DRC SATISFIED WITH ICJ RULING, STILL CONSIDERING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000038

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO KJUS CG UG
SUBJECT: DRC SATISFIED WITH ICJ RULING, STILL CONSIDERING
REPARATIONS AMOUNT

Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (C) While delivering demarche January 6 to new Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Chief of Staff Jacques Djoli (septel),PolOff
and Djoli discussed the December 19 International Court of
Justice (ICJ) ruling against Uganda. The Court ruled that
Uganda "violated the principles of non-use of force in
international relations and of non-intervention" and "that it
violated its obligations under international human rights law
and international humanitarian law." Djoli said the GDRC was
satisfied with the Court's decision and considered it a sign
that justice was fairly and finally being carried out against
those who had invaded and violated the DRC's territory during
the 1998-2003 war.


2. (C) Djoli said the Ministry of Justice was preparing the
GDRC's official response to the ICJ ruling and is examining
the Court's decision to determine how much to demand in
reparations. Immediately following the Court's decision, the
GDRC's spokesman said Kinshasa would seek 6-10 billion USD
from Uganda. Djoli admitted, however, that the Congolese have
no clear strategy regarding the compensation issue, due to
the lack of communication between various ministries
(Justice, Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, Interior)
that could claim jurisdiction on the matter. Djoli also said
there had been no formal discussions between GDRC and GOU
officials, except for one informal meeting between the two
countries' foreign ministers at a conference in Ethiopia in
late December. Djoli said the issue would likely be discussed
more formally during the next Tripartite meeting.


3. (C) Djoli said the 6-10 billion USD figure for reparations
was appropriate in relation to Uganda's violations. Djoli
pointed out, though, that this figure is two to three times
the size of the GOU's annual budget (and about five times the
GDRC's),and it would therefore be unlikely for the GDRC to
collect anywhere near that amount.


4. (C) Comment: Despite the ICJ's clear ruling in favor of
the DRC, few expect Uganda ever to pay billions of dollars in
reparations. The court victory is therefore likely to be
more of a moral one. Congolese media have widely applauded
the ruling, and have suggested that Rwanda (which, unlike
Uganda, refused to recognize the ICJ's jurisdiction) is
equally culpable for its intervention in the war. End comment.
MEECE


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