KABILA TO INITIATE CONSULTATIONS WITH NORTH KIVU

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000211 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG SUBJECT: KABILA TO INITIATE CONSULTATIONS WITH NORTH KIVU LEADERS REF: KINSHASA 170 Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Presidency staff have confirmed to us that President Kabila will be initiating a series of consultations in Kinshasa with a variety of North Kivu provincial community leaders in an effort to reduce tensions in the province following the recent violence initiated by "insurgent" FARDC troops (reftel and previous). The consultations should start before the end of the week, following Kabila's expected return to Kinshasa on February 9. Presidency Ambassador-at-Large Antoine Ghonda told the Ambassador by phone, however, that Kabila asked Presidency political advisor Marcellin Chishambo, who comes from South Kivu, to initiate at least some contacts with the provincial leaders even prior to Kabila's return. ¶2. (C) Comment: The initiative is a good one, albeit without any guarantee of success. Kabila previously conducted similar consultations with South Kivu community leaders following unrest in that province, with pretty good results. North Kivu represents a somewhat more complex environment, and the factors underlying the ongoing tension in North Kivu do not lend themselves to easy solutions. Nonetheless, Kabila's initiative and personal involvement is a welcome and encouraging move. End comment. MEECE NNNN