ORIENTALE PROVINCE ELECTS 16 TO DRC SENATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000144

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ORIENTALE PROVINCE ELECTS 16 TO DRC SENATE

REF: KINSHASA 66


1. (U) Results of the January 19 DRC Senate elections in
Orientale province gave President Joseph Kabila's Alliance
for the Presidential Majority (AMP) nine of the province's 16
seats. The pro-Kabila PPRD won four seats, while Mbusa
Nyamwisi and Olivier Kamitatu's Forces du Renouveau (FR) won
two, and three other AMP allies took one each. Jean-Pierre
Bemba's MLC and two allies of Bemba's UfN coalition also won
a single seat apiece. Independent candidates took three
seats, with Azarias Ruberwa's RCD taking one.


2. (U) Notable winners with senior portfolios during the
transitional government included Raymond Ramazani (foreign
minister),Monsignor Pierre Marini (president of the Senate),
John Tibasima (housing minister) and Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga
(governor of Orientale).


3. (SBU) Biographical information:

Makanga Sulubika Issa Mafutala (Independent)

Sulubika, 64, served as vice governor of Kinshasa for
economic and financial affairs. He was defeated in his run
for a seat in the National Assembly in 2006. Born April 24,

1942.

Bernard Labama Lokwa (PDC)

Labama, 58, is a professor of medicine and rector of the
University of Kisangani. Born May 9, 1948.

Eugene Lombeya Bosongo Likundeliyo (Independent)

Lombeya, 64, was previously rector of the University of
Kinshasa. He served as governor of Orientale and trade and
education minister during the Mobutu era. Born February 22,

1942.

Mario-Philippe Losembe Batwanyele (FR)

Losembe, 73, served as foreign minister under Mobutu from
1970-72. He also served as minister of national education,
and was charge d'affaires and ambassador to the U.S. from
1962-1965. He led the delegation of Lumumba's MNC party to
the 1960 Belgian-Congolese Round Table, and was chief of the
Congolese delegation to the UN in 1960-1961. He earned a
degree in psychology and eduction from the Catholic
University at Louvain. Born Mario Cardoso in Stanleyville
(now Kisangani),on September 29, 1933.

Raymond Ramazani Baya (MLC)

Ramazani, 63, served as foreign minister in the transitional
government. Former spokesman of the MLC College of Founders,
he was defeated for a seat in the National Assembly in 2006.
He served as ambassador to France, information minister, and
presidential counselor under Mobutu. He earned degrees in
politics and diplomacy at the Free University in Brussels,
and in public finance in Antwerp. He was born in Beni on
June 17, 1943.

Florentin Mokonda Bonza (CDC)

Mokonda, 58, ran unsuccessfully for president in the DRC's
2006 election. He served as presidential chief of staff and
headed various ministries and parastatals under Mobutu. He
earned a doctorate in economics with distinction from the
University of Kinshasa. He was born in Buta, Orientale on
April 4, 1948.

Valentin Senga (PPRD)

Senga, 42, served as agriculture minister in the transitional
government. He was a co-founder of the MLC in 1999. He
graduated from the University of Kinshasa with a degree in
politics and administration. He was born in Bondo, Orientale
on May 5, 1964.

Jean Claude Mokeni Ataningamu (PPRD)

Mokeni, 35, was born February 9, 1971.

Francois Abibi Azapane-Mango (CDC)

Abibi, 59, is a professor of literature at the University of

KINSHASA 00000144 002 OF 002


Kisangani. Born December 7, 1947.

Jean Nengangba Tshingbanga (FR)

Nengangba, 58, was named by the RCD to the transitional
National Assembly. Born May 13, 1948.

Jean Pierre Lola Kisanga (RCD)

Lola Kisanga, 37, was appointed governor of Orientale in

2005. Previously, he served as higher education and labor
minister. A former RCD spokesman, he was defeated for a
National Assembly seat in 2006. Born June 6, 1969.

Jean Pierre Nenyengwe Imi (PPRD)

Nenyengwe, 58, has a degree in philosophy from the University
of Lubumbashi. Born June 29, 1948.

Pierre Marini Bodho (Independent)

Monsignor Marini, 68, served as Senate president during the
transition. He is the national president of the Church of
Christ in the Congo. He has a doctorate in theology from the
Free University of Protestant Theology in Paris, as well as
degrees in law and education. He was born in Zeu, Orientale
on March 30, 1938.

John Tibasima Mbolemu Ateenyi (MSR)

Tibasima, 55, served as housing minister in the transitional
government. He was a signatory to the Sun City Accords as
RCD-ML vice president for diplomatic affairs. He also served
as a Mobutu-era legislator. Born September 7, 1951.

Clement Djuruni Obhidhibho (MSR)

Djuruni, 61, was born May 27, 1945.

Patrice Ezaty Mereko Edzia (PPRD)

Ezaty, 59, served as vice minister for trade and small and
medium enterprises in 2001. Born April 3, 1947.
MEECE