Cablegate: Mlc Launches New Political Alliance

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PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0969 1711103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201103Z JUN 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4154
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 000969

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: MLC LAUNCHES NEW POLITICAL ALLIANCE

REF: KINSHASA 174

1. (U) The Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), the
political party of Vice President (and presidential
candidate) Jean-Pierre Bemba, has entered into a new
political alliance with a host of smaller Congolese political
parties. MLC Secretary General (and Minister of Budget)
Francois Mwamba announced June 17 in Kinshasa the launch of
the Assembly of Congolese Nationalists (RENACO), which brings
together the MLC and 23 other parties into a nationwide
alliance. Bemba had announced the formation of RENACO when he
accepted the MLC's presidential nomination January 29
(reftel); Mwamba will serve as RENCO's coordinator.

2. (U) Mwamba reportedly said at RENACO's June 17 unveiling
that the coalition's members were driven by one main goal:
the creation of an independent country with popular
leadership. Mwamba reportedly said good governance would be
the hallmark of RENACO, claiming that "bad governance" has
been the source of the DRC's conflicts and lack of national
unity. According to news reports, Mwamba also claimed that
RENACO's candidates understand the necessity of ensuring that
democracy is the only way by which the Congolese must choose
their leaders and transform the country.

3. (SBU) Included in the MLC's new umbrella organization are
two other presidential candidates, Jonas Mukamba of the
Alliance of Congolese Democrats (ADECO) and Christophe Mboso
of the Convention for the Republic and Democracy (CRD).
Mwamba reportedly did not specify which candidate would
represent RENACO in the first round of presidential voting,
but rather said such discussions will take place at the
appropriate time. (Comment: There is no doubt, however, that
Bemba will lead the alliance. End comment.) Among some of the
parties in RENACO's ranks are the Christian Convention for
Democracy (CCD), the Movement for Democracy and Development
(MDD), the Democratic Rally for the Republic (RDR), and
Republican Generations (GR). The alliance field approximately
800 candidates nationwide for the National Assembly.

4. (U) According to local news reports, several
representatives of the Congolese political opposition parties
also attended the RENACO events, though they are not members
of the alliance. Among the most notable was Gaston Dyndo of
Etienne Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress
(UDPS).

5. (SBU) Comment: Bemba has been saying for months that he
would be announcing a coalition of up to 50 parties. None of
the 23 other parties he has brought together in the RENACO
alliance have any significant level of popular support,
however. Rumors of an MLC-UDPS alliance have been circulating
for some time. While Bemba and Tshisekedi would indeed make
strange bedfellows, desperation might well bring them
together. End comment.
MEECE

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