DRC ELECTIONS: KASHALA ENDORSES BEMBA FOR PRESIDENT

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001644 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: KASHALA ENDORSES BEMBA FOR PRESIDENT REF: A. KINSHASA 1540 ¶B. KINSHASA 1642 ¶1. (SBU) Former DRC presidential candidate Oscar Kashala officially endorsed Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba for president October 24. Kashala will begin campaigning immediately on Bemba's behalf, beginning with a trip to Western and Eastern Kasai provinces, followed by visits to Lubumbashi, North Kivu, and Bas-Congo province. Kashala came in fifth place in the July 30 presidential election with 3.5 percent of the vote. Most of his support came from Kinshasa, Bas-Congo and the Kasais. ¶2. (SBU) Kashala told us he had been discussing an alliance with Bemba in Kinshasa over the past two days. Kashala said he endorsed Bemba because he felt their visions for the country were "aligned." Kashala claimed both he and Bemba share the same interests in ensuring good governance and increasing humanitarian assistance. He said he insisted these issues be emphasized during the remainder of the campaign if he were to support Bemba. ¶3. (SBU) Kashala won most of his first-round votes in the Kasai provinces, accounting for 18 percent of the total in both. He told us he will encourage people to vote, particularly those who did not do so because of pressure from the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). Calling such pressure "intimidation," he said he will urge Kasaians to keep elections peaceful. He asserted that his support for Bemba will help the Vice President win both provinces, and that he and Bemba are the emerging leadership to replace UDPS President Etienne Tshisekedi. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: The amount of support Kashala can deliver to Bemba is not large. Kashala's electoral base was largely in the same urban areas where Bemba is already strong. Kashala also has infrastructure in place in the Kasais, which will limit his efforts with only three days of campaigning left. End comment. MEECE