VZCZCXRO7481
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0439 1061604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161604Z APR 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5982
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000439
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG
SUBJECT: PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS SLOWLY TAKING SHAPE
1. (SBU) The DRC's fledgling provincial governments are beginning
to take shape. Two provinces have appointed government ministers.
In the other nine provinces, including the capital Kinshasa,
governors have not completed initial consultations. Despite current
deliberations on budgetary issues, no province has formalized a
budget. Lack of experience and capacity are the source of numerous
problems.
2. (SBU) Provincial governors were elected by their provincial
assemblies in late January, and officially installed in February and
March. The governors of North Kivu and Equateur provinces appointed
their cabinets at the end of March. The ten provincial assemblies
and that of Kinshasa, all of which were installed in late November
2006, have been in budgetary session since March 15, but none has
yet approved a budget. The work of the new governments has been
stymied a lack of resources, infrastructure, training, and
experience.
3. (SBU) Comment: Representative government at the provincial
level is a new experience for Congolese politicians, who have little
capacity to perform their jobs effectively. Moreover, provincial
governments lack the necessary physical and financial resources, and
are dependent on the central government for funding. Overall,
standing up effective provincial governments will be a long and
arduous task needing considerable assistance and support. End
comment.
MEECE