Cablegate: Congo's New National Assembly Begins Work

VZCZCXRO0617
PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1499 2691318
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261318Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4856
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 001499

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG
SUBJECT: CONGO'S NEW NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS WORK

1. (U) DR Congo's newly-elected National Assembly met for the
first time September 22 in Kinshasa. Of the 500 deputies
elected on July 29, 438 participated in the largely
ceremonial session. The pro-forma selection of its
provisional bureau was the Assembly's sole order of business.

2. (U) Joseph Mbenza Thubi of Kinshasa was selected as the
bureau's president, and Juliette Mbambu Mughole of North Kivu
and Dany Banza Maloba of Katanga as secretaries. The new DRC
constitution stipulates that the provisional bureau is to be
headed by the oldest deputy and assisted by the two youngest.
Thubi, 75, represents one of Kinshasa's four electoral
districts and is a member of the Congolese Alliance of
Christian Democrats. Mbambu, 27, is from North Kivu's Lubero
district and is a member of the People's Union for the
Republic and Complete Integration. Banza, 29, is an
independent from the city of Likasi in Katanga.

3. (SBU) The National Assembly's immediate tasks are to
validate the mandates of its members and adopt internal
rules. It met in closed session September 25 to organize ad
hoc commissions to examine and validate mandates. The work
of these commissions may be delayed as the dossiers of some
parliamentarians have not yet been received.
MEECE

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