ELECTION RELATED DEVELOPMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001697

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPKO CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ELECTION RELATED DEVELOPMENTS


Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (U) Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) President Malu
Malu provided a briefing to members of the International
Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT) at the regular
weekly CIAT meeting November 2. Among the highlights of his
presentation:

a) Work to tabulate results from the October 29 elections is
proceeding generally well. The CEI should be in a position
to begin to post initial vote counts per established
procedures by the end of the week.

b) The CEI has set up a daily 12 noon meeting involving
senior representatives from both President Kabila's and Vice
President Bemba's groups to discuss the CEI's ongoing work
and any outstanding issues, and to answer questions. It is
hoped that these meetings will help to minimize subsequent
protests or complaints based on misunderstandings, rumors, or
other inaccurate information.

c) The High Media Authority (HAM) is also cooperating with
the CEI, and will participate in the daily noon meetings as
appropriate. Already the HAM met with media representatives
regarding ongoing media issues, and jointly sponsored a
communique with the CEI, also signed by the two candidates'
representatives, regarding media issues (septel).


2. (C) Among the agreements already discussed in the first
daily meeting, Malu Malu reported an interesting accord in
principle under which the two presidential campaign camps
would identify lists of those inclined toward inflammatory
statements, in essence agreeing to block all access to
Congolese media by those on the list. Candidate
representatives reportedly agreed that they would produce the
list(s),rather than asking the HAM to propose names.
(Comment: Insofar as the two groups do come up with what
amounts to a mutually-agreed list of the most problematic
extremists supporting Kabila and Bemba, it should provide
interesting reading. End comment).


3. (U) CIAT members will be visiting the Kinshasa central
tabulation and compilation center on Friday afternoon,
November 3 to get a first-hand look at the set-up and work
being done.


4. (C) UN SRSG Swing also informed CIAT members that former
Presidents Abu Bakr (Nigeria),Jerry Rawlings (Ghana),
Phillipe Buyoya (Burundi),and Sam Nujoma (Namibia) would be
arriving in Kinshasa on Friday, November 3. The primary
objective of the visit will be to speak with the two
presidential candidates and others in the interests of
maintaining calm as election results are announced and as a
new elected President and government are installed. The four
former presidents plan to be in Kinshasa at least through
Sunday, November 5. As of late November 2, there was yet no
public announcement of this visit.

5 (C) EU Great Lakes Special Envoy Aldo Ajello reported that
President Kabila told him in a meeting earlier in the day
that Kabila was ready to meet with Vice President Bemba in
the interests of maintaining order in coming days and weeks.
In subsequent discussion, CIAT members noted that the pending
visit of the four African ex-presidents would provide an
excellent opportunity to build on Kabila's expressed
availability to ensure such a meeting takes place in a
positive atmosphere.


5. (C) Comment: None of the actions or initiatives reported
in themselves represent the definitive guarantee of continued
Kinshasa calm during the current period awaiting election
results. In combination with a series of other agreements,
however, they all represent very useful steps toward a
peaceful and successful conclusion to the DRC's Transition
and electoral process. Possibly both candidates and their
key counselors had a chance to peer into the abyss during the
August 20 - 22 violence, and found a consequent new will to
pursue a different path. Certainly the tone and specifics of
the various actions are encouraging. End comment.
MEECE