Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA1703
2006-11-03 11:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

DRC ELECTIONS: EU PRAISES CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

Tags:  PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8711
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1703 3071130
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031130Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5107
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 001703 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: EU PRAISES CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

REF: A. KINSHASA 1673

B. KINSHASA 1677

C. KINSHASA 1683

D. KINSHASA 1694

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001703

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: EU PRAISES CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

REF: A. KINSHASA 1673

B. KINSHASA 1677

C. KINSHASA 1683

D. KINSHASA 1694


1. (U) The European Union Electoral Mission released a
preliminary statement regarding the October 29 DRC election
on November 1. It praised the elections as peaceful and
orderly, and highlighted the organizational effectiveness of
the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). The EU mission
deployed more than 300 observers from EU member states, in
addition to Norway, Switzerland, and Canada, in over 1000
polling stations in all eleven DRC provinces. An
eight-member EU parliamentary delegation also signed the
Electoral Mission statement.


2. (U) The EU mission noted that the vote "should enable
naming a first democratically-elected president." It stated
its legal team was generally satisfied that the election met
international standards, and praised the CEI for actions
since the first-round July 30 election to improve the
transparency of the process. It noted "several serious
incidents" in Equateur province and in Ituri District
(reftels),as well as the rainstorms that affected part of
the country, and occasional logistical problems. It also
cited the high number of party witnesses and Congolese
observers during the vote.


3. (U) The mission regretted the lack of active campaigning
by the two presidential candidates and a "deleterious"
environment marred by a number of violent incidents between
their partisans. It criticized "flagrant violation" of
Congolese law and candidate agreements by major media outlets
that left them almost exclusively as mouthpieces for one or
other of the presidential candidates. It cited in particular
"hate messages" and incitements to violence. It also
regretted cancellation of the planned presidential debate.


4. (U) The EU mission continues to follow the compilation of
results in 43 of the 62 compilation centers nationwide and
will release its final conclusions and recommendations at the
end of the electoral process.
MEECE