US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1765

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001765 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPKO, CG 
SUBJECT: DRC VOTER REGISTRATION NEARS 17.5 MILLION 
 
 
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (U) The Independent Election Commission (CEI) released 
October 18 its latest figures on voter registration in DRC, 
reporting that nearly 17.5 million people have enrolled for 
the Constitutional referendum currently scheduled for 
December 18. Almost one million people have registered in the 
past week. The numbers for each province are as follows: 
Kinshasa (2,963,101); Bas-Congo (1,232,416); Orientale 
(3,153,549); Katanaga (2,947,089); Kasai Occidental 
(1,684,277); Kasai Oriental (1,571,453); North Kivu 
(1,695,214); South Kivu (1,190,669); Maniema (431,229); 
Equateur (333,419); and Bandundu (292,462). 
 
2. (SBU) CEI President Abbe Apollinaire Malu-Malu indicated 
on October 18 that enrollment centers in Equateur and 
Bandundu would remain open until the end of November, as 
logistical difficulties persist in opening centers throughout 
the two provinces. Enrollment centers in the two provinces 
began operating September 25, and had been scheduled to close 
by November 13. As of October 17, according to CEI figures, 
over 1,300 centers remain to be opened. 
 
3. (C) Ambassador toured registration centers in Bandundu and 
Equateur October 15-16 with the International Committee to 
Accompany the Transition (CIAT). Ambassador noted, along with 
many others in the CIAT mission, that registration in urban 
areas appeared to be running well, but deployment of 
enrollment kits in rural locations remained problematic. Of 
particular concern was the weak leadership of CEI staff, who 
were unable to answer specific questions regarding plans and 
timetables for opening the remaining centers. 
 
4. (SBU) Minister of Interior Theophile Mbemba, UN Special 
Representative of the Secretary General William Swing and 
Malu-Malu travel to Bandundu October 21 for a one-day trip to 
visit enrollment centers. Mbemba will return to Bandundu on 
October 23 for a week-long inspection of operations in the 
province, under instructions from President Joseph Kabila. 
Mbemba is also expected to spend the following week in 
Equateur doing the same. 
MEECE