Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KINSHASA385
2007-04-02 09:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
BEMBA DEPARTURE DELAYED
how-toVZCZCXRO1494 OO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #0385 0920958 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 020958Z APR 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5893 INFO RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0032 RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0490 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000385
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO ASEC PO SF CG
SUBJECT: BEMBA DEPARTURE DELAYED
Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece. Reason 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000385
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO ASEC PO SF CG
SUBJECT: BEMBA DEPARTURE DELAYED
Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece. Reason 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) The departure for Portugal of former Vice President
Bemba has been delayed from the original hoped-for date of
Saturday, March 31, but the initiative still appears on
track. Per telcons with UN SRSG Bill Swing and South African
Charge Kenneth Pedro, discussions headed by National Assembly
President Vital Kamerhe continue. Perhaps predictably,
however, a number of yet unresolved questions have delayed a
final decision.
2. (C) Perhaps most notable among the difficulties is
reported continuing opposition from Prime Minister Gizenga's
office. Gizenga and his principal counselor, Minister
Godefried Mayobo, would still like to see a full public trial
of Bemba, and thus are not enthusiastic about seeing Bemba
move outside of the reach of Congolese authorities.
Gizenga's position is likely based in part on principle, but
is undoubtedly bolstered as well by his personal animosity
fed by a sense that Bemba has refused to recognize Gizenga's
authority as Prime Minister, and Gizenga's conviction that a
March 21 auto accident represented a Bemba attempt to
assassinate Gizenga (comment: which we find a stretch. End
comment).
3. (C) In addition, there are innumerable detailed questions,
including concurrence from the seemingly innumerable GDRC
authorities and agencies who would need to be involved with
aspects of Bemba's transfer to Ndjili Airport and departure
from the country. With the GDRC inefficient and poorly
coordinated internally in the best of circumstances, strong
feelings about Bemba make achievement of agreed-upon
procedures even more difficult.
4. (C) SRSG Swing told the Ambassador the evening of April 1
that the project to get Bemba out of the country is still on
track, but he declined to specify when he expected the
transfer to take place. In an April 2 telcon, South African
Charge Pedro also said things seem to be moving ahead, albeit
slowly, but he was not convinced Bemba would necessarily
depart on Monday, April 2. Both MONUC and the South Africans
are indirectly involved, as MONUC will be expected to help
with logistics and likely some aspects of security for
Bemba's transfer and departure; the South Africans obviously
need to agree on arrangements for Bemba's departure from
their compound where Bemba currently is located. The
Portuguese Ambassador told Radio Okapi March 31 that Bemba
had met Portugal's conditions for allowing him to enter the
country by agreeing in a March 29 letter not to engage in
political activity during his stay.
5. (C) SRSG Swing needs to leave Kinshasa the evening of
April 2 for New York to deal with previously scheduled budget
meetings and well as UNSC consultations prior to the debate
regarding renewal of MONUC's mandate. Charge Pedro has
delayed his end-of-tour departure from Kinshasa until April
15. The South Africans hope the new South African Ambassador
will be arriving in Kinshasa around that time. Deputy SRSG
Menkarios has been handling much of the liaison with Karmerhe
regarding the Bemba discussions, and presumably would
continue this role as necessary subsequent to Swing's
departure.
6. (C) Comment: Bemba's transfer and departure prior to
Swing's trip to New York would be preferable, but Swing's
presence is not a prerequisite for Bemba's departure. The
delays are not surprising given the continuing strong
emotions in Kinshasa that Bemba inspires, plus the usual
difficulty of simply getting anything done in Kinshasa. By
now widespread press speculation over Bemba's possible
departure likely has also further complicated the process
from what might have been a quick discreet transfer
operation. Nonetheless, Kabila appears to still be on board,
and we believe Bemba will eventually leave. From our
perspective, the sooner the better, if for no other reason
than to reduce the chances of some unforeseen circumstance
further complicating the picture. Kamerhe continues to
exhibit admirable active and responsible leadership in this
regard, and remains in charge of the talks, although his
mandate appears from the Presidency and not the government
headed by Gizenga. End comment.
MEECE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO ASEC PO SF CG
SUBJECT: BEMBA DEPARTURE DELAYED
Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece. Reason 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) The departure for Portugal of former Vice President
Bemba has been delayed from the original hoped-for date of
Saturday, March 31, but the initiative still appears on
track. Per telcons with UN SRSG Bill Swing and South African
Charge Kenneth Pedro, discussions headed by National Assembly
President Vital Kamerhe continue. Perhaps predictably,
however, a number of yet unresolved questions have delayed a
final decision.
2. (C) Perhaps most notable among the difficulties is
reported continuing opposition from Prime Minister Gizenga's
office. Gizenga and his principal counselor, Minister
Godefried Mayobo, would still like to see a full public trial
of Bemba, and thus are not enthusiastic about seeing Bemba
move outside of the reach of Congolese authorities.
Gizenga's position is likely based in part on principle, but
is undoubtedly bolstered as well by his personal animosity
fed by a sense that Bemba has refused to recognize Gizenga's
authority as Prime Minister, and Gizenga's conviction that a
March 21 auto accident represented a Bemba attempt to
assassinate Gizenga (comment: which we find a stretch. End
comment).
3. (C) In addition, there are innumerable detailed questions,
including concurrence from the seemingly innumerable GDRC
authorities and agencies who would need to be involved with
aspects of Bemba's transfer to Ndjili Airport and departure
from the country. With the GDRC inefficient and poorly
coordinated internally in the best of circumstances, strong
feelings about Bemba make achievement of agreed-upon
procedures even more difficult.
4. (C) SRSG Swing told the Ambassador the evening of April 1
that the project to get Bemba out of the country is still on
track, but he declined to specify when he expected the
transfer to take place. In an April 2 telcon, South African
Charge Pedro also said things seem to be moving ahead, albeit
slowly, but he was not convinced Bemba would necessarily
depart on Monday, April 2. Both MONUC and the South Africans
are indirectly involved, as MONUC will be expected to help
with logistics and likely some aspects of security for
Bemba's transfer and departure; the South Africans obviously
need to agree on arrangements for Bemba's departure from
their compound where Bemba currently is located. The
Portuguese Ambassador told Radio Okapi March 31 that Bemba
had met Portugal's conditions for allowing him to enter the
country by agreeing in a March 29 letter not to engage in
political activity during his stay.
5. (C) SRSG Swing needs to leave Kinshasa the evening of
April 2 for New York to deal with previously scheduled budget
meetings and well as UNSC consultations prior to the debate
regarding renewal of MONUC's mandate. Charge Pedro has
delayed his end-of-tour departure from Kinshasa until April
15. The South Africans hope the new South African Ambassador
will be arriving in Kinshasa around that time. Deputy SRSG
Menkarios has been handling much of the liaison with Karmerhe
regarding the Bemba discussions, and presumably would
continue this role as necessary subsequent to Swing's
departure.
6. (C) Comment: Bemba's transfer and departure prior to
Swing's trip to New York would be preferable, but Swing's
presence is not a prerequisite for Bemba's departure. The
delays are not surprising given the continuing strong
emotions in Kinshasa that Bemba inspires, plus the usual
difficulty of simply getting anything done in Kinshasa. By
now widespread press speculation over Bemba's possible
departure likely has also further complicated the process
from what might have been a quick discreet transfer
operation. Nonetheless, Kabila appears to still be on board,
and we believe Bemba will eventually leave. From our
perspective, the sooner the better, if for no other reason
than to reduce the chances of some unforeseen circumstance
further complicating the picture. Kamerhe continues to
exhibit admirable active and responsible leadership in this
regard, and remains in charge of the talks, although his
mandate appears from the Presidency and not the government
headed by Gizenga. End comment.
MEECE