Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KINSHASA1284
2004-07-12 15:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

NEW ITURI DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TRAVELS TO BUNIA

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PINR PINS PREL CG 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001284 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PINS PREL CG
SUBJECT: NEW ITURI DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TRAVELS TO BUNIA
WITH OPTIMISTIC VISION


Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.5 B and D

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001284

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PINS PREL CG
SUBJECT: NEW ITURI DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TRAVELS TO BUNIA
WITH OPTIMISTIC VISION


Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.5 B and D


1. (C) Summary. New Ituri District Commissioner Petronille
Vaweka traveled to Bunia on July 12 with a goal of improving
security, resolving the IDP situation and rebuilding Ituri.
Although she is a competent and determined individual, her
effectiveness will be contingent on receiving support from
the national and provincial governments. End Summary.

Petronille Vaweka's Vision for Ituri
--------------


2. (C) As part of its push to reintegrate the East, Kinshasa
announced on June 28th the appointment of Petronille Vaweka
as new district commissioner for Ituri. Her appointment
effectively brings to an end the tenure of the Ituri Interim
Administration (IIA) and restores normal district governance.
Vaweka met with poloff on July 9th to discuss her vision for
the region. She said that her top three priorities were
improving security, the return of internally displaced people
(IDPs) and reconstruction of Ituri. Vaweka noted that these
issues were intertwined and that improving security was
essential to the return of IDPs to their areas of origin and
would also make it possible to rebuild the infrastructure and
the economy of Ituri, which in turn, would also foster
greater security.


3. (C) Vaweka acknowledged that she would have to work
closely with MONUC in the area of security since the
Congolese police in Ituri lack arms and all other basic
equipment to function as a law and order entity. However, she
said that she would also use her excellent relations with all
relevant actors in Ituri to negotiate and encourage people to
contribute to her vision for security and development of the
area. She wants real DDR of militias and increased job
opportunities for community re-insertion, especially in
activities that would help improve the socio-economic
situation such as repairing roads and rebuilding schools.


4. (C) Vaweka welcomes the Union of Congolese
Patriots-Lubanga's (UPC-L) recent decision to become a
political party. She said that now that UPC-L had officially
been recognized by the GDRC as a political party, she would
work to sensitize its members in Ituri to the importance of
giving up violence and using political channels to
participate in the democratic process. She noted that she
would also try to persuade other militias in Ituri to evolve
into political parties and to disarm and re-integrate into
their communities.

Serious Challenges Remain
--------------


5. (C) The main challenge facing Vaweka as new District
Commissioner is the lack of means to function as an effective
administrator. She said that she is assuming her new post in
Bunia on Monday, July 12, without any funds. The GDRC
promised to send her one million Congolese francs (less than
$3,000) by the end of July, to fund her administration. There
was also no indication of when she would receive a salary.
Vaweka was planning on using the offices, computers,
furniture and vehicles left by the Ituri Interim
Administration for the new district administration.


6. (C) Vaweka explained that she had emphasized to President
Kabila the importance of supporting the new administration in
Ituri and showing that the GDRC was serious about
incorporating the district back into Province Orientale and
the DRC. She also said that she was ready to work with new
Oriental Province Governor Theo Baruti, but wanted to avoid
past practices in which Ituri supplied most of the revenues
received by Kisangani and then sent to Kinshasa, but received
virtually nothing in exchange. She wants an equitable
distribution of revenues that would permit the effective
administration and economic development of Ituri.


Comment
--------------


7. (C) Petronille Vaweka's appointment to lead the new Ituri
administration is an encouraging sign. She is a competent and
respected leader who has excellent relations with all
relevant players in Ituri, including MONUC, Kinshasa, local
militias and community leaders. She has also maintained an
optimistic and positive attitude even when faced by serious
obstacles. However, without appropriate resources to pay
staff and fund administrative activities, Vaweka's
effectiveness could be severely limited.
SWAN