KIVU DEMARCHE DELIVERED IN KINSHASA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001050 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR KDEM CG RW UG SUBJECT: KIVU DEMARCHE DELIVERED IN KINSHASA REF: A. STATE 115007 ¶B. BUJUMBURA 592 ¶C. KIGALI 755 ¶D. KINSHASA 882 Classified By: Classified by Charge S. Brock (1.4 b/d) ¶1. (U) This is a corrected version of Kinshasa 1040. ¶2. (C) Summary. Congolese Foreign Minister Mbusa Nyamwisi received newly arrived Charge Sam Brock August 29. Charge used the meeting to present demarche as requested ref (A). Mbusa used it to publicize relations with the U.S., inviting local press to take his picture with the charge and joining the charge in taking questions from reporters after the meeting. Mbusa expressed hope that the October SSR Contact Group roundtable will result in a plan, timetable and resources to reform the Congolese military. He noted Kabila's plans for an inter-community roundtable in September. He sketched out plans for re-establishing diplomatic ties with Rwanda. Mbusa is one of the GDRC,s more forward-leaning members on the problems in the east, but his influence on Kabila's thinking is open to question. End summary. ¶3. (C) Per instructions reftel, charge delivered Kivu demarche August 29 to Minister of State for External Relations and International Cooperation Mbusa Nyamwisi, combining demarche with introductory call on the minister. Charge was accompanied by political counselor. Mbusa was accompanied by Foreign Ministry Americas director, the Ministry spokesperson and the special advisor for the Great Lakes region. Sovereign authority -------------- ¶4. (C) Following script as contained ref (A),Charge conveyed U.S. support for the sovereign authority of the Congolese government and Washington's interest in assisting its efforts to extend it throughout its territory. Mbusa expressed appreciation, noting in particular other examples of U.S. support for the DRC, mentioning the General Assembly, the Security Council and Tripartite Plus Commission. He extended special thanks to DAS Jim Swan. Joint strategies v. negative forces -------------- ¶5. (C) Charge emphasized U.S. interest in helping Congo resolve problems posed by negative forces in the east, and encouraged consultations with Rwanda and Uganda on joint strategies. He underscored the importance of avoiding any collaboration with the FDLR. Mbusa said the FDLR will be a key point in his September 2-3 meetings with Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande in Kinshasa. He also noted he had reached agreement in Kampala on a summit between Kabila and Museveni for September 7 in Arusha, to be preceded by a ministerial. Security sector reform -------------- ¶6. (C) Charge raised the importance of military reform, highlighting the SSR Contact Group roundtable planed for October in Kinshasa. Mbusa expressed hope the roundtable would flesh out a plan, timetable and roles. "We don't have the means to put things in order," he lamented, "we need help." He expressed frustration about the government being asked to take actions it does not have the means to take. Political strategies -------------- ¶7. (C) Charge emphasized the importance of a political strategy for addressing the situation in the Kivu provinces, and asked Mbusa for an update on plans for an inter-community conference. Mbusa said one had been authorized by the Higher Defense Council on August 25, but had no further details. He said rivalries between Goma and Bukavu could mean holding it in a neutral site such as Kisangani. (Note: A Kinshasa news report indicated Kabila has asked Interior Minister General Denis Kalume to organize a meeting in Kisangani, although this top-down approach had previously been rejected by Kivu communities and parliamentarians. SRSG Swing told P3 plus 2 ambassadors August 30 that MONUC is continuing to push for a site in the Kivu provinces. End note.) KINSHASA 00001050 002 OF 002 Engagement with Rwanda -------------- ¶8. (C) Mbusa said the DRC and Rwanda currently communicate through MONUC and expressed hope for a continued role for the international community in mediating differences with Rwanda. In addition to the meetings with Murigande, he noted that Kinshasa would host the 11 heads of state of the Great Lakes Conference next year. He expected Kagame would attend, and implied the possibility of direct discussions between him and Kabila at that time. Diplomatic relations with Uganda and Rwanda -------------- ¶9. (C) Charge expressed hope that Congolese diplomatic rapprochement with Uganda and with Rwanda would soon lead to the establishment of full diplomatic relations. Mbusa replied that this would be more difficult with Rwanda, but his comments indicated he clearly wants this to happen, among other reasons because it would facilitate resolution of other bilateral issues. He said that at the the GDRC has authorized provincial officials in the Kivus to deal directly with their counterparts in Rwanda, a channel that is useful to help defuse local tensions. He also said initial steps toward full diplomatic relations would focus on building consular relations in border provinces (ref D). He said North Kivu Governor Julien Paluku -- a political protg -- would be meeting with his Rwandan provincial counterpart in the near future. Visit of AF Senior Adviser -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Charge also noted the planned September 10-14 visit of AF Senior Adviser Tim Shortley to Kinshasa in advance of the Tripartite Plus Commission in Kampala. Mbusa responded positively to the suggestion of a meeting with Shortley, noting that the proposed meeting would be "valuable." Charge also mentioned that Embassy would request a meeting with President Kabila; Mbusa noted and said he would get back to us Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) Like many Congolese politicians, Mbusa knows how to cultivate the press. As the charge entered Mbusa,s office he was greeted by a dozen or so media representatives who observed the brief courtesy portion of the visit. After the closed business meeting (Mbusa, charge and respective support staff) Mbusa accompanied the charge to a press stake-out where they took questions from reporters. A Nande from North Kivu, Mbusa is one of the more forward-leaning members of the government in his approach the problems of the east. However, his longstanding ties with Uganda in particular have created suspicions among Kabila's inner circle as to his motives and objectives. He is playing an increasingly prominent tactical diplomatic role, but his influence on Kabila's strategic thinking is open to question. End comment. BROCK