DRC ELECTIONS: BEMBA ALLEGES DISCREPANCIES IN VOTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001732 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: BEMBA ALLEGES DISCREPANCIES IN VOTE COUNT Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (U) Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba has charged that the vote counts for the October 29 election being released by the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) differ significantly from those provided by his MLC party's witnesses. In a November 8 letter to CEI President Apollinaire Malu Malu, Bemba said results in his possession show him winning more votes than officially reported in several districts in Katanga, Bas-Congo and Western Kasai provinces. Bemba claims he has "lost" some 4,800 votes after comparing the two sets of figures. ¶2. (U) Bemba's letter alleged that witnesses for his Union for the Nation (UN) alliance were prevented from entering, or were chased away from, polling stations in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, Maniema and Katanga. It implied that votes in his favor were discarded, claiming that the number of invalidated ballots in these provinces was very high. It stated that the reported level of voter turnout in eastern DRC was apparently much higher than initially estimated by national and international observers. ¶3. (U) Bemba did not provide proof of these allegations other than the numbers allegedly tallied by his alliance's observers. ¶4. (U) Eve Bazaiba, a spokeswoman for Bemba's alliance, charged in a November 8 press conference that the October 29 vote was marred by certain "irregularities." She alleged a difference of more than 63,000 votes between the CEI figures and those of her party's witnesses. Bazaiba claimed Bemba's witnesses have not been allowed to observe the compilation process at centers in Kisangani and Goma. ¶5. (U) Bazaiba claimed that some 18,000 of over 138,000 registered voters in Goma, North Kivu voted by special dispensation without authorization. (Note: Only designated classes of voters, such as CEI officials, party witnesses and government officials are allowed to vote outside the electoral district where they are registered, and only with written authorization. End note.) ¶6. (U) CEI officials said they are aware of Bemba's allegations and plan to examine the cases in question. CEI spokesman Dieudonne Mirimo expressed concern that such charges could increase tension among the population in advance of the announcement of provisional results. ¶7. (C) The MLC complaints and the Bazaiba press conference were major topics of discussion November 9 during the daily Mixed Commission session chaired by the CEI and involving representatives from both candidates' camps. Reportedly CEI President Apollinaire Malu Malu provided reasoned responses to many of the MLC allegations, pledging further investigation into others. Kabila representatives at the session complained that the Bazaiba press conference violated the spirit if not the letter of prior agreements, airing numerous allegations in a public and provocative manner, rather than through established channels. MLC Secretary General Francois Muamba reportedly appeared embarrassed by the Bazaiba performance. Despite the contentious topics, the session apparently concluded with a positive tone, and both Muamba and Kabila representative Samba Kaputo appeared before the press, urging calm. Both also denounced tracts that have begun appearing in town, calling for example for Kinshasa residents to honk horns and generally make noise each evening to protest alleged efforts to steal an election victory from Bemba. ¶8. (C) Comment: Many if not most of the allegations are specious. Several Bemba supporters have told us reports from witnesses representing Bemba's alliance are often discarded for being biased and inaccurate. Analysis of results announced to date indicates the number of ballots declared invalid in eastern provinces is actually lower than in western regions. Turnout in the east is somewhat higher than indicated by initial reports from international observer groups, but the initial reports were largely anecdotal. The CEI is correct to be concerned that the claims will fuel public discontent with the electoral process. ¶9. (C) Comment, continued: There are however concerns among international observers and others about the apparently large number of votes cast by special dispensation (derogation) allowing designated groups to vote in a polling station other KINSHASA 00001732 002 OF 002 than their normally-assigned center. The total number of these votes could reach close to one million, and the CEI is studying the issue both to ensure accurate vote counts, as well as to manage informational announcements about the matter to the public. End comment. MEECE