Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KINSHASA78
2007-01-24 10:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

NORTH KIVU SELECTS FOUR SENATORS

Tags:  PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS 
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VZCZCXRO6692
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0078 0241048
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241048Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5460
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 000078 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: NORTH KIVU SELECTS FOUR SENATORS

REF: KINSHASA 66

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000078

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: NORTH KIVU SELECTS FOUR SENATORS

REF: KINSHASA 66


1. (U) North Kivu's Provincial Assembly elected four
national Senators from the province on January 19. Although
no Tutsis hold seats in the North Kivu assembly, ethnic Tutsi
Edouard Mwangachuchu led the North Kivu Senate candidates
with 13 votes. The most prominent new North Kivu Senator is
Venant Tshipasa, the current Lands Minister and a member of
unsuccessful presidential candidate Pierre Pay Pay's party,
DCF-COFEDEC. A member of the dominant Nande ethnic group
from the northern half of the province, Tshipasa and ethnic
Nande Martin Balikwisha of Forces du Renouveau each earned
eight votes. Ernest Hamuli, an ethnic Hunde with the PPRD,
received six votes. Although President Kabila's AMP
coalition controls 25 of 42 North Kivu assembly seats, it was
able to elect only two of its candidates (Balikwisha and
Hamuli).


2. (U) Prominent unsuccessful candidates who held positions
in the Transition included Minister for Women and Family
Faida Mwangilwa (RCD),Tutsi Senators Apolinaire Kalera (RCD)
and Cyprien Rwakabuba Shinga (FNDC),Hutu MP Oswald Ndeshyo
(RDC),and ex-minister and former SONAS Director General
Christophe Kasereka Kasai (Independent).


3. (SBU) Although MONUC observers reported a peaceful and
well-organized vote, one anonymous complaint has been filed
with the CEI against the North Kivu provincial elections.
The complainant alleged that outgoing Governor Eugene
Seruflui manipulated the elections to assist "known pillagers
of natural resources."


4. (U) Biographical information:

Edouard Mwangachuchu Hizi (Independent)

Mwangachuchu, 53, is the owner of a major coltan trading and
exporting business, MHI. A former cattle rancher, he was
assaulted and had his herds slaughtered during anti-Tutsi
violence in 1995. He and his family were granted political
asylum in the United States in 1996. Born September 30, 1953.

Venant Tshipasa Vangi Sivavi (DCF-COFEDEC)

Tshipasa, 52, from Beni, was Lands Minister in the

SIPDIS
Transitional Government, in a ministry assigned to the
political opposition. Prior to that, he served as deputy
minister without portfolio and was a member of the
Transitional Parliament. Tshipasa was also a signatory to
the Sun City Accords. He is the current DCF-COFEDEC
President.
Born August 23, 1954.

Martin Balikwisha Nyonyo (Forces du Renouveau)

Balikwisha, 57, is the administrative director of SNEL, the
state electric company. Prior to that, he was an engineer
and director at GECAMINES, the state mining company, for
almost 30 years. He was born September 10, 1949.

Ernest Hamuli Kitsa (PPRD)

Hamuli, 52, from Masisi, was a member of the Transitional
Parliament. He taught for several year at a technical high
school in Kinshasa. Born December 30, 1954.
MEECE