ABSENTEE CANDIDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000210

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ABSENTEE CANDIDATE

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


1. (SBU) President Joseph Kabila's political party, the PPRD,
is winding up a general convention in Kinshasa (to be
reported septel). The primary purpose of the gathering is to
energize the party and nominate Joseph Kabila as the party's
candidate in presidential elections expected in coming
months. In a curious turn of events, however, Kabila left
town on Monday February 6, the official opening day of the
convention. He remains in Lubumbashi, and is expected to
return to Kinshasa only after the convention winds up. As
expected, the convention nominated Kabila by acclamation as
the party candidate, albeit in absentia.


2. (C) Comment: Kabila's absence from his own nominating
party reinforces the image of a political leader who is not
enamored of the public practice of political skills.
Kabila's absence may in part be related to his own preference
to try to position himself above everyday politics. At least
as significant, however, is that the party gathering has
predictably been beset by internal fights, notably over the
composition of candidate lists for the future national and
provincial legislatures. Rather than get involved, in fairly
typical fashion Kabila instead chose to go elsewhere, leaving
others to fight out the issues. End comment.
MEECE