Senior officials travel to North and South Kivu to present

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000158

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO CG
SUBJECT: Senior officials travel to North and South Kivu to present
government vision of conference follow-up



1. (SBU) Summary: Senior government officials led by Interior
Minister Kalume presented the structure of the Peace Program
established by Kabila's "Amani" decree to North Kivu Mai-Mai groups
and international facilitators February 12 in Goma. They planned
similar meetings February 13 with CNDP in Goma and with FRF and
perhaps South Kivu Mai-Mai in Bukavu. The delegation was clearly in
explanatory mode and appeared to have no negotiating mandate. End
summary.


2. (SBU) A high-level government delegation from Kinshasa met
separately with North Kivu Mai-Mai groups and international
facilitators soon after arriving in Goma February 12 to explain
Kabila's "Amani" decree, the structure it established and to receive
the names of the armed groups' representatives on its various
commissions and sub-commissions. The delegation, consisting of
Interior Minister Denis Kalume, Kivus Conference President
Apollinaire Malu Malu and FARDC Naval Forces Chief of Staff Didier
Etumba, planned to meet with CNDP representatives February 13 before
traveling to Bukavu to hold similar meetings with FRF and perhaps
South Kivu Mai-Mai.


3. (SBU) The delegation's meeting with MONUC, U.S., UK and EU
facilitators was largely devoted to explanations of the structure
established by the decree to operationalize Kivu Conference
commitments (septel). (They did not do a very efficient job of
presenting it.) Participants also reviewed the planned meeting with
CNDP the following day and the logistics of transporting CNDP and
FRF representatives to meeting sites in Goma and at Bukavu airport.



4. (SBU) This was the first MONUC had heard of the CNDP meeting, but
they promised a helicopter on short notice to transport them to
Goma. Malu Malu said Nkunda adviser Kambasu Ngeve, who headed the
CNDP delegation to the conference, told him that that everything had
been set up for them to get to Goma under their own steam, but
Governor Julien Paluku wanted to arrange secure passage via MONUC to
avoid problems with Congolese security forces. The government
delegation invited international facilitators to attend the meeting.
MONUC committed to contact Nkunda regarding logistics.


5. (SBU) The logistics of transporting FRF from High Plains region
of South Kivu in time for the February 13 meeting are more daunting.
Past meetings have taken many days to arrange. Implicitly
recognizing this, Etumba said he would stay behind in Bukavu for a
meeting with FRF if February 13 did not come together as planned.
The delegation was scheduled to leave Bukavu to return to Kinshasa
on later that evening.


6. (SBU) Comment: The delegation was clearly in explanatory mode,
which would not bode well for the CNDP meeting if Nkunda's people
are expecting negotiations. End comment.

GARVELINK