Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KINSHASA1585
2005-09-27 08:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

LRA UPDATE: PRESIDENCY OFFICIAL SAYS OKIDI NOT

Tags:  PREL MARR PGOV KPKO CG UG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001585 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV KPKO CG UG
SUBJECT: LRA UPDATE: PRESIDENCY OFFICIAL SAYS OKIDI NOT
WANTED

REF: A. (A) KINSHASA 1579 AND PREVIOUS

B. (B) KAMPALA 2067

C. (C) STATE 177083

Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001585

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV KPKO CG UG
SUBJECT: LRA UPDATE: PRESIDENCY OFFICIAL SAYS OKIDI NOT
WANTED

REF: A. (A) KINSHASA 1579 AND PREVIOUS

B. (B) KAMPALA 2067

C. (C) STATE 177083

Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (C) Prompted apparently by a September 26 conversation
between SRSG Swing and President Kabila, Kabila's Private
Secretary, Kikaya bin Karubi, called PolCouns September 26 to

SIPDIS
say that Kabila was very upset at implications that elements
of the GDRC or the Presidency might have been in touch with
free lance "negotiator" Jongomoi Okidi-Olal on the LRA issue
-- or, apparently, anything else. According to Kikaya, a
"very angry" Kabila demanded of his closest advisors whether
they had indeed had any such contact. Kikaya reminded
PolCouns that Okidi has been a sort of informal "persona non
grata," especially with the Presidency, for over two years,
since the bogus uranium deal. When PolCouns asked what
uranium deal, Kikaya responded that Okidi had been in
Kinshasa shortly after the transition began in 2003, at which
time he told Presidency officials (notably Kikaya) that he,
Okidi, was representing a private U.S. firm interested in
purchasing the Shinkolobwe mine (the source of the uranium
used by the U.S. in World War II). He also told Congolese
officials at that time that he was an "informal envoy" of the
USG, which was deeply concerned about the potential for
terrorist use of the uranium, and that consequently the USG
was prepared to offer the DRC a $30 million loan to help
secure the Shinkolobwe site.


2. (C) According to Kikaya, the Congolese expressed interest
in the idea and asked Okidi to develop an offer. After
several months, Okidi contacted Kikaya again and said that he
and a group of investors would come to the Congo but he
wanted the GDRC to pay for the trip, put them up in the Grand
Hotel and then fly them to Katanga province (where the
Shinkolobwe mine is located) in the President's plane.
Kikaya claims that at this point the GDRC got wise to what
seemed to be some sort of scam and backed out of the deal.
Furthermore, Kikaya said, Kabila instructed his advisors at
that time to avoid any future contact with Okidi. Kikaya
repeatedly insisted that "no one" in the Presidency has been
in touch with Okidi about anything, least of all about the
LRA.


3. (C) We think that Kikaya doth protest too much. However,
if Kikaya had indeed been in any sort of contact with Okidi,
we believe that it was Kikaya freelancing. Whatever contact
may have been, however, it appears to have been firmly
stopped by no less than President Kabila himself.
MEECE