KISANGANI MEETING: POSITIVE MOVEMENT ON THE PART OF FDLR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000463

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG RW
SUBJECT: KISANGANI MEETING: POSITIVE MOVEMENT ON THE PART OF FDLR
ELEMENTS?


1. (SBU) Summary: Poloff attended the May 26 Kisangani meeting at
which the GDRC and elements from FDLR-RUD and the RPR (Rassemblement
du Peuple Rwandais) made public a document related to these armed
groups' disarmament and repatriation or resettlement. The
conference was principally ceremonial and was well attended by GDRC
notables and members of the international community. The identities
and affiliations of all those representing the armed groups, who
appeared to number 25-30, were less clear. MONUC and GDRC
representatives told us in advance that it would be primarily
members of the RUD who would come to the conference, though a few
FOCA members were reportedly present as well. End summary.


2. (SBU) Poloff attended the May 26 Kisangani meeting at which the
GDRC and elements from FDLR-RUD and the RPR made public a document
(copy to be e-mailed to AF/C) related to these armed groups'
disarmament and repatriation or resettlement, previously worked out
in meetings in Italy. The meeting was ceremonial, lasted
approximately two hours, and featured principally speeches from
representatives from the GDRC, the international community, and the
armed groups hailing the agreement.


3. (SBU) The document, entitled "Roadmap for the disarmament of
Rwandan armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo," outlines
a number of notable milestones, including:

-- A condemnation of the genocide in Rwanda and a demand
that its perpetrators be brought to justice.

-- Expressions of regret for the massive human rights
violations inflicted on the Congolese people and a
demand that perpetrators of these acts be brought to
justice.

-- Confirmation of willingness to disarm and return to
Rwanda or relocate within the DRC.

-- Return to Rwanda, however, is preconditioned on the
basis of security guarantees to be worked out with
Rwanda under the aegis of the international community.
The document also notes that, for the moment,
conditions for return to Rwanda are not yet right.

-- A request for security to be provided by MONUC and the
FARDC for those engaged in the process of disarmament;
a request was also made for food, education for
children, and appropriate sanitation to be provided.


4. (SBU) The roadmap notes that verification of relocation/welcome
sites will take place within 5 days and the process of disarmament
will begin in 10 days. The GDRC for its part rendered a statement
reaffirming the will of the government to mobilize the means to
conduct this program, and encouraged those partners involved with
the Nairobi communique to increase the incentives for members of
Rwandan armed groups to disarm and repatriate.


5. (SBU) The meeting was well attended by GDRC and international
figures. Interior Minister Kalume represented President Kabila at
the meeting; other GDRC notables in attendance included Defense
Minister Chikez and Presidential Special Envoy Seraphin Ngwej. SRSG
Doss was present; EU Special Representative Roeland van de Geer sent
his political counselor Jean-Michel Dumont. Representatives from
the embassies of France, Belgium, South Africa, Sweden, Italy,
Russia, and China, and from the community of Sant'Egidio were in
attendance as well.


6. (SBU) Less clear were the identities of the members of the FDLR
in attendance, who appeared to number approximately 25-30. A few of
their wives and children also came to the conference. The FDLR-RUD
leaders Felicien Kanyamibwa and Jean-Marie Vianney Higiro were not
obviously present (Note: Kanyamibwa signed the roadmap at the Rome
meeting May 9 in the name of the "National Congress for Democracy"
which appears to be a melding of the FDLR-RUD, the RPR, and perhaps
other elements as well. End note) MONUC and GDRC representatives
told us in advance that it would be primarily members of the RUD who
would come to the conference, though a few FOCA members were
reportedly present as well.


7. (SBU) Two representatives from the armed groups spoke at the
conference, one in the name of the aforementioned National Congress
for Democracy and the other seemingly in the name of the RUD
military wing and the RPR. The former was Augustin Dukuze, who
lives in Canada and who has previously been identified as a RUD
spokesperson; the latter was introduced simply as "Jean-Michel."



KINSHASA 00000463 002 OF 002



8. (SBU) The speeches delivered consisted principally of laudatory
words that the armed groups were willing to take this step towards
disarmament and repatriation. Ambassador Ngwej noted pointedly that
the DRC will facilitate this agreement without any concern to an
inter-Rwandan dialogue, which he labeled an "absurd" conditionality.
This did not stop "Jean-Michel" from making reference to the need
for political change in Rwanda, though there was no apparent
conditionality to his statement. He asked all fighters to join in
this process. SRSG Doss noted that MONUC stands ready to support.
Dumont spoke on behalf of Special Representative van de Geer and
welcomed the armed groups' willingness to disarm. Minister Kalume
called on the "extremists" to seize this one last chance for peace.
The USG statement was read by a Congolese protocol representative.


9. (SBU) Comment: The timetable's projected dates for disarmament
and transfer to relocation sites seem ambitious; MONUC
representatives should be involved in working out these modalities
and we will follow up on the status of the implementation. In
previous meetings, GDRC representatives told us that this process
should affect approximately 500 fighters plus dependents, for a
total of around 3,000 FDLR members. While this will not solve the
entire FDLR problem, as certain elements have publicly rejected this
process, it could be a start and demonstrate the progress that
political dialogue can affect. Embassy Kinshasa will also follow up
to attempt to confirm the names of those representing the armed
groups at the conference. On a final note, one of Ambassador
Ngwej's staff came up to poloff after the U.S. statement was read
and noted its "strong" tone. We hope the statement created a
similar reaction among FDLR attendees at the Conference. End
comment.

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