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P 020608Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000906 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARY UPDATE:  EXTRAORDINARY SESSION 
POST-MORTEM 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 679 
     ¶B. KINSHASA 343 
 
¶1.  Summary.  The National Assembly and the Senate closed 
their special sessions on July 18.  The Assembly considered 
five of twelve scheduled items:  the 2007 budget, the laws on 
the political opposition and national road patrimony 
protection, and ad hoc commission reports on the Kahemba 
border dispute with Angola, and the invalidation of the 
elections of 18 MPs by the Supreme Court.  The Senate only 
considered and amended legislation arising from the lower 
house in this session.  In addition to the remaining items 
from the current agenda, both chambers will consider a 
significant number of new bills in their next ordinary 
sessions, scheduled to open on September 15.  End summary. 
 
--------------------- 
Significant Decisions 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.  The draft law on the budget was initially passed by the 
National Assembly and then revised by the Senate.  After 
discussions by a joint committee, the USD 2.446 billion 
budget (at an exchange rate of 560 Congolese francs to the 
dollar) was signed by President Kabila on July 7. 
 
¶3.  The Law on the Opposition was drafted and proposed by MLC 
deputy Delly Sesanga (ref A) and revised by both the Assembly 
and the Senate.  The draft recognizes both Parliamentary and 
Extra-Parliamentary Opposition, and guarantees both the right 
to participate in political activities without fear of 
persecution.  After the Senate's consideration, the text 
includes a new title for the leader of the Opposition, who 
will be elected by Opposition members of both the Assembly 
and the Senate and called "Spokesman," and elevates his rank 
from Minister to Minister of State.  The draft law will be 
considered by the joint Assembly/Senate committee to 
reconcile the language in the next regular session, after 
which it will be forwarded to the Supreme Court to certify 
its constitutionality and presented to President Kabila for 
promulgation. 
 
¶4.  The Assembly approved an ad hoc commission report on the 
border dispute with Angola in the Kahemba region of Bandundu 
province (ref B).  The commission, headed by opposition 
deputy Roger Lumbala, approved language which stated that "at 
least 13 Congolese villages of the locality of Kahemba were 
invaded and occupied by Angola."  Since this conclusion 
contradicted the GDRC experts' previous conclusion that 
"Angola did not invade or occupy a single inch of the DRC 
territory," the Assembly recommended that a joint commission 
comprising the DRC, Angola, and the former colonial powers 
(Belgium and Portugal) meet to settle the dispute. 
 
¶5.  The "Matadi Nenga" ad hoc commission, which was set up to 
investigate the invalidation of the election of 18 Assembly 
MPs by the Supreme Court for various irregularities, finally 
determined that the Court's invalidations should be upheld. 
The 18 affected MPs have already been replaced (septel). 
 
¶6.  The National Road Patrimony Protection law seeks to 
inventory existing Congolese roads and set up a fund to 
ensure their maintenance and further development.  The law 
was unanimously approved by the Assembly and now rests with 
the Supreme Court.  If found constitutional, it will also be 
forwarded to President Kabila for promulgation. 
 
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Future Agenda 
------------- 
 
¶7.  Parliamentarians in both chambers now begin a two-month 
break to consult with their  constituencies.  Both chambers 
are scheduled to hold regular sessions from September 15 
through December 15.  In the Assembly, more than 50 draft 
laws -- in addition to those priority bills left over from 
the special session, such as the Law on Decentralization, the 
establishment of the new Electoral Commission, and the High 
Magistrates' Council -- will be on the table.  In addition, 
the next session should consider and adopt a budget for 
calendar year 2008.  The Senate will consider joint 
commissions with the National Assembly as well as internal 
rules for drafting and approving legislation. 
 
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Comment 
 
KINSHASA 00000906  002 OF 002 
 
 
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¶8.  While the process has gotten off to a slow start, both 
the Assembly and the Senate have established their basic 
organization, committee structure, and internal rules and 
procedures, all of which was a significant effort in and of 
itself.  Substantively, the new parliament made a respectable 
effort to address some of the most pressing political and 
developmental issues.  Now, visible results are necessary. 
Many challenges remain, and both institutions need to 
demonstrate that they are capable of delivering real progress 
to the Congolese people.  End comment. 
MEECE