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Viewing cable 06KINSHASA1220, DRC ELECTIONS: CARTER CENTER "HOPEFUL" ABOUT VOTE

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06KINSHASA1220 2006-08-02 12:05 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Kinshasa
VZCZCXRO8132
PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1220/01 2141205
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021205Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4507
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001220 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: CARTER CENTER "HOPEFUL" ABOUT VOTE 
 
 
1. (U) The Carter Center's election observation mission 
released a preliminary statement August 1 on the DRC's July 
30 elections, noting that polling stations were 
"well-organized" and that election officials "competently 
fulfilled" their duties. In a Kinshasa press conference, the 
Carter Center's co-leader of mission John Stremlau declined 
to judge yet whether the elections had been "free and fair," 
but added that Carter Center observers were "hopeful" by what 
they had seen during voting operations. The Carter Center did 
note certain irregularities, such as last-minute changes to 
procedures, voters' lists and the number of polling stations, 
any of which may have "undermined" the integrity of the 
electoral process. The Carter Center expressed concern as 
well that "in a number of cases those who had access to the 
levers of power misused their authority and access to public 
resources during the campaign." Stremlau said, though, that 
it is too early to determine what impact, if any, these and 
other issues may have had on voting. Overall, the Carter 
Center said the DRC's election must be put in the context of 
a country just emerging from a violent past and transitional 
government, and as such all the "demanding aspects" of 
international elections standards cannot be entirely met. 
 
2. (U) The full text of the Carter Center's statement is as 
follows: 
 
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON THE JULY 30 ELECTIONS IN THE 
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO 
 
This statement reflects the observations of The Carter Center 
on the events of the week leading up to and including the 
elections, and complements our two pre-election statements. 
For the July 30 vote, The Carter Center deployed a 58-member 
international delegation to observe the Democratic Republic 
of Congo's presidential and legislative elections, led by the 
Former Primer Minister of Canada, Joe Clark, and co-leader 
John Stremlau, associate executive director of The Carter 
Center. 
 
The Carter Center conducts its election observation in 
accordance with the Declaration of Principles of 
International Election Observation and Code of Conduct 
adopted at the United Nations in 2005. The Center was invited 
by the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) and welcomed by 
all major political parties. Between April and July, Carter 
Center representatives observed in every province. We 
appreciate the important opportunities we have had for 
effective coordination with other international and domestic 
observers. The Carter Center has observed 63 elections around 
the world, 13 of them in Africa. 
 
SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS 
 
- voting took place on July 30th in a generally peaceful and 
orderly manner 
- overall, polling stations were well organized and polling 
center staff competently fulfilled their duties 
- the impact of last-minute changes to voters' lists and 
polling stations cannot yet be adequately assessed 
- the campaign period was marked by a number of issues of 
concern, in particular abuse of governmental authority 
- close observation of the process will continue 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 
 
These historic elections are part of an extraordinary process 
of transition which brought together warring parties and 
forged consensus on the need for peace and democracy in the 
DRC. For any first elections such as these, we are well aware 
that the most demanding aspects of international elections 
standards cannot be entirely met. The development of 
democratic processes and institutions is a long-term project 
which will require strong ongoing support from the 
international community. As part of the process of moving 
forward in the DRC's transition to a stable democracy, 
however, The Carter Center believes that the issues raised in 
this report, while preliminary, must be addressed. 
 
Building on the work of long-term observers who have been in 
the field since April, Carter Center teams observed the final 
days of the election campaign, the opening and closing of 
polling stations, voting operations, and the vote count. We 
have also begun to observe the compilation of results. 
 
Election procedures were on the whole conducted in a peaceful 
and orderly manner throughout the country. Many polling 
stations experienced delayed openings, but in most cases 
 
KINSHASA 00001220  002 OF 003 
 
 
voting was underway by 7:00 am. Polling stations were 
generally well organized and officials appeared to understand 
the proper discharge of their responsibilities. The Center 
was pleased to see numerous domestic election observers and 
poll watchers from multiple parties in voting centers. 
 
Late changes by the CEI to procedures, voters' lists and the 
number of polling stations, which fortunately seem to have 
caused operational disruptions in only some areas, 
nonetheless undermined the safeguards intended to guarantee 
integrity and transparency. The ultimate impact of such late 
changes remains to be seen. 
 
THE CAMPAIGN 
 
The campaign period in the DRC, although largely peaceful and 
democratic, was characterized by a number of issues of 
concern to the Carter Center. As we have previously noted, 
political parties did not always make the best use of the 
campaign period to inform and educate the electorate on 
matters of concern to them, and there was fairly widespread 
destruction of campaign materials. We have further observed 
that in a number of cases those who had access to the levers 
of power misused their authority and access to public 
resources during the campaign, by: 
 
- misusing security personnel to obstruct legitimate 
democratic activity 
- imposing bureaucratic and practical obstacles on the free 
movement of candidates 
- obstructing candidates' campaign material at ports of entry 
 
Inequitable and politically-biased media coverage was also an 
issue throughout the campaign, which, despite some good 
efforts, the High Media Authority (HAM) was unable to resolve 
satisfactorily, primarily due to its lack of enforcement 
powers. The burning and looting of buildings housing the HAM 
and the National Human Rights Observatory (ONDH), and serious 
violence done to some employees, during a large presidential 
campaign rally in Kinshasa, was a further blow to two already 
under-resourced institutions of the democratic transition. 
 
VOTING PROCEDURES 
 
Center observers reported some procedural irregularities, and 
others have been brought to our attention. On the whole, 
these appear at this point to be minor, but we have urged all 
actors to take their concerns to the appropriate channels and 
The Carter Center itself will continue to observe the process 
closely. The Cumbersome ballot papers for the legislative 
elections in certain constituencies caused some difficulty 
for voters, compounded by comparatively small polling booths. 
Crowded voting conditions, makeshift outdoor facilities and 
the improper placement of polling booths (often to compensate 
poor lighting) did not adequately protect the secrecy of 
voting in some places. 
 
A significant proportion of the Center's observers found that 
voters' lists were not posted as required at polling 
stations. Some stations did not receive all of their election 
materials, notably the lists of omitted voters and lists of 
voters struck from the roll (generated by the CEI in response 
to missing and corrupted registration data and the 
elimination of fraudulently registered voters). These missing 
materials, which were produced very late by the CEI, 
generated suspicions and may be have resulted in some 
legitimate voters being unable to cast their ballots. In 
other polling stations, even where the additional lists were 
available, they were not always properly consulted. Election 
officials also did not always consistently check voters for 
indelible ink or confirm that the photo on the card matched 
the cardholder. On their own, these deficiencies did not seem 
to cause undue operational problems, but when taken together, 
they weakened important safeguards designed to verify the 
identity of voters. 
 
Police were visible, but not intrusive at most polling 
locations. There were serious breaches of security in several 
places, including the destruction of a number of polling 
stations, as well as attempts to prevent voters from entering 
certain voting centers. While significant and deplorable, 
these attacks were clearly the exception, and The Center is 
pleased that the CEI immediately took steps to reopen these 
polling stations by sending new material. 
 
TABULATION 
 
 
KINSHASA 00001220  003 OF 003 
 
 
Initial observations of the tabulation suggest that 
experiences vary widely across the country. In some areas, 
very few results envelopes had arrived in the Local Results 
Tabulation Center (CLCR) as this statement went to press. 
This may be due to the fact that votes were still being 
counted in many polling stations, but it also appears that 
the CEI does not have an adequate collection plan to ensure 
timely delivery of results to all CLCRs. In other cases, 
CLCRs have received results but do not possess the necessary 
resources or organization to process them efficiently. 
Bottlenecks have been reported in the reception of materials, 
and there are cases of continued confusion and tensions 
around the issue of payment to poll center staff. We urge the 
CEI to make the smooth and effective functioning of the CLCRs 
(especially transport of results) a top priority. 
 
This results process will take weeks to complete, and that 
will require patience on the part of all actors, and the 
population in general. Candidates and their supporters must 
be patient during a results process that will take days, and 
possibly weeks, to complete. Given the need for transparency, 
the CEI must ensure that final results are published for each 
polling station so that they may be cross-checked by party 
poll watchers and observers. 
 
Carter Center teams will remain deployed throughout the 
country to observe the ongoing tabulation process. We hope 
that any election disputes can be resolved openly through the 
appropriate legal channels or mediation efforts, so that the 
final results are accepted with confidence by all. 
 
End statement. 
MEECE