MAI MAI RESISTANCE PATRIOTS PARTY SUPPORTS KABILA

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000342 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: MAI MAI RESISTANCE PATRIOTS PARTY SUPPORTS KABILA ¶1. (SBU) At its congress February 14-15 in Kinshasa, the Mai Mai Resistance Patriots Party (CRM) endorsed current President Joseph Kabila as its candidate for president. Party members also agreed to seek alliances with other parties in order to be part of a legislative majority with a say in the selection of the prime minister. Although expressing unanimous support for party leader and current Minister of the Environment Anselme Enerunga, the CRM became the first political party not to nominate its own presidential candidate and to instead support another party's nominee. ¶2. (SBU) Also at the party congress, CRM members decided to reorganize the party structure, reduce the number of party organs to three, and to work on increasing representation in every region of the DRC. The CRM party platform calls for openness to the outside world and an end to interference in internal DRC affairs by foreign actors. Party chief Enerunga pledged to unify the party; he asked members to abide by the laws of the Republic, show loyalty to their allies, and respect their political adversaries. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Enerunga leads one of many factions within the Mai Mai movement. While he may be challenged by other leaders, he has emerged as the strongest national Mai Mai figure, with support in several provinces. End comment. MEECE