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