U.N. UNDER SECRETARY GUEHENNO VISIT TO THE DRC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001973

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO CG UN
SUBJECT: U.N. UNDER SECRETARY GUEHENNO VISIT TO THE DRC

Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In October 21 remarks to the International
Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT),U.N.
Peacekeeping Under Secretary Guehenno said that his visit to
the DRC was intended to review how MONUC could best utilize
its limited resources. Overall, the U.N.,s obective is to
ensure a credible electoral process, and establish a sound
foundation for the post-electoral period. Guehenno
emphasized that the unity and continued engagement of the
international community is also an essential component to
keep the DRC,s transition on track. The British, French,
Belgian and U.S. Ambassadors discussed with Guehenno in an
earlier meeting the need to move Congolese politicians to
understand the need for some degree of power-sharing in a
successful political system. During his visit, Guehenno
generally seemed to maintain a positive tone, albeit with
occasional references to the UNSC,s failure to embrace fully
the SYG,s recommendations for MONUC expansion. End summary.


2. (SBU) U.N. Under Secretary for Peacekeeping Operation
Jean-Marie Guehenno concluded a five day visit to the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with an October 21
meeting with the 17 member International Committee to
Accompany the Transition (CIAT). In his remarks to the CIAT,
Guehenno observed that the most recent resolution of the U.N.
Security Council, UNSC Res. 1565 authorizing a 5,900 person
expansion of MONUC, did not provide all the resources to do
everything requested of MONUC. His visit was therefore
designed to discuss with UN SRSG Bill Swing, his staff, and
GDRC officials how best to utilize the resources that will be
available.


3. (SBU) Guehenno stated that the U.N.,s overall objective
in the DRC is to ensure a credible electoral process, and
establish a solid foundation for the post-electoral period.
This means that there is a political process that must run in
parallel with election preparations to ensure that successful
elections can be held and the results respected. In
addition, it is important to see progress in the security
environment.


4. (SBU) Guehenno also emphasized that the unity of the
international community be maintained as much as possible.
This has already been demonstrated as an essential component
to keep the DRC transition process on track, and is most
visible in the CIAT. Guehenno noted in this regard that the
September 22 senior-level meeting of CIAT members in New York
had represented a useful symbolic reinforcement of
international community engagement and common intent.
Guehenno elaborated by noting several areas where strong
continued international engagement, and often pressure, is
needed. Among the specific areas Guehenno identified was
security sector reform, including disarmament and
reintegration/repatration programs, much of which is still
lacking resources and political will within parts of the
GDRC. Building a viable police structure is another area.


5. (SBU) The overall election process remains the centerpiece
of the transition, but Guehenno underscored that even
successful elections per se will not solve all problems.
Nonetheless, significant progress in elections planning as
well as in associated areas has been seen. Guehenno observed
that there are strong popular expectations in the DRC about
elections, and major delays run the risk of a explosive
negative reaction.


6. (C) Guehenno observed that CIAT ambassadors have a dual
role, accredited in a traditional role as representatives of
their governments to the President and GDRC government, but
also in this case acting as representatives to the full
&Espace Presidentiel8 (note: President Kabila plus four
Vice Presidents who represent the range of political
components participating in the transition process).
Guehenno also spoke of MONUC,s intent to facilitate
establishment of three CIAT thematic commissions consistent
with the recent DRC discussions in New York. These are to
deal with elections, security sector reform, and needed
legislation, which includes preparation of a proposed new
constitution.


7. (C) Briefly summarizing MONUC's immediate plans regarding
expansion, Guehenno reported that 3 brigades are to be
assigned to the eastern portion of the country (Ituri
district and the two Kivu provinces). A new field
headquarters is to be established in Kisangani for the east,
which will also have a reserve element. New forces are
expected to arrive over the next three months. Regarding the
foreign armed forces, i.e. ex-FAR, Interahamwe and the FLDR,
it will be MONUC,s intent to deploy forces to areas now
considered relatively easy for these groups to disrupt or
"destabilize" their operations, providing a greater
opportunity for success for FARDC operations to &spark8 a
new wave of disarmament and repatriations to Rwanda.


8. (C) During a question and answer period, SRSG Swing
reported that the Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM)
implementation between the DRC and Rwanda had been delayed
because of the high level of tension in South Kivu occasioned
by the unexpected return of large number of Congolese
refugees from Burundi. Among the various protests, a MONUC
APC which had broken down in Bukavu had been attacked by a
mob (note: as reported in Embassy and DATT reporting).
MONUC,s judgment was the risk of an incident with Rwandan
officers in the DRC was too high in the immediate aftermath
of these problems. Nonetheless, he intended for JVM
operations to get underway before the end of the month.
Swing reported that he is scheduled to meet October 22 with
Rwandan JVM representative Amb. Richard Sezibera, currently
in Kinshasa participating in planning for the November Great
Lakes Conference, and with GDRC representative Amb. Antoine
Ghonda to discuss the issue.


9. (C) The French Ambassador hosted an October 20 breakfast
for Guehenno with the British, Belgian, and U.S. Ambassadors,
as well as SRSG Swing. During the breakfast, the four
Ambassadors discussed with Guehenno the importance of moving
the Congolese away from the traditional model characterized
by "one man" politics and "winner controls all" mentality to
some understanding of the need for power sharing in
successful political systems. While this is difficult to do,
and certainly many in the DRC political class are locked in
to the old style of thinking, there is a very broad desire to
get away from the Mobutu-style system, and there are some
glimmers of more enlightened thinking. It will be important
for all engaged players, including MONUC and concerned
members of the international community to assist political
leaders to understand that they have a stake in a successful
transition process, including elections.


10. (C) Comment: At least in his comments to foreign
diplomats, Guehenno did not break much new ground,
reiterating what is already accepted general MONUC policy
consistent with that of the CIAT. He generally maintained a
positive tone, albeit interspersed with occasional references
to the UNSC,s failure to embrace fully the SYG,s
recommendations for a much bigger expansion of the MONUC
operation and mandate. Guehenno,s visit was scheduled only
at the last minute, and he may well have had other agendas as
well internal to MONUC. From our perspective, IO A/S Holmes
is fortuitously scheduled for a five-day visit with arrival
in Kinshasa on October 28, providing us a good opportunity to
follow up regarding current MONUC plans and operations, and
to underscore USG views. End comment.
MEECE