LEADERS TO MEET IN LIBREVILLE TO DISCUSS CONGO/K

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 008364 SIPDIS PARIS FOR WILLIAMS-MANIGAULT E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2005 TAGS: PREL PGOV GB CG ZF SUBJECT: LEADERS TO MEET IN LIBREVILLE TO DISCUSS CONGO/K REF: LIBREVILLE 2326 (NOTAL) CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING FOR REASONS 1.5(B)(D) ¶1. (C) Embassy appreciates Libreville's detailed report on preparations for a second meeting at Libreville this weekend which would follow up the October 28 meeting held at Kinshasa. ¶2. (C) While there has been a good deal of local media speculation about a Libreville summit, with widely varying dates given, the Congolese government has said nothing publicly to confirm the date or Kabila's participation. ¶3. (C) Nonetheless, there are some signs that point to the likelihood that Kabila will take part. Presidential Deputy Cabinet Director Jean Mbuyu, who is one of Kabila's principal point persons with rebel and ex-Mobutist leaders, told the Ambassador December 15 that he would be in Libreville next week to assist with preparations for the summit. Also, while making arrangements to see Kabila at the weekend, his private secretary was more guarded than usual with the Ambassador SIPDIS concerning Kabila's availability over the weekend. SWING