VZCZCXRO1586
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1041 3311401
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271401Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0331
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 001041
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CG
SUBJECT: THIS JUST IN: GDRC SET TO ANNOUNCE 2011 ELECTION
DATES
1. (SBU) Summary: Senator Jean-Pierre LOLA KISANGA told
PolOff today (November 27) representatives of the executive
and legislative branches of government and the independent
electoral commission (CEI) met Thursday, November 26 and
agreed on local and national election dates. Municipal and
local elections, which were originally planned for 2009, will
be held on Saturday, February 13, 2011. National
elections--including the presidential--remain on schedule for
2011 with balloting to take place Saturday, September 4. End
summary.
2. (SBU) Dr. Lola, a member of the senate leadership, said
local elections would be co-financed by the GDRC and the
international community, whereas the DRC would assume all
costs of the national election. Independent daily Le
Potential reported November 24 that local elections would
cost $243 million, of which the CEI already had disbursed
$123 million. According to the report confirmed by Lola, a
native of Orientale Province, the GDRC would cover up to $31
million of the $120 million shortfall and MONUC pledged $80
million pending supplementary contributions by EU member
states.
3. (SBU) Preconditions for the elections, according to CEI
spokesperson Dieudonnee Mirimo, are to train over 10,000
electoral workers, identify over 2,000 registration and
voting centers (e.g. schools), and to review the electoral
lists. Mirimo said electoral preparations in Kinshasa are
two-thirds complete; however, preparations in the other 10
provinces are behind due to a delay in receiving provincial
lists from the Prime Minister's office. Local daily La
Reference reported on November 24 that the CEI suspended
operations due to the lack of lists.
4. (SBU) Comment. Agreement on election dates is a welcome
development and suggests democratic intent by incumbent
President Joseph Kabila. The democratic potential of these
elections, however, is not assured due to a number of factors
including the lack of a unified opposition party to contest
legislative seats, as well as to the absence at this time of
a visible national figure as a credible opponent to Kabila.
End comment.
GARVELINK