US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA653

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000653 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, CG 
SUBJECT: KABILA:  ELECTIONS PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY, 30 JUNE 
WILL BE MANAGED 
 
 
Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (C)  Ambassador met privately April 16 with President 
Kabila, at the President's residence.  In the wake of a very 
positive presentation to the CIAT April 15 by Abbe Malu Malu 
(President of the Independent Electoral Commission), in which 
he outlined progress on electoral preparations, including the 
launch of a public education campaign (septel), Ambassador 
reiterated to President Kabila our ongoing support for the 
transition as the best -- and indeed only -- route to 
elections.  He stressed that despite its diverse membership, 
the CIAT likewise is completely unified on the need to finish 
the transition as provided for by the Sun City Accords, 
through the holding of free and fair democratic elections. 
Kabila acknowledged the point, but noted that he wished the 
CIAT were more active, and clearer in its pronouncements. 
The Ambassador noted the difficulty of getting a multilateral 
body to be active, but did raise the possibility of a visit 
by at least some UNSC members in May as an indication of the 
level of interest by CIAT members in ensuring electoral 
success. 
 
2. (C)  The Ambassador noted that we are concerned about what 
appears to be active efforts by some political elements not 
party to the transition (note: particularly the UDPS, end 
note) to foment social unrest by June 30 in an effort to 
force a premature end to the transition. He emphasized that 
we have a responsibility to American citizens to try to 
ensure their safety and provide them the best possible advice 
on what to do.  Kabila said that he does not believe there 
will be large-scale problems in June, in large part because 
the government already is taking "measures" to respond.  He 
pointed to the launch (possibly as soon as the week of April 
18) of a major communications strategy to educate the 
population about what already has been done to prepare for 
elections, and what remains to be done.  This outreach, which 
he said would be in coordination with Malu Malu's Independent 
Electoral Commission, will involve "most" government 
officials, including himself.  He will address a joint 
Senate-National Assembly meeting May 17 (following the 
introduction of the formal request for a six-month extension 
of the transition to enable elections to take place).  He 
expressed confidence that the Assembly will complete debate 
on the constitution this month, as scheduled, allowing all 
other electoral preparations to fall into place. 
 
3. (C)  Returning more directly to the possible problem of 
security in June, Kabila said that the government will take 
all necessary security measures to ensure that large-scale 
problems do not occur.  He also reminded the Ambassador that 
"Kinshasa is not the country," implying that despite the 
relatively shrill rhetoric from the disaffected currently 
taking place in Kinshasa, the rest of the DRC would not be as 
subject to disturbances.  He said he had met recently with 
some members of PALU (one of the most aggressive "opposition" 
elements currently promoting an end to the transistion), and 
said dismissively that they are not even unified themselves. 
The Ambassador pointed out that the UDPS, however, has a much 
larger following, is present in many places other than 
Kinshasa, such as the Kasais, and is much more unified. 
 
4. (U) Kabila asked whether it was true that UDPS leader 
Etienne Tshishekedi had been officially invited to visit 
Washington.  The Ambassador said there had been no invitation 
and that a US visit seems to be just a rumor as Tshishekdi's 
advisor, Mukendi, had told us April 14 that no visit is 
planned.  (Comment:  UDPS supporters had been putting 
together a visit with appointments requested in Washington 
and New York, despite Mukendi's denials, as several officials 
in the Department and elsewhere had been contacted.  The 
suggested visit may have been canceled because Tshishekedi 
was not being received at what he considered a sufficiently 
high level. Alternatively, it may have been that UPDS 
supporters had been working on the visit without Tshishekdi's 
full approval. End Comment.)  Kabila said he was pleased, in 
this instance, to have been deceived by a rumor, and added 
that "one man" cannot be allowed to set the country back 
forty years. 
 
5. (C)  Kabila asked if the Ambassador had heard anything 
about President Kagame's visit to Washington and April 15 
meeting with President Bush.  Ambassador replied that he had 
not yet received a read-out on the meeting, while noting that 
the Congolese need to follow-up quickly on their initial 
success with the FDLR announcement in Rome.  The decision to 
disarm needs to be implemented, he stressed, noting as well 
that it will be helpful if Kigali makes this process as easy 
as possible. 
 
6. (C)  In closing, President Kabila raised the question of 
HIPC debt relief for the DRC.  The Ambassador responded that 
he is hopeful that we soon will receive sufficient funding to 
enable interest payments to be paid for the next two years, 
and hopes that we therefore will quickly be able to offer a 
rescheduling agreement. 
DOUHGERTY