P 141755Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5274
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS LUANDA 000037 
 
 
USAID FOR AFR AND DCHA/DG/EPP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM EAID KDEM AO
 
SUBJECT: Advancing Political Competition and Consensus Building in 
Angola 
 
REF: 08 LUANDA 0977 
 
¶1. Summary.  With its first parliamentary election in 16 years 
completed and its presidential and municipal elections still to 
come, post-civil war Angola is in the midst of a transition toward 
participatory democracy.  USG assistance has played an important 
supporting role in the process thus far, and we must continue do so. 
 A key unknown is whether the presidential elections, scheduled for 
this year, will be direct (popular vote) or indirect (vote by the 
National Assembly).  Our FY 2009 democracy assistance proposals 
accordingly focus on key factors independent of the form of 
presidential elections: elections infrastructure, the newly elected 
parliament, civil society, and independent media.  Our total FY 2009 
funding needs in the "Political Competition and Consensus-Building" 
program area are USD 3.1 million.  The FY 2009 USAID Congressional 
Budget Justification for Angola in this area is USD 2.6 million; 
post seeks Department assistance in identifying a source for an 
additional USD 500,000.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. Angola is at a democratic crossroads.  With decades of civil war 
ended, the country held its first parliamentary elections in 
September 2008, 16 years after the last elections.  Although the 
elections were marred by logistical and other problems, particularly 
in Luanda, voter turnout was high (87%).  The results strongly 
favored the ruling MPLA - which won 82 percent of the vote - due to 
a campaign environment that favored the Government and a weak and 
disorganized opposition.  Nevertheless, the elections were peaceful 
and credible, and the opposition accepted the results. 
 
¶3. The country is now in the process of determining the nature and 
timing of presidential elections.  A commission of parliament will 
begin work on drafting a new constitution starting on January 15. 
Expectations are that elections will take place in 2009 following 
this exercise.  Meanwhile, the Government has embarked on a 
decentralization exercise, which is expected to lead to Angola's 
first ever municipal elections in 2010. 
 
¶4. The USG has been a significant player in the democratization 
process thus far.  In the lead-up to the 2008 elections, we provided 
assistance to the National Electoral Commission (CNE) through IFES, 
the only outside organization invited by the Angolan Government to 
assist.  IFES focused on logistics in the provinces, where voting 
went smoothly.  We also worked with political parties and NGOs in 
support of domestic observation and civic education efforts.  All 
together, we trained some 59,000 individuals in preparation for the 
elections. 
 
¶5. Regardless of the type of elections that are held, USG support 
will be critical.  Although we will continue to support the CNE, a 
key pillar in the country's democratic infrastructure, we will also 
reinforce elements that serve as a counterbalance to the powerful 
executive and enhance pluralism.  Parliament will be a new partner. 
The newly elected parliament, although dominated by the ruling 
party, seeks to play its rightful role as a check and balance to the 
presidency.  Parliament is also the only government institution 
where the opposition retains an official position.  Also, we will 
support civil society, whose role has become more important 
following the electoral setback of the opposition.  Finally, we will 
find ways to level the political playing field through support to 
the independent media. 
 
¶6. Our specific proposals include: 
 
National Election Commission 
---------------------------- 
 
In the 2008 legislative elections, the CNE, with USAID support, 
focused on the logistical challenges of organizing polling stations 
in the interior, where the elections ran relatively well. 
Insufficient attention was given to the requirements of the urban 
sprawl that is Luanda; this resulted in delays in opening polling 
stations and other anomalies that tarnished the image of an 
otherwise generally well-run election.  Assistance in 2009 aims to 
reinforce the CNE's systems and procedures, address its 
organizational structure and regulatory framework, and strengthen 
its technical expertise to overcome the logistical weaknesses of the 
2008 elections.  If presidential elections are direct and take place 
this year, the CNE will be stretched to the limit, and our 
assistance would be essential to a democratic outcome.  Absent such 
direct elections, the CNE will be preparing for municipal elections 
next year, elections that will be unprecedented in Angola and for 
which careful preparation is essential.  Estimated Cost: $1 
million. 
 
Support to Parliament 
--------------------- 
 
Most members of the recently-installed National Assembly are new to 
parliament and have limited understanding of their responsibilities. 
 Nevertheless, the new parliament has organized standing committees, 
which have already begun hearing hours of testimony from sitting 
ministers, who are subjected to pointed questions from committee 
members.  US support in this area would enable new parliamentarians 
to research legislative issues and reach out to constituents and 
civil society organizations.  In addition to technical assistance, 
support would strengthen parliamentary committees' research capacity 
by providing reference documentation for the parliamentary library. 
Estimated Cost: $800,000. 
 
Support to Civil Society 
------------------------ 
 
Civil society is still nascent in Angola.  Continued support is 
required to help civil society constructively engage the new 
parliament, government in general, and other relevant stakeholders. 
Civil society must enhance its advocacy skills on such key issues as 
constitutional reform, electoral reform -- which includes municipal 
elections -- and reform of the media and NGO laws.  Funds would also 
support the National Platform, the umbrella organization of Angolan 
electoral networks, in continuing to promote democratic 
participation by civil society and the Angolan people in the 
electoral process.  Estimated Cost: $900,000. 
 
 
Support for a Free and Independent Press 
---------------------------------------- 
 
The effective oversight of democratic institutions in Angola's 
consolidating democracy depends on a free and vibrant press. 
Angolan media, however, are almost entirely controlled and financed 
by the government, the ruling party and powerful private interests. 
The few independent news sources that exist in Luanda regularly lose 
talent to better-funded private companies or government media. 
Their financial limitations also translate into inadequate equipment 
and infrastructure.  Angola's media law makes it nearly impossible 
for the country's approximately 10-12 million inhabitants living 
outside Angola's capital to access independent news.  US support 
would enable independent media to expand its coverage of election 
issues, policy, and political platforms outside the capital and 
finance a study and symposium to explore how independent information 
can reach the provinces within the framework of the existing Angolan 
media law.  Estimated Cost: $400,000. 
 
¶7. These proposals - intended to help shape the electoral 
environment, level the playing field, and reinforce participatory 
democracy in a key regional power - will require additional 
resources.  The USAID Congressional Budget Justification for FY 2009 
includes a request for $2.6 million in the "Political Competition 
and Consensus-Building" program area.  The above request totals $3.1 
million.  Post seeks Department assistance in locating additional 
sources of funding for our FY 2009 democratization program. 
 
MOZENA