CENTRAL AFRICAN PRESIDENT VISITS DRC, PROMISES TO

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001033 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD ECON CG CT SUBJECT: CENTRAL AFRICAN PRESIDENT VISITS DRC, PROMISES TO REOPEN BORDER ¶1. (U) Central African Republic (CAR) President Francois Bozize promised to reopen the DRC-CAR border during an August 23-24 visit to Kinshasa. The 24-hour visit, which included a one-hour meeting between Bozize and President Joseph Kabila, focused on DRC-CAR cooperation and the reopening of the border. Bozize characterized the two countries as having "not a single cloud in our relations." ¶2. (U) The border between CAR and DRC was closed in 2002 after rebel forces of Jean-Pierre Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) "intervened" during Bozize's rebellion against then-president of CAR Ange-Felix Patasse. The CAR subsequently asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Bemba,s forces, which it alleged committed numerous atrocities. ¶3. (U) Bozize said he had been waiting for the Congolese army (FARDC) to establish a presence in the area before reopening the border. (Note: The FARDC 10th Integrated Brigade is headquartered in Gemena, Equateur Province, the nearest major town to the border crossing at Zongo. End note.) ¶4. (U) In response to a question raised at the press conference before his departure, Bozize said the CAR had not withdrawn its ICC complaint against Bemba. Bozize explained that the ICC,s failure to look into the complaint thus far was due to the "long time" needed by the ICC to gather all the proof it needs to proceed. ¶5. (U) Comment: The CAR President is the latest high-level guest from neighboring countries to visit Kinshasa. Although DRC,s relations with the CAR are not as problematic as with its eastern neighbors, Kabila undoubtedly has no objection to Bozize keeping the heat on Bemba, who finished second in last year's presidential elections. Opening the border to legalized trade with the DRC may help stimulate economic activity that benefits people on both sides of the frontier. End comment. BROCK