TRIPARTITE-PLUS FUSION CELL HOLDS GRADUATION

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000346

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR KPKO CG MONUC
SUBJECT: TRIPARTITE-PLUS FUSION CELL HOLDS GRADUATION
CEREMONY

REF: A. KINSHASA 000169

B. 05 KINSHASA 000701

C. 05 KINSHASA 000332


1. (U) Summary. The Tripartite-Plus Fusion Cell held a
"graduation" in Kisangani for its initial trainees on 25
February. The brief ceremony was attended by MONUC
officials, several Congolese political representatives
including Governor of Province Orientale Jean-Pierre Lola
Kisanga, and National Security Advisor to President Kabila
Guillerme Samba Kaputu, as well as local military
representatives. Military and intelligence officials from
the DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, ONUB, and MONUC celebrated
their completion of the three-week integrated training
program and prepared to put their enhanced skills and new
networks to use. Despite varied but minor logistical
challenges, participants in the joint training exercise
generally expressed satisfaction with the program. End
Summary.


2. (U) DATT and Poloff represented the USG at the graduation
ceremony. After a short introduction and congratulatory
message conveyed by the DATT, Samba Kaputu offered an
eloquent speech thanking the various participants and
sponsors and emphasizing the need for cooperative
international measures to combat the "negative forces" still
operating in the eastern DRC. The mood was positive and many
people noted the need for ongoing commitment and cooperation
among the regional participants.


3. (U) Although the USG-contracted fusion cell trainers
reported a lack of significant information sharing in this
first phase of the project, they indicated that the group had
been much more interactive than initially anticipated. Small
things -- such as seeing the thirty participants divide into
mixed groups and cooperate during the computer training
exercises -- seemed to give the trainers hope that the
participants will support meaningful, ongoing collaboration.
Other problematic issues, such as uncertainties regarding
security support and procurement of maps to support the data
analysis, were resolved in discussions among the trainers and
MONUC staff.


4. (SBU) Comment: As the majority of trainees return to
their capitals or units to support ongoing information
sharing, others remain at the fusion cell site to continue
with the vital tasks of jointly analyzing data and
maintaining meaningful contacts with their regional
counterparts. Progress has been made, but the final
effectiveness of this program will depend on the level of
trust and confidence developed among participants in the
sharing of information from their respective countries . End
comment.
MEECE