BRAZZAVILLE/CONGO: PASTOR NTUMI JOINS THE PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001617 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C MADEEHA ASHRAF INR/AA FOR JENNIFER PEKKINEN PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS GREG D'ELIA, BOB KANEDA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUMCF ASEC AU CF SUBJECT: BRAZZAVILLE/CONGO: PASTOR NTUMI JOINS THE PARTY REF: A. KINSHASA 00041 ¶B. KINSHASA 00932 Classified By: CDA MARK BIEDLINGMAIER, REASONS 1.4(B)(D) ¶1. (C) Papal Nuncio Msgr. Andres Carrascoso-Coso contacted Charge d'affaires on October 15 with an urgent request to meet for an update on developments in the Pool region. Msgr. Carrascoso has been a key contact point with former Ninja rebel leader Pastor Ntumi for western group members of the Brazzaville diplomatic corps through his in-country emissary, Bishop Portella, of Kinkala. The Nuncio stated that Ntumi planned to launch a new political party, the CNR (Conseille Nationale des Republicans),National Council of Republicans, by late November and wished to "sound out" representatives of the European Union, U.S. Embassy, and UNDP for their reaction and possible support. Ntumi's representatives, Dr. Joseph Mbizi and Mr. Mabounda Ntsiomo, met with Carrascoso on October 14 and asked him to facilitate appointments with the U.S. Charge d'affaires and EU Ambassador, Mme. Dominique Pavard. The Nuncio strongly encouraged this initiative and noted that, in his opinion, there could be no more productive develo pment in the Pool region in recent years than to have a former guerrilla organization, the Ninjas, lay down its arms and take up constructive political activism and dialogue to bridge the chasm between north and south. He believed that it would attract Sassou-Nguesso's interest as well, coming months before the 2007 legislative elections and lead-up to a 2009 presidential campaign. ¶2. (C) Charge d'affaires received Mbizi and Ntsiomo for a two-hour meeting on October 17 at which time they presented a comprehensive document which included the CNR's statutes, organizational rules and action plan under the party banner "Unity, Justice and Peace." CDA was unable to retain a copy of the document, as Ntsiomo stated that they would need to seek Patsteur Ntumi's permission before turning over the draft. Dr. Mbizi, a member of the High Commission for the Reinsertion of Ex-Combattants and nephew of former President Pascal Lissouba, stated that Ntumi was "fatigued" by the protracted negotiations with President Sassou-Nguesso which he likened to a "cat and mouse, carrot and stick approach yielding no results after nearly four years of false promises and insincere gestures." When asked to comment on rumors rife in Brazzaville that Ntumi had received large sums of money from Sassou-Nguesso prior to the August 15 Dolisie National Day reception as a "peace offering", Mbizi acknowledged that some "i nfrastructure development assistance" in the amount of USD $20 million (a fact later confirmed by EU Ambassador Pavard) had been provided by the government; however, he added that vastly larger amounts would be needed to fully rehabilitate the decimated Pool region. He added that this gesture should not be interpreted as a payoff intended for Ntumbi, but rather, as an investment in the future of the Pool region to provide adequate health care, sanitation and infrastructure, and above all, education, to those left behind in the post-conflict harmonization program. He noted that a major stumbling block to achieving a fruitful agreement in the Pool had been Sassou-Nguesso's continued insistence to handle this "internal matter" himself, without "interference" from the international community - a contradiction to the philosophy apparently espoused by Ntumi. ¶3. (C) The Charge encouraged Mbizi and Ntsiomo to have Ntumi press forward with the arms collection and destruction campaign financed by the European Union and World Bank which has languished in recent months. Mbizi stated that Ntumi whole heartedly supported this action, but wanted to engage the western embassies and international organizations to serve as an "honest broker and recipient of the arms," rather than place additional weapons under the control of Sassou-Nguesso or the Congolese military, leaving no assurances that the arms would actually be destroyed or disabled. As a side note, Ntsiomo stated that Sassou-Nguesso and the Government of Congo had been intentionally under-reporting the number of arms in circulation, not necessarily in the Pool, but in other parts of the country (north and east) which could be easily mobilized to their advantage in the event of a future armed conflict. Charge d'affaires noted that members of the diplomatic corps in Brazzaville were discouraged by reports of an a lleged attack on a weapons arsenal near Nkiaye days before the August 15 National Day in nearby Dolisie; however, Mbizi dismissed this report as highly exaggerated by Sassou-Nguesso loyalists and claimed that it was in no manner associated with Pastor Ntumi or the former Ninja rebels and instead, a wanton criminal act. ¶4. (C) Mbizi and Ntsiomo stated that they had been instructed by Ntumi to search for a small office set-up in downtown Brazzaville, and to request a vote of confidence for his CNR party initiative from the UNDP, EU and U.S. embassy, so that CNR's entry into the political arena would be seen as having the tacit support of the western group. He added that this nod of approval would also provide "protection" to the CNR staff assigned to Brazzaville. Charge d'affaires agreed to relay the substantive of this conversation to Ambassador Weisberg and to Washington officials for review, with mention that the Ambassador might be available to meet with them for any follow-up discussion necessary upon his return to post on/about October 23. ¶5. (C) On October 18, Charge met with EU Ambassador Dominique Pavard following her appointment with Mbizi and Ntsiomo earlier in the day. In general, she viewed the creation of the CNR political party as a positive development, but stipulated to the gentlemen that no financial support of any kind could be provided by the European Union. Pavard cautioned that the Nunciature, EU and U.S. Embassy should proceed cautiously and not be seen as pawns in the murky waters of a Sassou-Ntumi entente, cordial or otherwise. Her immediate interest was to pursue closure of the EU's arms collection activities, and naturally, welcomed news that DoD specialists had recently visited Brazzaville to discuss potential cooperation on Light Arms/Small Weapons with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pavard opined that, in Sassou-Nguesso's eyes, the international diplomatic corps were "bit players" in Brazzaville; therefore, any attempt to meddle in an issue which he considered an internal matter might precipitate a n uncomfortable backlash. ¶6. (C) Following is a brief assessment provided later that day by former Canadian intelligence officer, Philip Lancaster (please protect),who has been in frequent contact with Ntumi and his associates in the Pool region on visits there as a member of a World Bank Mission survey team, most recently in mid-September. Quote: I see this as a very positive development in that it's a step around the blockage presented by Ntumi's insistence on having his own status considered as a precondition for anything else. I'm also happy that the CNR wants to make the transition to a political party and am even happier that they might constitute a real opposition in a country suffering from too little real debate. So, it's a good thing - up to a point. I have some reservation about encouraging a political development that leans so heavily on outside interference. In this case, it may seem the only way but it may also set in motion a defense mechanism from the present elite that might actually aggravate tensions. This will be a matter of very fine judgment about the present balance of power and the embassy will be better placed than me to make that call. My second concern, very ambivalent, is over the possible directions such an initiative will take when the French wake up to it. I think the key here is to strive for EU participation right from the beginning. As I have frequently argued, the French have played a slightly malignant role in Congolese politics and thus, I see no harm in weakening their influence if it can be done without provoking the kind of dirty play that could harm both U.S. and Congolese interests. Go softly, but go forward. End Quote. ¶7. (C) Post will report further developments as received. For INR: Bio data: Dr. Joseph MBIZI, DOB: 20 February 1955, current: Commissioner, High Commission for the Reinsertion of Ex-Combattants, Brazzaville; Mr. Mabounda-Ntsiomo, DOB: 07 January 1956, POB: Kolo, Republic of Congo, Address: 68 rue Franceville, Moungali BIEDLINGMAIER MEECE