AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT KABILA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 008650 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2010 TAGS: CG PGOV PREL SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT KABILA CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING FOR REASONS 1.5 (C) (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Ambassador Swing met with President Kabila for an hour at latter's Marble Palace Office on December 29. In response to concerns expressed about the renewed fighting in Katanga and Equateur Provinces, Kabila defended his actions as defensive moves in retaliation for Rwandan offensives in Katanga and Bemba's MLC in Equateur. A senior DRC delegation is presently holding meetings with President Chiluba in Lusaka regarding Kabila's allegation that Zambia may be allowing Rwanda to use its territory to attack Lubumbashi. Kabila said that he looks forward to meeting with Congressman Frank Wolf on January 8. Ambassador urged Kabila to appoint a new UN permanent representative without further delay. Septel reports on Kabila's discussions with Burundian President Buyoya. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Good News.....bad news at year's end Ambassador Swing and President Kabila met alone for an hour at latter's Marble Palace office and home in the Binza section of town. Although showing signs of fatigue, Kabila was relaxed and in a good mood. (His unofficial number two and relative, Interior Minister of State Gaetan Kakudji, waited outside the house during the meeting.) The Ambassador hailed the passage of UNSCR 1332 and the signature of disengagement sub-plans, but expressed concern at the renewed fighting in Katanga and Equateur and the difficult situation this was creating both inside the DRC and in neighboring Zambia. ¶3. (C) "End of the war perceptible if......" The Ambassador asked whether, notwithstanding these latest conflicts, it is conceivable that the end of the Congo war might be approaching with the prolongation of MONUC's mandate and the signature of the disengagement sub-plans. Kabila replied affirmatively, saying that the end of the war is "perceptible" provided the disengagement sub-plans are effectively implemented and MONUC deploys. "Unfortunately", Kabila said, Rwanda has chosen to "re-start" the fighting which he found "surprising". Also, JP Bemba and his MLC had decided to take the war further south and to capture Befale. These moves had forced him, Kabila, to re-position and activate FAC "aviation". He had also had to reinforce Boende, including moving heavy equipment there. "Bemba must leave Befale", he said. ¶4. (C) Talks with Chiluba about Rwanda The Ambassador also expressed concerns about the serious situation which the Katanga fighting is creating inside northern Zambia (Kinshasa 8622). Kabila turned the issue around to allege Zambian collaboration with Rwanda and the RPA. He claimed that President Chiluba had authorized Rwanda to let an RPA brigade transit Zambia to attack Lubumbashi via Kipushi. The source of his information, Kabila said, is senior Zambian military leadership, some of whom have ethnic, familial and linguistic links in Katanga. As a result of his concern, Kabila said, he had taken two measures. He had phoned Chiluba personally to express his "discontent" and to demand that Chiluba cease any further collaboration with Rwanda and the RPA. Second, he had sent General Joseph Kabila and Katanga Governor Augustin Katumba Mwanke to Lusaka this week to follow up with President Chiluba. During the three days they had been in Lusaka, they had already seen Chiluba twice, he said. He had instructed Joseph Kabila to stay longer if necessary to "coordinate" on the issue with the Zambians. (Kabila claimed that because Chibula's "security chief" has close ties with Rwanda, he often gets Chiluba into difficulty, such as in this case.) ¶5. (C) CODEL Wolf The Ambassador informed Kabila that Congressman Frank Wolf would be visiting the Congo (DRC) January 7-10 and urged Kabila to meet with him and his delegation, noting that they would also be traveling to Goma and Bukavu. Kabila said that he expected at present to be in Kinshasa on January 8 and would be pleased to see the Congressman that morning. ¶6. (C) A New Congolese Ambassador to UN Urgently Needed Kabila agreed with the Ambassador both that Andre Kapanga has represented Kabila and the DRC well as Ambassador to the UN, and that it would not be in the Congo's interest to leave this key post vacant very long. Kabila said that, precisely because it is critical to find someone of Kapanga's quality, it had taken longer than desired to name a replacement. He hoped, however, to be able to announce the name of the new Ambassador soon. ¶7. (C) COMMENT and other subjects septel. SWING