Advancing Political Competition and Consensus Building in

UNCLAS LUANDA 000037 USAID FOR AFR AND DCHA/DG/EPP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM EAID KDEM AO SUBJECT: Advancing Political Competition and Consensus Building in Angola REF: 08 LUANDA 0977 ¶1. Summary. With its first parliamentary election in 16 years completed and its presidential and municipal elections still to come, post-civil war Angola is in the midst of a transition toward participatory democracy. USG assistance has played an important supporting role in the process thus far, and we must continue do so. A key unknown is whether the presidential elections, scheduled for this year, will be direct (popular vote) or indirect (vote by the National Assembly). Our FY 2009 democracy assistance proposals accordingly focus on key factors independent of the form of presidential elections: elections infrastructure, the newly elected parliament, civil society, and independent media. Our total FY 2009 funding needs in the "Political Competition and Consensus-Building" program area are USD 3.1 million. The FY 2009 USAID Congressional Budget Justification for Angola in this area is USD 2.6 million; post seeks Department assistance in identifying a source for an additional USD 500,000. End Summary. ¶2. Angola is at a democratic crossroads. With decades of civil war ended, the country held its first parliamentary elections in September 2008, 16 years after the last elections. Although the elections were marred by logistical and other problems, particularly in Luanda, voter turnout was high (87%). The results strongly favored the ruling MPLA - which won 82 percent of the vote - due to a campaign environment that favored the Government and a weak and disorganized opposition. Nevertheless, the elections were peaceful and credible, and the opposition accepted the results. ¶3. The country is now in the process of determining the nature and timing of presidential elections. A commission of parliament will begin work on drafting a new constitution starting on January 15. Expectations are that elections will take place in 2009 following this exercise. Meanwhile, the Government has embarked on a decentralization exercise, which is expected to lead to Angola's first ever municipal elections in 2010. ¶4. The USG has been a significant player in the democratization process thus far. In the lead-up to the 2008 elections, we provided assistance to the National Electoral Commission (CNE) through IFES, the only outside organization invited by the Angolan Government to assist. IFES focused on logistics in the provinces, where voting 
went smoothly. We also worked with political parties and NGOs in support of domestic observation and civic education efforts. All together, we trained some 59,000 individuals in preparation for the elections. ¶5. Regardless of the type of elections that are held, USG support will be critical. Although we will continue to support the CNE, a key pillar in the country's democratic infrastructure, we will also reinforce elements that serve as a counterbalance to the powerful executive and enhance pluralism. Parliament will be a new partner. The newly elected parliament, although dominated by the ruling party, seeks to play its rightful role as a check and balance to the presidency. Parliament is also the only government institution where the opposition retains an official position. Also, we will support civil society, whose role has become more important following the electoral setback of the opposition. Finally, we will find ways to level the political playing field through support to the independent media. ¶6. Our specific proposals include: National Election Commission -------------- In the 2008 legislative elections, the CNE, with USAID support, focused on the logistical challenges of organizing polling stations in the interior, where the elections ran relatively well. Insufficient attention was given to the requirements of the urban sprawl that is Luanda; this resulted in delays in opening polling stations and other anomalies that tarnished the image of an otherwise generally well-run election. Assistance in 2009 aims to reinforce the CNE's systems and procedures, address its organizational structure and regulatory framework, and strengthen its technical expertise to overcome the logistical weaknesses of the 2008 elections. If presidential elections are direct and take place this year, the CNE will be stretched to the limit, and our assistance would be essential to a democratic outcome. Absent such direct elections, the CNE will be preparing for municipal elections next year, elections that will be unprecedented in Angola and for which careful preparation is essential. Estimated Cost: $1 million. Support to Parliament -------------- Most members of the recently-installed National Assembly are new to parliament and have limited understanding of their responsibilities. Nevertheless, the new parliament has organized standing committees, which have already begun hearing hours of testimony from sitting ministers, who are subjected to pointed questions from committee members. US support in this area would enable new parliamentarians to research legislative issues and reach out to constituents and civil society organizations. In addition to technical assistance, support would strengthen parliamentary committees' research capacity by providing reference documentation for the parliamentary library. Estimated Cost: $800,000. Support to Civil Society -------------- Civil society is still nascent in Angola. Continued support is required to help civil society constructively engage the new parliament, government in general, and other relevant stakeholders. Civil society must enhance its advocacy skills on such key issues as constitutional reform, electoral reform -- which includes municipal elections -- and reform of the media and NGO laws. Funds would also support the National Platform, the umbrella organization of Angolan electoral networks, in continuing to promote democratic participation by civil society and the Angolan people in the electoral process. Estimated Cost: $900,000. Support for a Free and Independent Press -------------- The effective oversight of democratic institutions in Angola's consolidating democracy depends on a free and vibrant press. Angolan media, however, are almost entirely controlled and financed by the government, the ruling party and powerful private interests. The few independent news sources that exist in Luanda regularly lose talent to better-funded private companies or government media. Their financial limitations also translate into inadequate equipment and infrastructure. Angola's media law makes it nearly impossible for the country's approximately 10-12 million inhabitants living outside Angola's capital to access independent news. US support would enable independent media to expand its coverage of election issues, policy, and political platforms outside the capital and finance a study and symposium to explore how independent information can reach the provinces within the framework of the existing Angolan media law. Estimated Cost: $400,000. ¶7. These proposals - intended to help shape the electoral environment, level the playing field, and reinforce participatory democracy in a key regional power - will require additional resources. The USAID Congressional Budget Justification for FY 2009 includes a request for $2.6 million in the "Political Competition and Consensus-Building" program area. The above request totals $3.1 million. Post seeks Department assistance in locating additional sources of funding for our FY 2009 democratization program. MOZENA