Cablegate: Drc Leadership Gap Looms: A View From the Economy

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RR RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1465 2621151
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191151Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4810
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001465

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN EMIN KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC LEADERSHIP GAP LOOMS: A VIEW FROM THE ECONOMY

REF: A) KINSHASA 1448

B) KINSHASA 1412

1. (U) As reported in reftel B, the GDRC is about to face serious
leadership voids in several ministries and in some state
enterprises. Several current ministers, vice ministers and
parastatal managers who have won seats in the National Assembly must
now decide if they will resign their positions to accept them
(reftel B). The National Assembly is scheduled to be installed
September 22.

2. (U) The DRC's Constitution requires that those who won their
races must inform the National Assembly in writing, within eight
days of validation of the mandate, whether or not they accept their
seats. Those who fail to do so within this timeframe are presumed
to have renounced their elected seats. At the same time, those
elected who are currently government officials - civil servants and
political appointees - must resign upon accepting their Parliament
seats. (Note: The acceptance deadline could be as early as September
22 or as late as November, depending on the interpretation of the
phrase "validation of the mandate." End note.)

3 (U) Key economic and financial officials elected include:
-Francois Mwamba, Minister of Budget
-Delly Sessanga, Minister of Planning
-Salomon Banamuhere, Minister of Energy
-Ingele Ifoto, Minister of Mines
-Celestin Vunabandi Kanamihigo, Minister of Portfolio
-Mukendi Tshiambula, Minister of Industry and Small and Medium
Enterprises
-Athanase Matenda Kielu, Minister of Public Service
-Constant Ndom Nda Ombel, Minister of Agriculture
-Louis Muderwa, Vice Minister of Mines
-Denis Kashoba, Vice Minister of Finance
-Tresor Kapuku, Vice Minister of Budget
-Jean Pierre Tshimanga Buana, CEO of CEEC (DRC's diamond evaluating
authority)
-Modeste Bahati Lukuebo, President of the Board of SONAS (DRC's
monopoly insurance parastatal)
(Note: The Ministers of Defense, Interior and Justice are other key
leaders who may rresign to take Assembly seats. End note.)(reftel
A).

4. (SBU) The impact of the provisional announcement is already
visible. Many high-level officials in economic and financial
ministries (EcoFin), both those who were elected and those who were
not, are no longer showing up at their ministries, instead
conducting business from their homes or other locations. (Comment:
Many officials were already difficult to find before elections. End
comment.)

5. (SBU) Comment: Although in theory the GDRC will replace any
officials who resign, ongoing high-level work may be disrupted
(septel), and the replacements will most likely serve only until the
eventual installation of a new government, which could be around the
end of this year. Further, some officials may also be candidates in
the October 29 provincial elections, thus taking yet more people
away from their duties. Hence, in the next few months, the
activities of many parastatals and EcoFin ministries and agencies
may be capable of undertaking little or no significant
decision-making or financial and economic control. End comment.
MEECE

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