CONGO AND RWANDA RE-COMMIT TO PRETORIA AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001149 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2014 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM NI SUBJECT: CONGO AND RWANDA RE-COMMIT TO PRETORIA AGREEMENT REF: 25 JUNE 2004 - MOPPERT/EPSTEIN E-MAIL Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY A/POLCOUN RUSSELL J. HANKS. REASONS 1.5 ( B & D). ¶1. (U) Presidents Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda held a four-hour closed-door meeting in Abuja on June 25. The meeting, initiated and chaired by President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, took place at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport. According to the media spokesperson for the Nigerian Government, the meeting was in "continuation of efforts to achieve lasting peace and political stability in all parts of Africa." ¶2. (U) Although details remain sketchy, sources outside the meeting said both Presidents Kabila and Kagame have agreed to re-dedicate themselves to the Pretoria Agreement, signed by both leaders two years ago. The sources further explained that Obasanjo personally appealed to the leaders to cease hostilities between the two neighbors and focus their attention on specific areas of the agreement that spell out modalities for "disarmament, demobilization, repatriation and rehabilitation of ex-combatants." ¶3. (U) Nigerian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Olu Adeniji, who addressed the press along with former military President Abdulsalami Abubakar, stated that "after discussions in an atmosphere of cordiality and a review of all the issues, President Kagame and President Kabila recommitted themselves to the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement." Adeniji extended Obasanjo's gratitude to the two leaders for accepting his invitation "at short notice." ¶4. (C/NF) COMMENT: Just prior to the meeting, DATT received indications that President Obasanjo would offer Nigerian personnel to assist in the DDR process. We have not been able to confirm exactly what form this assistance would take. END COMMENT. CAMPBELL