Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA721
2006-05-09 10:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
ELEVEN CANDIDATES CALL FOR ELECTORAL COMMISSION
how-toVZCZCXRO8190 PP RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR DE RUEHKI #0721 1291056 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 091056Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3829 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000721
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG
SUBJECT: ELEVEN CANDIDATES CALL FOR ELECTORAL COMMISSION
PRESIDENT'S RESIGNATION
REF: A. KINSHASA 706
B. KINSHASA 681
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000721
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG
SUBJECT: ELEVEN CANDIDATES CALL FOR ELECTORAL COMMISSION
PRESIDENT'S RESIGNATION
REF: A. KINSHASA 706
B. KINSHASA 681
1. (U) A group of eleven mostly marginal presidential
candidates has published a letter criticizing Abbe
Apollinaire Malu Malu, president of the Independent Electoral
Committee (CEI),for "unilaterally" announcing July 30 as the
DRC's election date. The letter's authors call for Malu Malu
to be replaced and cite the necessity to "safeguard the peace
and national cohesion before, during and after the
elections." The group accuse Malu Malu of having exceeded
his prerogatives as president of a "simple technical
commission" by having made a purely political decision. The
most notable signatories include Nzanga Mobutu, son of former
President Mobutu Sese Seko, and Justine Kasavubu, daughter of
former President Kasavubu.
2. (U) The letter catalogs Malu Malu's alleged missteps,
including: allowing voter registration without conducting a
comprehensive census; creating deliberate confusion by
failing to publish comprehensive voter rolls; not preventing
the registration of military and security personnel, as well
as foreigners in the East and South, as voters; failing to
disqualify sitting President Joseph Kabila for registering as
an independent candidate; unilaterally prolonging the
transitional government past the June 30 deadline; and
generally being incapable of organizing free, fair, and
transparent elections.
3. (SBU) Comment. This letter, like Monsignor Monsengwo's
recent critique (ref A),calls once again for political
"dialogue" (a "political round table"). It overlooks the fact
that only Malu Malu, as head of CEI, can set the electoral
date, and is not required to consult Congolese politicians
before doing so. Even though eleven new voices have now
joined the call for new dialogue, this is unlikely to affect
either Malu Malu's tenure or the actual electoral calendar.
End comment.
DOUGHERTY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG
SUBJECT: ELEVEN CANDIDATES CALL FOR ELECTORAL COMMISSION
PRESIDENT'S RESIGNATION
REF: A. KINSHASA 706
B. KINSHASA 681
1. (U) A group of eleven mostly marginal presidential
candidates has published a letter criticizing Abbe
Apollinaire Malu Malu, president of the Independent Electoral
Committee (CEI),for "unilaterally" announcing July 30 as the
DRC's election date. The letter's authors call for Malu Malu
to be replaced and cite the necessity to "safeguard the peace
and national cohesion before, during and after the
elections." The group accuse Malu Malu of having exceeded
his prerogatives as president of a "simple technical
commission" by having made a purely political decision. The
most notable signatories include Nzanga Mobutu, son of former
President Mobutu Sese Seko, and Justine Kasavubu, daughter of
former President Kasavubu.
2. (U) The letter catalogs Malu Malu's alleged missteps,
including: allowing voter registration without conducting a
comprehensive census; creating deliberate confusion by
failing to publish comprehensive voter rolls; not preventing
the registration of military and security personnel, as well
as foreigners in the East and South, as voters; failing to
disqualify sitting President Joseph Kabila for registering as
an independent candidate; unilaterally prolonging the
transitional government past the June 30 deadline; and
generally being incapable of organizing free, fair, and
transparent elections.
3. (SBU) Comment. This letter, like Monsignor Monsengwo's
recent critique (ref A),calls once again for political
"dialogue" (a "political round table"). It overlooks the fact
that only Malu Malu, as head of CEI, can set the electoral
date, and is not required to consult Congolese politicians
before doing so. Even though eleven new voices have now
joined the call for new dialogue, this is unlikely to affect
either Malu Malu's tenure or the actual electoral calendar.
End comment.
DOUGHERTY