VZCZCXYZ0001
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DE RUEHAB #0013 0131907
ZNY CCCCC ZZH (540)
R 111848Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0012
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0001

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000013 
 
SIPDIS 
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/11 
TAGS: PGOV KPKO KDEM IV PREL
SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION'S CREDIBLITY IN TATTERS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Wanda Nesbitt, Ambassador, State, Embassy Abidjan; 
REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1. (C)  Summary:  The credibility of the Independent Electoral 
Commission has been severely damaged by the admission of its 
president, Robert Mambe, that he authorized an internal 
crosschecking of data on potential voters and distributed it to 
some, but not all, of the key political parties.  President Gbagbo 
is furious over this revelation; the FPI has called on Mambe to 
resign and is organizing a large public demonstration to denounce 
the CEI.  PM Soro and presidential advisor Alcide Djedje traveled 
to Ouagadougou over the weekend to consult Compaore and identify a 
way forward.  This scandal will undoubtedly delay publication of 
the electoral list, and affect the eventual election date. End 
Summary 
 
 
 
¶2. (C)  In a January 9 conversation, SRSG Choi expressed deep 
concern about the electoral process in Cote d'Ivoire. Choi then 
recounted the key points from a meeting chaired by Prime Minister 
Soro on January 7: CEI President Mambe admitted that he and another 
CEI member conducted an independent, cross-checking 
operation,because they concerned that only a small percentage 
(@30%) of individuals on the "unverified" list had come forward 
with additional proof of citizenship. Mambe acknowledged allowing 
the RDR representative to the CEI (the RDR is one of the main 
opposition parties) to conduct namechecks using a set of parameters 
that neither the INS, Sagem, or the CEI's full commission had 
approved.  As a result of these checks, 450,000 people were 
reportedly verified as being Ivorian, and a CD containing their 
names was distributed, with Mambe's approval, to the regional CEI 
committees. As most of the regional CEI committees are dominated by 
the RDR and PDCI political parties, the clear implication is that 
the electoral commission's action was meant to benefit the 
opposition, and has disadvantaged president Gbagbo and the FPI. 
 
 
 
 
 
¶3.  (C) Efforts to contain the damage and prevent this development 
from derailing the entire electoral process are underway.  PM Soro 
has already ordered the recall of all distributed CDs and 
instructed CEI members to cease any actions based on names that 
were on the CD.  He and presidential advisor Alcide Djedje traveled 
to Ouagadougou this past weekend to consult Facilitator Blaise 
Compaore. A close aide to the Prime Minister told Ambassador on 
January 11 that Soro is seeking a larger role in overseeing the 
work of the CEI, and also wants a commission established to review 
cases handled during contestation period.  The commission's key 
responsibility would be to reassure the FPI that only confirmed 
Ivorians are on the final list. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) The story quickly made headlines, dominating the news on 
January 11. The FPI has called on Mambe to resign and youth leader 
Charles Ble Goude plans a rally this week to condemn both Mambe and 
the CEI. RDR leader Alassane Ouattara has called Mambe a decent and 
respectable man; the PDCI has sought to portray the government's 
story as incomplete and is promising that the CEI president will 
soon explain events himself. 
 
 
 
¶5. (C)Comment: The CEI president's actions have seriously 
undermined the credibility of the electoral commission; it may be 
impossible for Mambe to regain respect. Further, he has given the 
presidential camp - which has resented the CEI since its inception 
- ample ammunition for arguing that the electoral commission should 
either be disbanded or reconstituted.  PM Soro's plan would 
safeguard progress made to date in the identification/registration 
process but there is no guarantee that he will prevail.  Post will 
keep Departament apprised of developments. 
NESBITT