(C) KUDOS FOR BURUNDI POLITICAL REPORTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 120767 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2034 TAGS: PINR BY SUBJECT: (C) KUDOS FOR BURUNDI POLITICAL REPORTING (C-AL9-02373) REF: A. BUJUMBURA 000566 ¶B. BUJUMBURA 000562 ¶C. BUJUMBURA 000552 ¶D. BUJUMBURA 000446 ¶E. BUJUMBURA 000356 ¶F. BUJUMBURA 000416 Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C/NF) US POLICYMAKERS ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE PRE-ELECTION ATMOSPHERE IN BURUNDI AND ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROSPECT FOR VIOLENCE AT THE POLLS AND POTENTIAL LEVERS US POLICYMAKERS CAN USE TO ALLEVIATE ANY VOTE RIGGING, HARASSMENT, OR CORRUPTION. WE GREATLY APPRECIATED POST'S REPORTING (SEE REFTELS) ON THE PRE-ELECTION ENVIRONMENT IN BURUNDI. THE GUIDE TO BURUNDI'S POLITICAL PARTIES, IN PARTICULAR, WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AS WE ASSESSED THE PLAYING FIELD FOR POLICYMAKERS. THE RECENT REPORTING SHARING VARIOUS LOCAL VIEWS OF THE ELECTION HAS ALSO BEEN VERY USEFUL FOR OUR ANALYSIS. WE HAVE USED POST'S REPORTING IN A NUMBER OF FINISHED INTELLIGENCE PRODUCTS AND BRIEFINGS FOR SENIOR POLICYMAKERS. AS POST'S TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES; THE VARIOUS PARTY CONFERENCES; THE LIKELIHOOD THAT MEMBERS OF THE RULING PARTY WILL SWITCH SIDES OR MOVE TO THE UNION FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (UPD); THE EXTENT TO WHICH REGIONAL, ETHNIC, AND RELIGIOUS DYNAMICS PLAY A ROLE IN POLITICAL COMPETITION; AND THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS THE IMPENDING PULL-OUT OF SOUTH AFRICAN TROOPS BY 12/31 MIGHT HAVE ON THE ELECTIONS (I.E. WHAT ARE THE UN INTEGRATED OFFICE IN BURUNDI (BINUB) AND THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE IN BURUNDI PLANNING TO PUT IN PLACE TO SUPPORT A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT?). CLINTON