Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRETORIA3965
2006-09-22 12:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:
(C) SOUTH AFRICA OFFERS TO ASSIST LRA MEDIATION
how-toVZCZCXRO7184 RR RUEHMR RUEHRN RUEHROV DE RUEHSA #3965 2651243 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 221243Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5862 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 3381 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0281 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0065 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 003965
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM UG SF
SUBJECT: (C) SOUTH AFRICA OFFERS TO ASSIST LRA MEDIATION
REF: A. PRETORIA 3952
B. PRETORIA 3584
C. KAMPALA 3584
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(
b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 003965
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM UG SF
SUBJECT: (C) SOUTH AFRICA OFFERS TO ASSIST LRA MEDIATION
REF: A. PRETORIA 3952
B. PRETORIA 3584
C. KAMPALA 3584
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(
b) and (d)
1. (C) South Africa has offered to serve as a "friend of the
mediator" in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)-Government of
Uganda peace process, according to Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) Horn of Africa Director Graham Maitland and
East Africa Director Rasheeda Adam. Maitland and Adam
seperately told PolOff September 20 and 21 that DFA Chief
Director Kingsley Makhubela met with Vice President of the
Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) Dr. Riek Machar in Juba
the week of September 11 and offered to assist in the LRA
mediation. Maitland, who accompanied Makhubela, said that
Machar responded positively. Makhubela also met with LRA
officials in southern Sudan. (NOTE: Makhubela was visiting
Juba to review DFA's training programs for GOSS/SPLM
officials (Ref A). It is not clear whether the SAG has
coordinated its "friend of the mediation" offer with the
Government of Uganda. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Makhubela told Machar that the GOSS should send a
formal, written letter to the Government of South Africa
requesting that it serve as a "friend" of the mediation. As
of September 22, South Africa has not received the request.
Maitland did not know whether the delay reflected a change of
heart among GOSS officials or simply bureaucratic hangups in
drafting and sending the letter.
3. (C) It is not clear to Maitland what role South Africa, as
"friend" to the mediator, would play in the LRA peace
process. Maitland speculated that perhaps South Africa could
provide technical expertise in security sector reform or
other areas as requested by the mediator. He noted that the
Swiss Government was already assisting with the technical
aspects of the negotiations.
4. (U) The LRA sent a letter in early August to the SAG
requesting that they mediate the conflict (Ref B). Deputy FM
Aziz Pahad told a press conference August 28 that South
Africa would not mediate the LRA peace process, but rather
fully supported GOSS Vice President Riek Machar's efforts.
5. (C) COMMENT: We are somewhat surprised that South Africa
has offered to play a role in the LRA mediation, particularly
after Deputy FM Pahad clearly stated only a few weeks ago
that South Africa would not mediate. As noted in reftel,
senior SAG officials are already occupied with the Burundi,
DRC and Cote d'Ivoire peace processes. However, South Africa
believes that its experience in negotiating the peaceful
transition from apartheid to democracy makes it uniquely
capable of assisting in other transitions, particularly in
areas like security sector reform and reconciliation. If
asked to play a peacemaking role in Africa, it is difficult
for the SAG to resist. END COMMENT.
Bost
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM UG SF
SUBJECT: (C) SOUTH AFRICA OFFERS TO ASSIST LRA MEDIATION
REF: A. PRETORIA 3952
B. PRETORIA 3584
C. KAMPALA 3584
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(
b) and (d)
1. (C) South Africa has offered to serve as a "friend of the
mediator" in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)-Government of
Uganda peace process, according to Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) Horn of Africa Director Graham Maitland and
East Africa Director Rasheeda Adam. Maitland and Adam
seperately told PolOff September 20 and 21 that DFA Chief
Director Kingsley Makhubela met with Vice President of the
Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) Dr. Riek Machar in Juba
the week of September 11 and offered to assist in the LRA
mediation. Maitland, who accompanied Makhubela, said that
Machar responded positively. Makhubela also met with LRA
officials in southern Sudan. (NOTE: Makhubela was visiting
Juba to review DFA's training programs for GOSS/SPLM
officials (Ref A). It is not clear whether the SAG has
coordinated its "friend of the mediation" offer with the
Government of Uganda. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Makhubela told Machar that the GOSS should send a
formal, written letter to the Government of South Africa
requesting that it serve as a "friend" of the mediation. As
of September 22, South Africa has not received the request.
Maitland did not know whether the delay reflected a change of
heart among GOSS officials or simply bureaucratic hangups in
drafting and sending the letter.
3. (C) It is not clear to Maitland what role South Africa, as
"friend" to the mediator, would play in the LRA peace
process. Maitland speculated that perhaps South Africa could
provide technical expertise in security sector reform or
other areas as requested by the mediator. He noted that the
Swiss Government was already assisting with the technical
aspects of the negotiations.
4. (U) The LRA sent a letter in early August to the SAG
requesting that they mediate the conflict (Ref B). Deputy FM
Aziz Pahad told a press conference August 28 that South
Africa would not mediate the LRA peace process, but rather
fully supported GOSS Vice President Riek Machar's efforts.
5. (C) COMMENT: We are somewhat surprised that South Africa
has offered to play a role in the LRA mediation, particularly
after Deputy FM Pahad clearly stated only a few weeks ago
that South Africa would not mediate. As noted in reftel,
senior SAG officials are already occupied with the Burundi,
DRC and Cote d'Ivoire peace processes. However, South Africa
believes that its experience in negotiating the peaceful
transition from apartheid to democracy makes it uniquely
capable of assisting in other transitions, particularly in
areas like security sector reform and reconciliation. If
asked to play a peacemaking role in Africa, it is difficult
for the SAG to resist. END COMMENT.
Bost