CIAT ENDORSES REVISED ROAD MAP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001867

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO CG UNSC
SUBJECT: CIAT ENDORSES REVISED ROAD MAP

REF: KINSHASA 1851

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROGER MEECE. REASON 1.5 (B/D)


1. (C) Summary: In an October 4 meeting, the International
Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT) concurred with
revisions to its version of the DRC transition "road map,"
the fundamental plan for the transition period. Copies are
being sent to President Kabila and other senior GDRC
officials. The road map focuses on four key areas: army
restructuring, integration, and disarmament/demobilization;
foreign armed groups in the DRC; election preparations; and
extension of state authority to all DRC territory. The
revised road map notes steps already accomplished, as well as
outlining GDRC actions required. The CIAT document does not
identify needed international community actions, such as
efforts to harmonize currently uncoordinated initiatives from
various countries regarding military integration. End
summary.


2. (SBU) The International Committee to Accompany the
Transition (CIAT) approved October 4 a revised draft of the
DRC "Road Map" which serves as the base reference document
for the transition period. Copies of the document were being
sent to President Kabila, the four Vice Presidents, and other
GDRC officials prior to a scheduled meeting of the CIAT with
the "Espace Presidentiel" (President plus four Vice
Presidents) on October 6. (Note: Vice President Bemba,
currently in the U.S. will not be present for the October 6
meeting.)


3. (SBU) The road map focuses on the four key areas for
transition progress identified by the international community
following the conclusion of peace accords establishing the
transition. Chapter one looks at "Integration and
restructuring of the army, implementation of the national
plan for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration."
Chapter two focuses on "Definitive resolution of the problem
of armed foreign groups in Congolese territory." Chapter
three deals with "Preparation and organization of elections,"
and Chapter four with "Extension of State authority
throughout all national territory."


4. (SBU) Each of the chapters has an opening bullet list of
actions already accomplished. Chapter one steps, for
example, include among other items the adoption of a national
DDR plan, elaboration of an integration plan, launch of the
High Defense Council (composed of representatives of former
belligerents),formation of the Ituri integrated military
brigade, and an integrated police brigade in Bunia (Ituri).
Chapter two accomplishments list only two bullets to-date,
establishment of a Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) between
the DRC and Uganda, and the voluntary repatriation of 5,000
combatants plus families. Chapter three accomplishments
include the elaboration and adoption of the Independent
Electoral Commission (CEI) law and the launch of CEI
operations, and the elaboration of the electoral registration
law. Chapter four lists, among others, the installation of
provincial governors and vice governors, deployment of the
Ituri Brigade (in process),and the nomination of an Ituri
territorial administration.


5. (SBU) The list of remaining tasks is, not surprisingly,
extensive. In Chapter one, these are divided into separate
lists dealing with the Army, DDR, Police, and "others," the
latter category including intelligence services. Each step
includes a target time frame for implementation and
identification of the GDRC authority with lead
responsibility. For example, one item identifies
"finalization and adoption of a plan of integration and
restructuring of the Army by the Transition Government" by
November 2004, with the High Defense Council listed as the
lead authority. Chapter two includes only two tasks,
specifically "Implementation of the Pretoria Declaration of
November 27, 2003 and completion of the JVM accords between
Rwanda and the DRC" targeted for October - November, 2004;
and "Elaboration by the FARDC (Congolese National Army) of a
strategy for the disarmament of foreign fighters in RCD - for
example assignment of integrated units of the FARDC for the
specific task of supporting DDRRR of foreign fighters"
identifying November - December, 2004 as a target date.
Chapter three tasks are allocated into four categories:
"Common core" (e.g., allocation of funds for the CEI
elaboration of election and Constitution laws, etc.);
"Constitutional Referendum"; "Elections (local and
legislative)"; and "Presidential Election." Finally, Chapter
four includes thorny issues such as the allocation of
territorial, diplomatic, parastatal, and security service
senior positions, implementation of a system to ensure
regular and effective salary payments throughout the country,
and other issues.


6. (C) The list does not identify tasks or actions needed by
the international community. In terms of urgent priorities,
this includes some degree of harmonization of initiatives of
various countries, notably including South Africa and
Belgium, for military integration. The various plans and
actions currently on the table at best are not coordinated,
and are widely perceived to be in at least some respects
competitive. With growing recognition of the problem, there
are efforts underway now to achieve greater coordination, and
indeed the topic is expected to be one of the primary issues
to be discussed in the CIAT- Espace Presidentiel meeting
October 6.


7. (U) A copy of the revised Road Map (in French) is being
sent to AF/C.


8. (C) Comment: The road map is useful in maintaining
pressure on Congolese leaders to realize progress on the key
elements of the transition, as well as serving a secondary
purpose of keeping CIAT members on the same page. The latest
revision reflects only an update of the basic plan and dates,
but does not vary significantly from the earlier base line
plan. There is reason to be hopeful of progress in the near
future on the question of harmonizing the disparate
international initiatives regarding military integration.
Given the reluctance of many Congolese in the transition to
move on this issue, the achievement of a largely common
international community position would be extremely useful to
increase pressure to ensure timely forward movement. End
comment.
MEECE