VZCZCXRO9101
OO RUEHGI RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0306/01 0911355
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311355Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7742
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 0012
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000306 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON PHUM CG
SUBJECT: KAMERHE, KENGO STRESS STATE AUTHORITY AND REFORM AT OPENING 
OF PARLIAMENT 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  National security, judicial reform, and the lack of 
fundamental services such as water and electricity were key themes 
presented at Parliament's March 15 opening ceremonies by the leaders 
of its two houses.  National Assembly President Kamerhe cited recent 
violence in Bas-Congo as an unacceptable challenge to state 
authority.  Senate President Kengo focused on social issues and 
economic and educational opportunity.  Both made appeals to 
legislators and Congolese society to set aside differences in order 
to move forward with reform.  End summary. 
 
¶2. National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe and Senate President 
Leon Kengo Wa Dondo framed the legislative agenda for the Congolese 
Parliament's Spring 2008 session in their addresses to fellow 
legislators, government officials and foreign diplomats March 15. 
Kamerhe interwove continuing legislative priorities with current 
events, including the Goma peace conference and violence in 
Bas-Congo.  Kengo spoke in more general terms, addressing themes of 
security, social services, economy, health and education. 
 
Kamerhe 
------- 
 
¶3. Kamerhe reviewed the Fall 2007 regular and December 2007-January 
2008 special sessions, highlighting legislation adopted and the 
activities of special Assembly commissions.  He summarized the 
present session's agenda, which includes establishing judicial 
oversight bodies and restructuring the court system, creating 
sub-provincial jurisdictions to decentralize state authority, and 
standing up the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) as 
the successor to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). 
 
¶4. Kamerhe committed the second half of his address to events of the 
January-March 2008 intersessional period.  He reviewed at length the 
Goma peace conference and resulting Acte d'Engagement, violence in 
Bas-Congo province, earthquakes in North and South Kivu, and threats 
to a government minister in Lubumbashi by supporters of a political 
rival. 
 
¶5. Kamerhe used the events to emphasize resolving conflicts through 
negotiation, rather than violence, and the fundamental importance of 
state authority.  He cited violence in Bas-Congo, where police 
forces and militants of the politico-religious movement Bundu dia 
Kongo (BDK) clashed repeatedly since late February, and an incident 
in Lubumbashi where Land Affairs Minister Edouard Kabu Kapwa was 
effectively made a prisoner in his own hotel by supporters of a 
political rival, as threats to state authority.  His warning to 
National Assembly Deputy and BDK leader Ne Muanda Nsemi to cease 
inciting his followers to violence drew strong reactions of support 
from the assembled deputies. 
 
¶6. Kamerhe called on the government to provide all possible 
assistance to communities affected by the February 3 earthquake in 
North and South Kivu and subsequent aftershocks.  He praised the 
appointment of Abbe Apollinaire Malumalu as national coordinator for 
the "Amani" peace, security, stabilization, and development program 
for the Kivu provinces.  He evoked the success of President Kabila 
in leading the DRC out of violence through diplomacy as a model for 
the program. 
 
¶7. Kamerhe encouraged the Assembly to work together to find 
solutions to the question of revenue sharing between the provincial 
and national governments, and noted the importance of customs 
reforms initiated by the government to increasing revenues.  He 
praised adoption of the $3 billion 2008 DRC budget, while 
acknowledging that at current levels it remains insufficient to 
address the persistent national problem of poverty. 
 
Kengo 
----- 
 
¶8. Senate president Leon Kengo Wa Dondo's speech focused in more 
general terms on national security, the economy, government reform, 
education and health.  His sharpest commentary came on security 
issues.  He criticized the government's inability to secure the 
eastern DRC from armed groups and from incursions by Mborboro 
tribesman into Orientale.  He acknowledged the potential of the Goma 
Acte d'Engagement and lauded the role of the international community 
in facilitating the agreement. 
 
¶9. Kengo dedicated a third of his speech to social concerns, such as 
the provision of water, electricity, health care and education.  He 
pointed out that the Congolese people lacked sufficient electricity 
and potable water despite the DRC's abundant natural resources, 
including hydroelectric potential.  He highlighted the flight of 
intellectual capital and called for reform of the educational 
system.  Kengo addressed the problem of violence against women, 
 
KINSHASA 00000306  002 OF 002 
 
 
emphasizing that all women in Congo -- not only those in the eastern 
conflict areas -- should have access to adequate health care, 
especially victims of sexual violence. 
 
¶10. Kengo briefly listed draft laws before the Senate.  He noted 
that the pace of judicial reform will be determined by legislation 
establishing the High Council of Magistrates and the new court 
system.  He called for an approach of "open arms" rather than 
"closed fists" to overcome legislative challenges, and made a broad 
call for unity of effort despite provincial differences in order to 
stimulate government action on reform. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶11. The challenges before the National Assembly and Senate will 
require the high level of cooperation called for by Kamerhe and 
Kengo.  Critical legislation such as decentralization and judicial 
reform will be even more difficult to achieve as unscheduled 
proceedings, such as the March 27-29 questioning of Interior 
Minister Denis Kalume and BDK leader Ne Muanda Nsemi on the events 
in Bas-Congo, are added to the agenda.  End comment. 
 
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