Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LUANDA812
2006-08-04 08:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:  

ANGOLA - CABINDAN PEACE ACCORD SIGNED

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM PTER AO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0427
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0812/01 2160842
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 040842Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3133
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000812 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA - CABINDAN PEACE ACCORD SIGNED

REF: A. LUANDA 00740


B. LUANDA 00806

Classified By: AMBASSADOR CYNTHIA EFIRD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

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Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000812

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA - CABINDAN PEACE ACCORD SIGNED

REF: A. LUANDA 00740


B. LUANDA 00806

Classified By: AMBASSADOR CYNTHIA EFIRD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

--------------
Summary
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1. (C) On August 1, 2006, the GRA and the Cabindan Forum for
Dialogue (FCD) officially signed the Memorandum of
Understanding for Peace in Cabinda. In attendance at this
event were the highest officials of all three branches of the
GRA, including the acting President Roberto de Almeida. The
FCD delegation was lead by its President Antonio Bento Bembe
and included a number of Cabindan traditional leaders. In
speeches during the ceremony GRA officials, including de
Almeida, focused on the importance of Cabinda's special
status and the implementation of the accord. Bembe speech
covered similar issues, but also brought attention to the
possibility of "acts of terrorism" following the signing of
the Memorandum. The President of the Front for the
Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC),Nzita Tiago, and
the leaders of Mpalabanda continue to criticize the accord.
Bembe seems to have the support of Cabinda's traditional
leaders, the political base of power in Cabinda, while Tiago
continues to represent some elements of the FLEC and
Mpalabanda the elite, intellectual minority. Tiago and
Mpalabanda issued statements in which they reject the
Memorandum. The signing of the Memorandum is important, but
even more important, especially for the citizens of Cabinda,
will be the peaceful implementation of the accord. End
Summary.

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Highly-Attended Ceremony
--------------


2. (U) At 12:35 local time on August 1, 2006 the GRA's
Minister of Territorial Administration, Virgilio de Fontes
Pereira, and the President of the Cabindan Forum for Dialogue
(FCD),Antonio Bento Bembe, officially signed the Memorandum
of Understanding for Peace in Cabinda in the city of Namibe,
the capital of Angola's southeastern-most province. Over 35
representatives from the FCD, including Antonio Bento Bembe
and a number of Cabindan traditional leaders, arrived in

Namibe on July 31. The GRA delegation, led by Roberto de
Almeida, currently serving as the acting President, arrived
on August 1. Also included were Joao Baptista Kussumua, the
acting Prime Minister; Jeronimo Wanga, the acting President
of the National Assembly; and Cristiano Andre, the President
of the Supreme Court. Also invited to witness the ceremony
were all GRA Cabinet members, the membership of the National
Assembly, opposition party leaders, the diplomatic community,
religious leaders, and members of civil society.


3. (U) In a speech given during the ceremony, de Almeida
called upon all parties to "proceed with efforts to overcome
the basic problems that affect the lives of Cabindans."
Specifically mentioning the GRA acceptance of Cabinda's
special status, de Almeida noted that this status would allow
future generations to better manage the natural and human
resources of Angola. Pereira noted that "the GRA guarantees
its total engagement in the execution" of the Memorandum. He
also stated the GRA's willingness to work with the
international community during the implementation of the
accord. Bembe also called upon the international community
to assist in the implementation of the accord. During his
speech, Bembe pointed out that certain "enemies of peace"
could carry out "acts of terrorism" following the signing of
the accord. He called on those remaining skeptics to
"participate in the building of peace and the reconstruction
of the province."


4. (C) Contacts in the British and Dutch Embassies told
PolOff that, besides the late arrival of de Almeida, the
ceremony went as planned. The location selected was an older
colonial building, mostly likely one of the only in Namibe
that could accommodate such a large group. Both GRA
officials and the diplomatic corps paid particular attention
to who attended the event. Noticeably absent was Minister of
Interior Roberto Leal Monteiro "Ngongo," UNITA President
Isaias Samakuva, the Bishop of Cabinda Filomeno Vieira Dias,
and a representative from the French government. (Note: On
August 1, UNITA issued a statement noting the importance of
the peace process, but challenging the accord due to lack of
full representation and the decision to not grant Cabinda
full autonomy. End Note.) The USG's absence was noted, but
given the press releases in Luanda and Washington and a
statement by Ambassador Efird our position in favor of a
peaceful resolution of outstanding issues was obvious to all
parties. Privately, EmbOffs have made it clear that while we
support peace in Cabinda, we do not support Bembe and his

LUANDA 00000812 002 OF 002


actions against American citizens. Diplomatic sources also
reported that the GRA has only allowed the Papal Nuncio in
Angola, Angelo Beccio, to read the Memorandum of
Understanding -- which remains unpublished as of yet.

--------------
Detractors Continue to Speak Out
--------------


5. (U) While an overwhelming majority of the press coverage
over the past couple of days has been positive, including
statements of support from the Cabindan Catholic Bishop,
Filomeno Vieira Dias, and Luis Ranque Franque, the founder of
FLEC, the President of FLEC Nzita Tiago and the leadership of
Mpalabanda have continued their efforts to undermine the
accord. Tiago put out an August 1 press release stating his
rejection of the Memorandum. Noting his willingness to enter
into a dialogue with the GRA, he reiterated his hope for a
response to his personal letter to President dos Santos. He
also renewed FLEC's call for a referendum on the Cabinda,
stating that "the Cabindan people do not accept this accord"
(Ref A).


6. (C) Mpalabanda has continued to apply steady pressure
against the GRA and Bembe, even alleging in independent
newspaper articles that fighting has continued in Cabinda
after the first cease-fire. The International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) Deputy Country Director, Fabrizio
Carboni, has received no reports of fighting in Cabinda.
When asked if Mpalabanda or the FLEC, the only sources for
these reports, were fabricating the statements, Carboni said
he was "surprised that none of his office's contacts in
Cabinda had contacted them about the new fighting." (Note:
The ICRC is the only international organization with a
mandate that allows it to have an active, regular field
presence in Cabinda. End Note.) Mpalabanda released on
August 2, a press statement noting its decision to not
recognize the accord and criticizing the GRA for not working
to honestly resolve the problem.

-------------- ---
Comment - Peaceful Implementation Most Important
-------------- ---


7. (C) Tiago and Mpalabanda were unwilling to enter into a
viable discussion with the GRA -- possibly misjudging their
relative weakness vis-a-vis the GRA. Bembe recognized that
the GRA was willing to give the FLEC a face saving solution
and engaged with the GRA. As the President of the FCD he
brought legitimacy to the negotiations and apparently allowed
the GRA to work out a deal with the Cabindan traditional
leaders that are the political power base in the province.
Government media sources report that over 500 FLEC fighters
have moved into quartering sites waiting to be demobilized
and reintegrated into the National Police or the Armed Forces
of Angola indicating that Bembe may be able to deliver as
negotiated. We are attempting to verify this information
through ICRC and military contacts. Current political
commentary is focused exclusively on the splintering of the
FCD, and has yet to find a way to evaluate the most important
factor -- the will of the Cabinda people. Without credible
polling and based an anecdotal evidence from EmbOffs who have
visited and spoken to Cabindans recently (Ref A and B),one
can only assume that like most Angolans, the average
Cabindans are tired of fighting and wish only to have a
better life. For them the most important part of this
Memorandum of Understanding is not who was present at the
signing, but the reality of a successful and peaceful
implementation of the accord.
EFIRD