Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BANGUI42
2010-02-16 17:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bangui
Cable title:
CAR: PRESIDENT CUTS FUNDING FOR THE ELECTIONS AND ASKS THE
how-toVZCZCXRO4851 PP RUEHGI DE RUEHGI #0042/01 0471726 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 161726Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY BANGUI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1165 INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0388 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0401 RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 0300 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0241 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0214 RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0590 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0584 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0213 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0007 RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA 0010 RHMFISS/AFRICOM RUEHNJ/USDAO NDJAMENA CD RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1477
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGUI 000042
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C
USUN FOR DMUERS
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
NAIROBI FOR AKARAS
AFRICOM FOR JKUGEL
INR FOR JPEKKINEN
DRL FOR SCRAMPTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR CT
SUBJECT: CAR: PRESIDENT CUTS FUNDING FOR THE ELECTIONS AND ASKS THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO FILL THE GAP
REF: BANGUI 0041
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGUI 000042
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C
USUN FOR DMUERS
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
NAIROBI FOR AKARAS
AFRICOM FOR JKUGEL
INR FOR JPEKKINEN
DRL FOR SCRAMPTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR CT
SUBJECT: CAR: PRESIDENT CUTS FUNDING FOR THE ELECTIONS AND ASKS THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO FILL THE GAP
REF: BANGUI 0041
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Though the Central African Republic Government
(CARG) promised USD 7.9 million for the upcoming national
elections, President Bozize announced on February 2 that the
CARG would only make USD 4.3 million available. President
Bozize then urged the United Nations Peace Building Fund (UNPBF)
and other bilateral donors to bridge the final gap, but so far,
the complete amount remains unfulfilled. The lack of funding,
time, and technical expertise have increased doubts about the
feasibility of the projected April 18th election date. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) The United Nations Program for Development (UNDP)
estimates that the elections will require an estimated USD 16.5
million, of which only USD 12.6 million has been mobilized. The
current contributions to the two electoral budgets are:
-- CARG Budget:
-- CARG 2009 Budget -- USD 980,029
-- CARG 2010 Budget -- USD 3.4 million
-- France -- USD 285,714
-- UNDP Basket Fund:
-- UNDP -- USD 760,000
-- European Commission (EC) -- USD 5.7 million (not
available until late February at the
earliest)
-- UNPBF -- USD 1.5 million (This amount remains
controversial. it is part of a larger security fund and
negotiations still remain regarding its use for election
security.)
(NOTE: The 2005 CAR election budget was USD 9.5million. END
NOTE).
3. (SBU) Despite a constitutional mandate to hold elections
every five years, the CARG did not appropriate money for
elections until late September 2009 when it set aside USD 2.2
million in a budget addendum. That amount was recently cut by
the President to just less than USD 1 million. Furthermore,
although the 2010 budget includes an additional USD 5.4 million
for the elections, the President reduced this amount to USD 3.4
million. Therefore, the total CARG contribution to the
elections is now just USD 4.3 million, down from the promised
USD 7.9 million. It is not clear why President Bozize made the
cuts, nor whether the international community will fill the
funding gap.
4. (U) The election funds are separated into two separate
budgets - the CARG budget and a UNDP basket fund. To manage the
basket fund, the UNDP created a Steering Committee composed of
representatives from UNDP, the UN Integrated Office in the
Central African Republic (BINUCA),the Independent Electoral
Commission (the President plus 5 designated representatives),
the Minister of Interior, and representatives from the country's
international technical and financial partners.
5. (SBU) The delivery of the main contribution to the basket
fund - USD 5.7 million from the EC - continues to face technical
delays, reducing the Steering committee's influence over the
process. The EC earmarked these funds two years ago, and hopes
to obligate the money by late February. So far, the CAR
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) only has access to UNDP's
initial USD 365,000 contribution to the basket fund. Without
the promised EC contribution, the Steering Committee continues
to sit idle, meeting only once within the last month.
BANGUI 00000042 002 OF 002
6. (SBU) The IEC continues to request technical assistance from
the UNDP, but because the basket fund sits empty, the Program
only hired one of its seven proposed technical experts to work
with the IEC. UNDP officials lament that this limits their
ability to influence the process as well. With the elections
only two months away, and considering delays in hiring
international personnel, it is unlikely that most of the
proposed technical experts will arrive before the scheduled
election date.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The CARG decision to cut its contributions for
the elections is troubling, and symptomatic of a lack of concern
to implement fully transparent and inclusive elections. The
delayed EC contribution to the basket fund negatively impacts
the international community's influence over the CAR electoral
process and leaves the IEC in desperate need of technical
assistance. Given the ongoing technical and political delays
impeding the electoral process (Ref A),post is not optimistic
that elections will take place on schedule. END COMMENT.
COOK
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C
USUN FOR DMUERS
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
NAIROBI FOR AKARAS
AFRICOM FOR JKUGEL
INR FOR JPEKKINEN
DRL FOR SCRAMPTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR CT
SUBJECT: CAR: PRESIDENT CUTS FUNDING FOR THE ELECTIONS AND ASKS THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO FILL THE GAP
REF: BANGUI 0041
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Though the Central African Republic Government
(CARG) promised USD 7.9 million for the upcoming national
elections, President Bozize announced on February 2 that the
CARG would only make USD 4.3 million available. President
Bozize then urged the United Nations Peace Building Fund (UNPBF)
and other bilateral donors to bridge the final gap, but so far,
the complete amount remains unfulfilled. The lack of funding,
time, and technical expertise have increased doubts about the
feasibility of the projected April 18th election date. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) The United Nations Program for Development (UNDP)
estimates that the elections will require an estimated USD 16.5
million, of which only USD 12.6 million has been mobilized. The
current contributions to the two electoral budgets are:
-- CARG Budget:
-- CARG 2009 Budget -- USD 980,029
-- CARG 2010 Budget -- USD 3.4 million
-- France -- USD 285,714
-- UNDP Basket Fund:
-- UNDP -- USD 760,000
-- European Commission (EC) -- USD 5.7 million (not
available until late February at the
earliest)
-- UNPBF -- USD 1.5 million (This amount remains
controversial. it is part of a larger security fund and
negotiations still remain regarding its use for election
security.)
(NOTE: The 2005 CAR election budget was USD 9.5million. END
NOTE).
3. (SBU) Despite a constitutional mandate to hold elections
every five years, the CARG did not appropriate money for
elections until late September 2009 when it set aside USD 2.2
million in a budget addendum. That amount was recently cut by
the President to just less than USD 1 million. Furthermore,
although the 2010 budget includes an additional USD 5.4 million
for the elections, the President reduced this amount to USD 3.4
million. Therefore, the total CARG contribution to the
elections is now just USD 4.3 million, down from the promised
USD 7.9 million. It is not clear why President Bozize made the
cuts, nor whether the international community will fill the
funding gap.
4. (U) The election funds are separated into two separate
budgets - the CARG budget and a UNDP basket fund. To manage the
basket fund, the UNDP created a Steering Committee composed of
representatives from UNDP, the UN Integrated Office in the
Central African Republic (BINUCA),the Independent Electoral
Commission (the President plus 5 designated representatives),
the Minister of Interior, and representatives from the country's
international technical and financial partners.
5. (SBU) The delivery of the main contribution to the basket
fund - USD 5.7 million from the EC - continues to face technical
delays, reducing the Steering committee's influence over the
process. The EC earmarked these funds two years ago, and hopes
to obligate the money by late February. So far, the CAR
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) only has access to UNDP's
initial USD 365,000 contribution to the basket fund. Without
the promised EC contribution, the Steering Committee continues
to sit idle, meeting only once within the last month.
BANGUI 00000042 002 OF 002
6. (SBU) The IEC continues to request technical assistance from
the UNDP, but because the basket fund sits empty, the Program
only hired one of its seven proposed technical experts to work
with the IEC. UNDP officials lament that this limits their
ability to influence the process as well. With the elections
only two months away, and considering delays in hiring
international personnel, it is unlikely that most of the
proposed technical experts will arrive before the scheduled
election date.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The CARG decision to cut its contributions for
the elections is troubling, and symptomatic of a lack of concern
to implement fully transparent and inclusive elections. The
delayed EC contribution to the basket fund negatively impacts
the international community's influence over the CAR electoral
process and leaves the IEC in desperate need of technical
assistance. Given the ongoing technical and political delays
impeding the electoral process (Ref A),post is not optimistic
that elections will take place on schedule. END COMMENT.
COOK