PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE CONSTITUTION FEBRUARY 18

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000234

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE CONSTITUTION FEBRUARY 18

REF: KINSHASA 197


1. (U) President Kabila intends on February 18 to promulgate
the constitution approved overwhelmingly by Congolese voters
in a December 18-19 referendum. A large ceremony is
apparently being planned, to include a military parade, a
speech by Kabila, and the presence of ROC President Sassou
Nguesso and possibly other foreign dignitaries.


2. (SBU) Presidency officials have been planning such an
event since early January. The original plan was to
promulgate the constitution and hold the ceremony on January

26. Unfortunate delays pushed the date back, further
straining an increasingly problematic elections timetable.


3. (SBU) Comment: The electoral law currently before
parliament can not be adopted until after the constitution is
promulgated. Recent and persistent slippage by the GDRC in
meeting targets has made the already tight elections
timetable even more constrained. CIAT just last week pointed
out the need for the constitution to be promulgated
immediately, and even after it became known that a ceremony
was being planned for February 18, appeals went out
suggesting that the constitution be quietly promulgated at
once and then commemorated later in the week. The prevailing
attitude in the government seems to be that "just a few more
days" doesn't really make any difference. The reality,
however, is that every day counts at this point if successful
elections are to be completed, and a new government
inaugurated, by June 30 when the transition's mandate
expires. End comment.
MEECE


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