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NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR PFLAUMER

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2010
TAGS: PREL MOPS CG SF RW UG ZI
SUBJECT: RWANDA AND UGANDA TO BE INVITED TO THE
WINDHOEK SADC SUMMIT


CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) ON AUGUST 3 MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNDER
SECRETARY FOR AFRICA DAVID HAMADZIRIPI TOLD S/E HOWARD

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WOLPE THAT, IN THE COURSE OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN
SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI AND PRESIDENT MUGABE
THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE IDEA OF INVITING RWANDA AND UGANDA
FOR MEETINGS ON THE MARGINS OF THE SADC SUMMIT IN
WINDHOEK EMERGED. MUGABE REPORTEDLY WAS RECEPTIVE TO
THE INITIATIVE, THE ZIMBABWEAN DIPLOMAT STATED. S/E
WOLPE WELCOMED THE DEVELOPMENT, NOTING THAT IT WOULD BE
A GOOD CONFIDENCE BUILDING STEP.


2. (C) SOUTH AFRICAN DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER VICTOR
MDITSHWA TOLD CHARGE LATER IN THE DAY THAT MBEKI PRESSED
MUGABE TO SPEED UP THE LUSAKA PEACE PROCESS. MDITSHWA
ALSO EMPHASIZED THAT THE CONGO CONFLICT WILL HAVE A
PROMINENT POSITION ON THE SADC SUMMIT AGENDA. IN THIS
CONNECTION, MBEKI TOLD THE ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT THAT HE
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HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH RWANDAN PRESIDENT KAGAME AND UGANDAN
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI ON THE SUBJECT OF THEIR ATTENDANCE IN
WINDHOEK FOR THE SUMMIT. THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEPUTY HIGH
COMMISSIONER DID NOT CONFIRM THAT AN INVITATION HAD BEEN
EXTENDED TO THEM, HOWEVER.


3. (U) S/E WOLPE DID NOT CLEAR THIS MESSAGE PRIOR TO
HIS DEPARTURE.

IRVING

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