TRANSITION ASSESSMENT: AN AMBITIOUS BLUEPRINT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001143

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPKO CG
SUBJECT: TRANSITION ASSESSMENT: AN AMBITIOUS BLUEPRINT FOR
THE COMING YEAR

REF: A. KINSHASA 964

B. KINSHASA 01066

C. KINSHASA 01077

Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.4 B and D


1. (U) SUMMARY: The final report from the government's
transition assessment seminar highlighted challenges faced
during the past two years and outlined recommendations for
the third - and last - year of the transition. Although some
recommendations were constructive, the vague and overly-broad
report lacked guidance as to how the government could achieve
them. END SUMMARY.

A Look Back
--------------

2. (SBU) The final report from the transition government's
assessment seminar summed up challenges encountered over the
past two years, such as budgetary constraints, bad
governance, the slow integration of the army, periodic crises
creating conflict between political actors, and the
impartiality of certain media outlets. Lack of money and
political will seemed to be the primary contributors to the
government's inaction.

Looking Forward
--------------

3. (U) The report, a bulleted laundry list of recommendations
for the government's four standing commissions, outlined
general recommendations for the coming year, including
increasing transparency and fighting corruption. In the
political, defense and security sector, key recommendations
included prioritizing funding for activities focused on the
transition; immediately disarming the FDLR; improving police
and military living conditions; accelerating the DDR process;
improving relationships with neighboring countries to
consolidate peace in Central Africa; building new prisons and
improving conditions in existing ones; increasing national
radio and television coverage; and fighting against sexual
violence.


4. (U) In the economic and financial sector, key
recommendations included compiling monthly budget reports;
conducting audits of all companies; tracking resources given
to the army and police; finalizing the national civil servant
census; forbidding the Central Bank from printing money; and
limiting official travel.


5. (U) In the reconstruction and development sector, key
recommendations included improving access to water and
electricity throughout the country and accelerating the
rehabilitation of the railroad and ports. In the social and
cultural sector, key recommendations included guaranteeing
the payment of salaries and building schools and hospitals.

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

6. (C) The transition assessment report outlined numerous
laudable recommendations, but it is unlikely that the
government will be able to accomplish many during the coming
year. While the assessment was arguably a generally useful
exercise, the suggestions are vague and offer few concrete
action items. The report's impact is further diluted by the
overly-broad range of issues addressed, and the failure to
identify clearly the most critical priority goals. The
international community will need to continue to remain
strongly engaged, primarily through the CIAT, to ensure that
the highest priority transition items (i.e., disarming the
FDLR, paying regular salaries, improving communication...)
are accomplished.
MEECE