Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA573
2006-04-12 17:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

KABILA'S MILITARY STATUS CLARIFIED

Tags:  PGOV KPKO KDEM CG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1256
PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHKI #0573 1021719
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121719Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3645
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 000573 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO KDEM CG
SUBJECT: KABILA'S MILITARY STATUS CLARIFIED

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000573

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO KDEM CG
SUBJECT: KABILA'S MILITARY STATUS CLARIFIED


1. (U) The debate over President Kabila's military status has
been clarified following the publication of an official
government decree accepting Kabila's voluntary resignation
from the Congolese Army. The decree, signed March 15 by
Kabila himself, was not made public until it appeared in the
April 1 edition of the DRC's "Official Journal," the
country's authorized publisher of official government texts.
Kabila originally tendered his resignation as "Major General"
of the Armed Forces March 14, 2005.


2. (U) The controversy surrounding Kabila's status began
following challenges by several political opposition parties
to Kabila's candidacy for president. According to the DRC's
electoral law, no member of the armed forces or the police
may run for elected office. The opposition parties charged
before the Supreme Court that because Kabila had not
officially resigned his military commission (which had also
not been officially accepted),he was therefore ineligible to
run for president. The revelation of the March 15, 2006,
decree effectively ends this debate.
MEECE