VZCZCXRO8111
PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHKI #0676 1181243
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281243Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3780
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 KINSHASA 000676 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG SF
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: BALLOTS TO BE PRINTED IN SOUTH 
AFRICA; NEW ELECTORAL CALENDAR ANTICIPATED 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) The electoral commissions of the DRC and South 
Africa signed an agreement April 27 which will provide for 
the printing of the DRC's presidential and legislative 
electoral ballots in South Africa. The GRSA will fund the 
paper for the ballots as well as the transportation of the 
finished ballots to 14 distribution sites in the DRC -- a 
contribution of approximately USD 10 million that closes a 
significant electoral funding gap. The tender for the paper 
will be sent out April 28, while it is expected the tender 
for printing will be sent early next week in a expedited 
bidding process. The actual printing phase will take two 
weeks, while distribution to the DRC will take another two to 
three weeks. CEI officials have estimated it will then 
require a further three weeks for MONUC and the CEI to 
deliver ballots to the planned 53,000 voting sites in the DRC. 
 
¶2. (SBU) CEI President Abbe Apollinaire Malu Malu told PolOff 
April 26 that he will hold a press conference April 30 in 
Kinshasa to announce the final list of approved legislative 
candidates, and that he also expected to announce a new 
electoral calendar, based upon the time needed to print and 
deliver ballots. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Comment: Though nothing is yet certain, the 
speculation is that Malu Malu will announce that the first 
round of presidential and legislative elections will take 
place no sooner than the second half of July. End comment. 
DOUGHERTY