EUSEC REPORT ON REFORM OF MILITARY PAYMENT SYSTEM

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 002067

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO ASEC CG
SUBJECT: EUSEC REPORT ON REFORM OF MILITARY PAYMENT SYSTEM
ACCEPTED


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


1. (C) European Union military experts produced an extensive
report in July 2005 outlining structural changes in the
military payment system (among other changes) which would
help to address the pervasive failure of the GDRC regularly
to pay its troops. This report was presented officially to
the GDRC in August, and essentially disappeared into a
bureaucratic limbo, lingering on the agenda of the Supreme
Defense Council for four months. The Council did finally
approve the report, with some amendments, December 9.


2. (C) National Security Advisor Samba Kaputo and Defense
Minister Adolphe Onusumba outlined (separately) for PolCouns
the suggested changes, which were accepted by General Joana,
head of the EU military mission. Essentially, rather than
have both the payment and audit functions installed in the
Ministry of Defense, the Congolese proposed placing the
payment mechanism in the Ministry but having the audit
function rest with the Chief of Staff of the Army. (Comment:
This division of responsibility reflects the political
realities of the transitional government, since by separating
the functions the RCD -- to which Defense Minister Onusumba
belongs -- will oversee payment, but the PPRD -- to which
Army Chief of Staff General Kisempia belongs -- will still
retain a role in the form of the audit function. End
Comment.)


3. (C) The approval opens the door for the EU to begin
implementing the structure, which will involve placing
international officers in field divisions (brigade and
battalion level) to receive salary payments sent from
Kinshasa under the supervision of international staff in the
Ministry of Defense. General Joana hopes to have the system
operational before national elections (i.e., March/April).


4. (C) Comment: The GDRC's failure to ensure regular
payment of military salaries, at least to the six integrated
brigades, has been a neuralgic issue feeding insecurity on
the ground and prompting CIAT (the International Committee to
Accompany the Transition) to issue a stiff public rebuke to
the GDRC on November 25. EUSEC's willingness to tackle the
problem was heralded in the summer and, even coming late as
it does, can still make an important difference in
pre-electoral stability, particularly in the eastern Congo.
However, more extensive training for the Congolese military
will be needed to develop a professional quartermaster corps
capable of ensuring timely salary payments as well as
provision of supplies. During his recent visit to the U.S,
Minister Onusumba repeatedly emphasized the GDRC's hope that
the U.S. military will play an important role in that project.
MEECE