Cablegate: Drc Elections: Electoral Commission Publishes List

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PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1853 3471714
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131714Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5301
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 001853

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: ELECTORAL COMMISSION PUBLISHES LIST
OF SENATORIAL CANDIDATES

1. (U) Summary: The DRC's Independent Electoral Commission
(CEI) published December 12 the provisional list of 1,127
candidates running for the 108 seats available in the
national Senate. Former Vice Presidents Jean-Pierre Bemba and
Abdoulaye Yerodia, along with several former presidential
candidates and government officials, are among those running.
Senate elections are scheduled for January 7. End summary.

2. (U) Several well-known Congolese political figures from
the transitional government have registered as candidates for
the new DRC Senate. Former Vice President Bemba is running as
a candidate of his Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC)
party in Kinshasa, while former Vice President Yerodia, of
the pro-Kabila People's Party for Reconstruction and
Development (PPRD), is running in Bas-Congo province. The
DRC's two other transitional vice presidents, Azarias Ruberwa
and Z'ahidi Ngoma, did not file for Senate seats.

3. (U) Other Senate contenders include many former
presidential candidates and government officials. This list
includes Scientific Research Minister Gerard Kamanda wa
Kamanda, former Transport Minister Joseph Olenghankoy, former
Agriculture Minister (under Mobutu) Wivine N'Landu, former
Mines Minister Eugene Diomi, Transition Senator Pierre
Matusila, Mobutu-era Prime Ministers Vincent Lunda Bululu and
Kengo wa Dondo, former Finance Minister Andre Philippe Futa,
Kabila chief of staff Leonard She Okitundu, and U.S.-based
physician Oscar Kashala.

4. (U) The pro-Kabila PPRD fielded the most candidates with
96. Bemba's MLC has registered 66. A total of 291 candidates
-- roughly 26 percent -- are running as independents.

5. (U) Senate elections are scheduled for January 7. Senators
will be chosen by members of the provincial assemblies
elected October 29. Kinshasa will be represented by eight
senators while each of the DRC's 25 other provinces will have
four, according to the decentralization plan outlined in the
new constitution. Based on results from the October 29
provincial assembly elections, at least 12 of the 26
assemblies will be controlled by the pro-Kabila Alliance for
the Presidential Majority (AMP) coalition; six, including
Kinshasa, will have majorities led by the pro-Bemba Union for
the Nation alliance; and the remaining eight assemblies are
largely split, which will factor into Senatorial choices.
Current plans call for the Senate to be installed January 28.
MEECE

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