kindu in the eastern province
of Maniema. The MLC's federal president said several of the
party's supporters were attacked for wearing MLC or Bemba
t-shirts. In addition, MLC posters were burned in several
quarters of the city. Kabila's mother, Mama Sifa, campaigned
in Kindu this past weekend.
11. (SBU) MONUC military reports stated that on October 20,
elements of the Congolese police and military surrounded the
residence of Anselme Enerunga, the MLC campaign director in
Bukavu. Enerunga, who had accused Congolese security forces
of harassment earlier in the week (ref B),had arrived in
Bukavu with eight uniformed guards in his capacity as
Minister of Environment. When his term expired the following
day, he lost the right to be provided armed protection, and
five of his guards were therefore taken under the command of
the local FARDC commander. The police and military elements
arrived to disarm the remaining three. The MONUC South Kivu
Brigade commander and the MONUC-Bukavu Head of Office arrived
at the residence to defuse the situation. MONUC reports that
the MLC is freely campaigning throughout the province.
12. (U) In North Kivu province, Radio Okapi reported that
AMP-affiliated candidates were prevented from campaigning in
Masisi October 22 by non-integrated elements of the Congolese
military. AMP regional coordinator Jules Mugira claimed he
was blocked by members of the FARDC 81st Brigade (suspected
of being loyal to rebel General Laurent Nkunda) from entering
the village of Karuba while trying to distribute pro-Kabila
campaign material. Mugira said he was told military training
was ongoing in the area and access was being restricted,
although other vehicles were being allowed to pass. Radio
Okapi also reported that two independent candidates for
provincial assembly seats were arrested in the town of
Kitshanga by soldiers loyal to Nkunda. Both were released
after being held for a brief period. Nkunda had reportedly
agreed that his forces would not prevent any candidates from
campaigning in the area.
--------------
"WEAPONS-FREE" KISANGANI DECLARED A SUCCESS
--------------
13. (U) Joint security patrols in Kisangani began October 13
to reduce the number of arms in circulation in the city.
MONUC-Kisangani Force Commander Col. Edouard Mbengue claimed
the patrols have thus far been a "big success," particularly
in diminishing the number of military personnel moving about
the city at night. Mbengue said everyone has obeyed the new
regulations and only those authorized to do so have the right
to move about the city while armed. There have been no
reports of weapons confiscated or arrests made, however. The
KINSHASA 00001635 003 OF 003
patrols in Kisangani are expected to continue until November
20, unless the security situation there requires their
continuation.
--------------
EUFOR BRINGS IN ADDITIONAL FORCES
--------------
14. (U) EUFOR spokesman Lt. Col. Thierry Fulsaba said October
20 the EU mission is bringing in 220 additional German and
Dutch troops to augment the EUFOR presence in Kinshasa. The
supplemental forces will be flown in from their base in
Libreville, Gabon, to assist in the joint security patrols
and rapid-reaction units already in place. The total EUFOR
presence with these new troops will reach some 1,400 soldiers.
15. (U) EUFOR commander General Karl Viereck said in an
October 23 press conference in Kinshasa that he does not
believe it necessary to extend EUFOR's mandate past November
30. Viereck said he was convinced the elections will take
place peacefully.
MEECE