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