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