CONGO/B: THE TROUBLED POOL REGION - EVERYONE'S TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000872

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2010
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC CF
SUBJECT: CONGO/B: THE TROUBLED POOL REGION - EVERYONE'S TO
BLAME

REF: A) KINSHASA 0575 B) KINSHASA 0436

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBIN R. SANDERS, REASONS 1.4 B AND D

1.(C) Summary: Since the UN convey to the Pool Region was
stopped and harassed by armed bandits in late April, there
has been a flurry of activity (not all good) on addressing
the security, elections, and development needs of the Region.
Everyone is playing their political game - the Congo/B
Government as well as former Ninja rebel leader Pastor Ntumi
- at the cost of the residents and the much-needed
post-conflict rehabilitation of the Region. Very few NGOs
work in the Pool because of the insecurities and lack of
infrastructure. The Congolese Government (ROC),and Pastor
Ntumi have more "smoke and mirrors" surrounding their actions
on security and advancing development that it is clear that
neither side is concerned with what is in the best interest
of the Region's residents. Security in some areas is
precarious as groups of 8-10 armed bandits (formerly Ninjas
members) harass and intimidate the local population. This
does not bode well for the ROC's February 2005 announcement
that elections would be held in the Pool this year (ref B).
End Summary.


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A Closer Look at the Pool Region:
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2. (C) Based on Ambassador's April 23 visit to the Pool
Region (at the same time as the UN convoy was attacked) and
subsequent discussions May 10-20 with journalists, former
Ninjas, UN contacts, NGOs, clergy, ROC and Pool Region
leaders, it is unclear how many armed men remain under former
rebel leader Pastor Ntumi's control. What is evident,
however, is that many of the young men who were part of
Ntumi's Ninja forces prior to the March 2003 peace accords
have struck out on their own in small groups of 8-10 armed
men, intimidating and harassing the local population. Hence,
the security environment, outside of the major cities like
Kinkala, Mindouli, and Mandamba is not under anyone's control
-- including the ROC Government. This makes the task of
advancing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)
activities more of a challenge.


3. (C) The devastation and destruction of the Pool is
alarming. During Ambassador's April 23 visit it was evident
that no rehabilitation had taken place in the Region.
Schools, farms, homes, roads, and communities remained
destroyed. Outside of the government, the church and a few
NGOs, there is no formal employment. The main route from
Brazzaville to the Pool district capital of Kinkala-Mindouli,
the distance of about of 80 kilometers, takes 5-6 hours to
travel as a result of the deterioration of the road. Many
schools have no roofs, textbooks, sanitation, water or
electricity. Homes and farms are in the same deplorable
conditions, with many abandoned. The few NGOs (none American)
that work in the area focus mostly on health and food issues
given the infrastructure challenges. The only bright spot is
that many residents viewed the April 23 opening of the UNDP
office in Kinkala, despite the UN convoy being stopped by
armed bands en route, as a hopeful sign. However, since the
UN convoy incident, the UN has been cautious about road
travel to Kinkala and Mindouli, although it now has two
international staff members based there full time.

The DDR Program - Remains on Hold:
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4. (C) As a result of the UN convoy incident, the EU/UNDP DDR
program announced in March 2005 has not advanced. In
discussion on May 19-20 with both the EU and UNDP, they noted
that they want the ROC to better underscore its commitment to
addressing Pool Region development and more assurances about
safety and security on the Brazzaville-Kinkala-Mindouli road.
Moreover, there are public diplomacy challenges to DDR
implementation as former Ninjas are reluctant to give up arms
without payment, and are not yet confident that arms will
truly be destroy.


5. (C) The recent twist to the DDR debate, however, is that
former rebel leader Pastor Ntumi announced on RFI on May 18
that he would "execute his own DDR program, and collect arms
from his men." Former Ninjas expressed concern over the
announcement to the Embassy on May 25 as they now believe
Ntumi and his family have been co-opted by the government.
There are reports that Ntumi is receiving government stipends
and vehicles. Thus, none of the former Ninjas, reportedly,
will give their arms to him because they claim he in turn
would just sell them for personal gain.

6. (C) Meanwhile, despite the ROC's fanfare to provide DDR
assistance to 450 ex-soldiers in the Pool under a government
funded program, it has pulled back since the incident with
the UN convoy (ref A). It is claiming that the "atmosphere in
the Pool is no longer conducive for their program." The
government has also encouraged other groups such as the ILO
(which is implementing a small ex-child soldier's program
with Department of Labor funds) not to work in the Pool.
(Note: The Embassy has encouraged the ILO consultant to
review options in this area given that parts of their program
can be implemented in cities such as Kinkala and Mindouli
working with local NGO partners in the Region. End Note).


7. (C) Comment: Whether any of the analysis by the range of
Embassy contacts -- journalists, former Ninjas, UN, NGOs,
government and other political leaders -- is true, it
demonstrates, however, that there is a lot of interest in the
Pool Region, but all for the wrong reasons. Without a real
post-conflict development focus on rehabilitating the Pool,
it is unlikely that the country overall can move from its
fragile post-conflict status to lasting nation-wide security
and development. In addition, the Pool Region was the
agricultural breadbasket of the country prior to the years of
civil war, and if farmers are afraid to return to the fields,
lack of food self-sufficiency for the entire country, along
with the high cost of living, will continue. As for elections
in the Pool, despite the ROC leadership's stated commitment
for elections this year, this too looks unlikely.


8. (U) Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders
MEECE
MEECE