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

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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