Cablegate: Drc Elections: Kabila Maintains Lead Over Bemba In

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PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1719 3111454
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071454Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5126
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 001719

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: KABILA MAINTAINS LEAD OVER BEMBA IN
EARLY RESULTS

REF: KINSHASA 1712

1. (U) The DRC's Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) on
November 7 released results from five additional electoral
districts from the October 29 presidential election.
Seventeen electoral districts, ten percent of the country's
total, have been reported to date and give President Joseph
Kabila a lead over Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba by 66.2
to 33.8 percent.

2. (U) The 17 districts comprise eight districts each from
the DRC's eastern and western regions, plus one district from
the central area of the Kasais, and account for a total of
1,088,464 valid votes. Turnout is down approximately nine
percent in these districts compared to the July 30 election,
and currently averages 67.4 percent, down from the 71 percent
nationwide participation in the first round. Participation in
the eight western electoral districts is proportionately
lower than the eight in the east. Turnout in the Eastern
Kasai district of Katanda, near Mbuji-Mayi, was 26 percent,
only one-half of one percent higher than on July 30.

3. (U) Kabila's support continues to come primarily from
eastern provinces, Bemba's in the west. Results reported from
Katanga, Maniema and North Kivu provinces show Kabila winning
nearly 96 percent of the vote. Bemba won nearly 80 percent of
the vote reported in Bandundu, Bas-Congo, and Equateur
provinces. Bemba also won 92 percent of the one district
reported in Eastern Kasai.

4. (SBU) Comment: These early results represent just ten
percent of the DRC's 169 electoral districts. They should not
be viewed as indicating any particular voting trends. End
comment.
MEECE

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