DATE SET FOR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUREAU ELECTION

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000342

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: DATE SET FOR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUREAU ELECTION


1. (U) The National Assembly has set April 17 as the date for
elections of a new Executive Directorate ("Bureau" in French). The
elections, to be managed by an ad hoc working group under the
supervision of the outgoing Executive Directorate, will determine a
successor to National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe and the six
other Directorate members. Debate between deputies over the form of
the elections has dominated the National Assembly's agenda since
Kamerhe's March 25 resignation. Majority alliance AMP hard-liners
claimed that Kamerhe had lost AMP confidence and thus should not
exercise control as caretaker President over the process to choose
his successor, while opposition and moderate AMP members did not
object to Kamerhe's supervisory role.


2. (U) In a compromise resolution adopted April 7, the National
Assembly established a 13-member election technical working group
("groupe technique de travail" in French). In accordance with the
resolution, parliamentary groups (nine from the majority and four
from the opposition) may designate one member to the working group.
The nominations are subject to approval by Kamerhe. The main
function of the working group is to receive and post candidacies and
transmit the results of the elections to the outgoing Directorate.



3. (U) The resolution establishes a calendar for the elections:

-- Individual candidacies will be received by the working group
April 11 and posted April 14;
-- Candidates will be permitted to campaign April 15-16;
-- The elections will be held and results announced on April 17;
-- The new Directorate will be seated April 20.

The resolution stipulates that candidates for the Executive
Directorate must submit to the working group a letter indicating
their candidacy and a letter from their party endorsing their
candidacy.


4. (SBU) Comment: The modalities established to choose a successor
to Kamerhe are more transparent, inclusive and tolerant of Kamerhe
than many observers had anticipated. The creation of a multi-party
working group to organize and implement the elections is clearly a
compromise designed to avoid a continuation of the power struggle
between pro-Kamerhe and anti-Kamerhe groups in the National
Assembly. There is no clear front runner to replace Kamerhe,
although PPRD Secretary General Evariste Boshab is reported to have
the backing of President Joseph Kabila. The outcome will depend on
the willingness of AMP deputies, some of whom have demonstrated
independence from their party's leadership in supporting an
important role for Kamerhe in the election process, to unify behind
the candidates endorsed by Kabila and the PPRD. End Comment.

GAVELINK