Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA544
2006-04-06 13:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

KAMITATU DECIDES TO ABIDE BY SUPREME COURT RULING

Tags:  PGOV KDEM CG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4492
PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHKI #0544 0961351
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061351Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3589
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000544 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG
SUBJECT: KAMITATU DECIDES TO ABIDE BY SUPREME COURT RULING

REF: KINSHASA 504

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000544

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG
SUBJECT: KAMITATU DECIDES TO ABIDE BY SUPREME COURT RULING

REF: KINSHASA 504


1. (U) In a carefully worded statement, Olivier Kamitatu
announced April 3 that he will "abide by" the February
Supreme Court decision requiring him to abandon his post as
President of the National Assembly so that he "does not
constitute an obstacle" to the business of the Assembly in
the months before the country's national elections. Kamitatu
held the presidency by virtue of his appointment to the
position by his former political party, the Movement for the
Liberation of Congo (MLC). Kamitatu's advisers have
confirmed his resignation to PolOff, although Kamitatu
himself has never publicly used the word "resignation."
Kamitatu made his announcement shortly after meeting with
President Kabila, who reportedly finally convinced Kamitatu
to step aside. Kamitatu has said he is now going to focus his
energies on his new political party, the Alliance for the
Renaissance of Congo (ARC).


2. (U) Kamitatu's departure paves the way for Thomas Luhaka,
nominated to replace Kamitatu by the MLC, to become the next
National Assembly President. Luhaka, for his part, reported
on April 5 that the National Assembly's executive bureau has
"taken action" on his designation. This eliminates any
lingering impediment to Luhaka's serving as president at the
next session of the National Assembly.


3. (SBU) Comment: Kamitatu's careful wording -- agreeing to
abide by the judicial decision while never openly stating
that he has resigned -- may be an attempt to leave the door
open for a challenge in the very unlikely event that the
National Assembly's Political and Justice Commission (PAJ)
ultimately decides to invalidate (or simply not accept) the
Supreme Court's ruling. In any event, although the wrangling
over the National Assembly presidency appears now to be over,
Olivier Kamitatu continues to work behind the scenes to
strengthen support for his own political future. End comment.
MEECE