US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1525

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KINSHASA 001525 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR ECA/PE/V/G/A DWOODS; AF/PD PERHNMAN 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, SCUL, KPAO 
SUBJECT: FY'05-AFRP: "Grassroots Democracy" April 11-29, 2005 
 
REF: STATE 347575 
 
START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT): 
: The following data is in a fixed format, which enables 
: Automated processing in Washington and should not be 
: Edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software. 
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB 
VERSION: 3.0.7 
POST-EMAIL: FumanaJS@State.gov 
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Kinshasa 
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 4307 
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA 
START NOMINATION: 
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGA 
PROG-AGENCY-NAME: 
POST-PROJ-ID: 10 
ECA-PROJ-NO: 
PROJ-NAME: Grassroots Democracy 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
This project will address approaches to promoting public 
participation in decision-making. The program will demonstrate how 
citizen participation in the democratic process at the grassroots 
level can influence political, social, and economic change. 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE: Individuals Traveling Together 
PROG-TYPE: IV Grant Visitor 
FY: 2005 
DEPART-POST: 
SESSION-DATE: 04/11/2005 
RETURN-POST: 
NO-OF-PART: 2 
RANK-ORDER: 1 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1035 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID: ITT 
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29 
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 4307 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 4307 
STATUS: N 
ORIGINATOR: P 
SUBJ-DISC: Grassroots Democracy 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: 
F-NAME: Apollinaire 
M-NAME: Muholongu 
L-NAME: Malumalu 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 100 
PRINCIPAL? Yes 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 07/22/1961 
MAR-STAT: S 
BIRTH-CITY: Muhangi 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Democratic Republic of Congo 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Democratic Republic of Congo 
RES-CNTRY: Democratic Republic of Congo 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Independent Electoral Commission 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
President 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
- Rector of the Graben Catholic University (2001 - 2003) 
- Professor of Political Science and International Relations 
(since 1999) 
- Vice Rector of Graben Catholic University (1995 - 2000) 
- Parish Priest at Monestier de Clermont, France (1992 - 1995) 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
None 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
- France and Schengen Countries, for Studies (since 1989) 
- Uganda and Kenya, for business meetings and conferences (since 
1995) 
- Australia, for a conference (2001) 
- Botswana, South Africa and Ethiopia, for Congolese Peace 
Negotiations (2001 - 2003) 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
- Doctoral Degree in Political Science, Grenoble II State 
University (1999) 
-Special Diploma in Human Rights and Political Studies, Graben II 
State University (1992) 
- Master's Degree in Theology and Philosophy, Catholic University 
of Lyon (1991) 
- Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy, Catholic Faculties of Kinshasa 
(1988) 
- Diploma in Philosophy and Theology, Bakavu Catholic Seminar 
(1986) 
- High School Diploma in Latin and Philosophy, Kambali High School 
(1979) 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
Director of the Center of Training for Development Solidarity 
(1995 - 2003) 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
- "The Congolese Civil Society on the Democracy Test" (2003) 
- The Policy of Resort to Authenticity in Congo-Zaire during 
Mobutu's Regime" (1999) 
- The Collapse of the State and Identity Crises in Zaire" (1995) 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
None 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: Swahili/Kiswahili 
ENGL-READ: 1 
ENGL-SPEAK: 1 
ENGL-COMP: 1 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: French 
OTHER-LANG-ID: FR 
READ: 4 
SPEAK: 4 
COMP: 4 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
Post would like the nominee to learn how citizen participation in 
the democratic process at the grassroots level can influence 
political, social, and economic change. 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
The grantee would like to meet representatives of institutions 
dealing with the organization and observation of elections. He is 
also interested in have exchange with university officials, and 
NGOs involved in development, human rights, governance and 
democracy issues. 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: USAID 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
As head of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI in French), 
Abbot Malumalu occupies one of the key positions in the DRC's 
transitional process.  The CEI is charged with ensuring that free 
and fair elections are held in the Congo within the time frame 
specified by the Sun City Accord.  As a prominent member of the 
Civil Society in the eastern Congo, Abbot Malumalu developed an 
outstanding reputation as a fair and objective mediator, respected 
by all parties to the Congolese conflict.  The Abbot will have a 
chance to apply the knowledge gained from this program in a way 
that few other IVs do, in a process that is vital to the DRC, the 
Great Lakes Region, and to sub-Saharan Africa as a whole.  The 
Country Team has approved this nomination. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: USAID 
SPEAKER? Yes 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA? No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP? Yes 
E-I-TYPE: INTERPRETER 
NOMINEE-ID: 18 
PERSON-ID: 18 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CG 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CG 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CG 
FIRST-LANG-ID: SW 
E-I-TYPE-ID: I 
NOM-POST-ID: 4307 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 4307 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 
SPONS-FUNDS: USD 9,188.000 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 5 
END BIO: 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: 
F-NAME: Nassor 
M-NAME: Bin 
L-NAME: Kassongo 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 100 
PRINCIPAL? Yes 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 09/05/1964 
MAR-STAT: M 
BIRTH-CITY: Kasongo 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Democratic Republic of Congo 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Democratic Republic of Congo 
RES-CNTRY: Democratic Republic of Congo 
START MEMO POSITION: 
National Assembly 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
Director of Cabinet of the President of the National Assembly 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
- Director at the Federation of Congolese Business Enterprises 
(2003 - 2004) 
- Head of Service at the Federation of Congolese Business 
Enterprises (1994 - 2002) 
- Lecturer (since 1996) at the School of Journalism 
- Journalist at the Local Newspaper, "Le Standard" (1992 - 1996) 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
None 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
- France, for official business (2004) 
- Senegal, for training (2003) 
- Italy, for training (2003) 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, School of Journalism, Kinshasa, 
D.R. Congo (1996) 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
None 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
"The Organization of Press Enterprises and Ethics Issues" (1996) 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: Swahili/Kiswahili 
ENGL-READ: 1 
ENGL-SPEAK: 1 
ENGL-COMP: 1 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: French 
OTHER-LANG-ID: FR 
READ: 4 
SPEAK: 4 
COMP: 4 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
The grantee would like to meet with members of the Congress in 
order to gain greater understanding of the U.S. Congress and the 
organization of elections. In addition to getting a greater 
understanding of the AGOA process, he is interested in visiting 
the White House and in making contacts with businessmen. 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: POL 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Mr. Kassongo is currently Chief-of-Staff to the President of the 
Congolese National Assembly.  He is also a journalist and teaches 
at the Journalism School in Kinshasa.  The National Assembly is 
playing a key role in the transitional process in the DRC since it 
must pass all laws implementing the Congo's electoral system.  The 
DRC and its transitional process will thus benefit directly from 
Mr. Kassongo's participation in this program.  The Country Team 
has approved this nomination. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: POL 
SPEAKER? Yes 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA? No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP? Yes 
E-I-TYPE: INTERPRETER 
NOMINEE-ID: 19 
PERSON-ID: 19 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CG 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CG 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CG 
FIRST-LANG-ID: SW 
E-I-TYPE-ID: I 
NOM-POST-ID: 4307 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 4307 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 
SPONS-FUNDS: USD 9,188.000 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
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