US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1043

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001043 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPKO, KDEM, CG 
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC BISHOPS SEND MIXED MESSAGE ON TRANSITION 
EXTENSION 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1. (U) The Catholic Bishops' Conference (CENCO) issued a 
statement June 22 in which it criticized "the automatic 
extension" of the transition, as well as calls to bring the 
transition down June 30th by "violence and chaos." The 
Bishops want the government to explain why elections were not 
organized by June 30th, and criticized the "lack of political 
will" by transition actors. They warned, however, that 
stopping the transition will only delay the organization of 
elections. 
 
2. (U) The bishops' statement refers to the "psychosis of 
June 30th" and affirms makes note of social malaise, 
corruption, insecurity, and lack of trust in the government. 
It recommends a dialogue between "significant socio-political 
forces," army and police integration, national 
reconciliation, and continued support by the international 
community. 
 
3. (SBU) The bishops indicated that the Church will intensify 
its campaign of civic and electoral education and launch a 
national program of non-violence and reconciliation, calling 
for calm, dialogue, and peace. 
 
4. (C) Comment: There is something in the long statement for 
everyone to like and to hate.  There is a great deal of 
criticism of the government and the transition, and the 
criticism is generally fully justified.  The timing, however, 
is problematic.  At the same time the bishops are calling for 
peace, they are also sending out a condemnatory message that 
opposition spoilers have already begun to exploit. End 
comment. 
MEECE