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Cablegate: Tshisekedi Expels Udps Members Advocating Alliance

VZCZCXRO3022
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1602 2911457
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181457Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4981
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 001602

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: TSHISEKEDI EXPELS UDPS MEMBERS ADVOCATING ALLIANCE
WITH BEMBA

REF: KINSHASA 1508

1. (U) Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS)
President Etienne Tshisekedi issued two decisions October 16
effectively expelling several high-ranking members of the
party who have been advocating an alliance with presidential
candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba. Those named were members of the
party's national committee and national secretariat,
including senior Tshisekedi adviser Gaston Dyndo and
spokesman Jean-Baptiste Bomanza. Tshisekidi's declarations
stated that those named had "self-excluded" themselves from
the party and could no longer consider themselves members nor
represent it.

2. (U) Tshisekedi's pronouncement puts an end for the moment
to the public squabbling and speculation over which
candidate the UDPS might support in the October 29
presidential run-off election (reftel). He did not
specifically mention pro-Bemba activities as the reason for
the expulsions, but the 15 officials named had all publicly
advocated UDPS alignment with Vice President Bemba, some even
campaigning with Bemba and his political coalition. A
competing faction of the party, led by UDPS Secretary General
Remy Masamba and National Committee President Valentin
Mubake, had publicly declared the party would not endorse
either candidate.

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3. (SBU) Comment: This development is only the latest in a
continuing series of fractures in the upper echelon of the
longtime opposition party. Tshisekedi's message is clear:
the electoral process is not valid, the UDPS is not going to
take a position in the presidential election, and it will
continue to sit out the process. However, an increasing
number of his supporters realize the damage the strategy has
done to the party. End comment.
MEECE

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