US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA365

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000365 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, PINS, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: PROGRESS REPORT ON ELECTORAL COMMISSION'S TIMELINE 
 
REF: KINSHASA 218 
 
1. (SBU) Summary. Immediately following the February 2-4 
Inter-Institutional Seminar, the DRC's Independent Electoral 
Commission published an electoral timeline highlighting the 
need to provide the CEI with increased office and storage 
space, and to begin identifying voting registration centers 
by the end of February. The CEI's goal is to pressure the 
GDRC into action by assigning specific tasks and dates. The 
results thus far have been mixed as the GDRC is moving more 
slowly than hoped.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Following the "Inter-Institutional Seminar" held in 
Kinshasa February 2-4 (reftel) the Independent Electoral 
Commission (CEI) issued a press statement that included a 
timeline of tasks to be undertaken by various government 
entities. This timeline called on the GDRC to make office 
space for the CEI available throughout the country to permit 
the deployment of electoral workers, and begin identifying an 
estimated 9,000 voter registration centers. The CEI stated 
that it would work urgently to accomplish these tasks by the 
end of February 2005. Other tasks, including the adoption of 
a constitutional law by parliament and debate on GDRC funding 
for elections, are projected for the month of March and will 
be covered septel. 
 
Some Progress Increasing CEI's Access to Office Space 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
3. (SBU) Poloff met the Chief of Cabinet to the CEI's 
President, Flavien Misoni, on February 23 to discuss the 
status of these tasks. The CEI is currently discussing with 
the GDRC use of the National Congolese Radio and Television 
(RTNC) office tower in Kinshasa as the site for its national 
headquarters. This tower has been in disrepair for a number 
of years and needs work, especially with the elevators. 
According to Misoni, European Union and UNDP officials are 
currently evaluating the costs of repairs. Despite the fact 
that the building is also occupied by Special Presidential 
Security Guards (GSSP), Misoni feels this is the best 
alternative available and thinks that the CEI can create a 
separate entrance to avoid contact with the GSSP. Misoni said 
the GDRC is also making available a set of large 
government-owned warehouses in Kinshasa where the CEI can 
store voter registration and election materials. These 
buildings will also need some work and the removal of 
homeless people who have taken refuge there. Misoni said both 
the RTNC and the warehouses could be available within 4 
weeks, i.e. the end of March. The CEI plans to move in and 
start using the buildings even as repair work is being 
conducted. 
 
4. (U) The temporary building housing the CEI in Kinshasa has 
also been provided with many trailers that will be used by 
the UNDP unit working on the procurement of voter 
registration materials. Extensive work is being done to make 
the trailers operational within a matter of days. According 
to Misoni, the new location of UNDP officials will allow them 
to coordinate more efficiently with the CEI. UNDP envisions 
eventually co-locating its technical experts at the new CEI 
headquarters, together with those of the EU and other donors 
(such as those supported by USAID). 
 
5. (U) Nationwide, the CEI has opened offices in the capitals 
of all 11 provinces and is currently in the process of 
searching for suitable buildings for the 64 remaining 
provincial liaison offices. According to Misoni, over 50% of 
these buildings have already been selected, but most of them 
need some refurbishing before they become operational. The 
President of the CEI has begun a direct 
information/communication campaign traveling to Bandundu the 
week of February 20. 
 
Registration Centers Identified in Theory 
----------------------------------------- 
 
6. (U) Misoni said the CEI, in collaboration with provincial 
authorities, has identified on paper most of the 9,000 voting 
registration centers needed. The next task will be to send 
officials to inspect these buildings, most of which are 
expected to be schools, hospitals, and other public 
facilities. Each of these centers is expected to serve 
approximately 3,111 voters (for a total of 28 million). 
According to Misoni, the CEI seeks to overcome the problem of 
limited infrastructure by locating registration centers in 
locations where people already gather for religious, 
commercial, or cultural activities. 
Comment 
------- 
 
7. (SBU) The CEI's main motivation for assigning specific 
tasks and dates is to pressure GDRC institutions into action. 
CEI representatives have acknowledged that the dates are 
ambitious, but they characterize their timeline as a 
"flexible working document" meant to get all actors to take 
concrete action and to share responsibilities for organizing 
the elections. Ultimately, the CEI depends on the GDRC for 
access to office and storage space and for its operating 
budget. To the extent that the GDRC has already taken some 
specific actions to assist the CEI in this regard, the 
Commission's strategy appears to be working, albeit more 
slowly than hoped. 
 
8. (U) Bujumbura minimized considered. 
MEECE