DRC PRESSES MONUC FOR ACTIVATION OF VERIFICATION

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000886 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL CG SUBJECT: DRC PRESSES MONUC FOR ACTIVATION OF VERIFICATION TEAMS ¶1. (U) DRC Foreign Minister Mbusa Nyamwisi delivered a letter October 9 to UN SRSG Alan Doss requesting activation of the Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) to investigate GDRC allegations of Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) involvement in recent clashes between Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and armed rebels loyal to dissident general Laurent Nkunda in North Kivu. The request follows public statements by Nyamwisi claiming FARDC capture of equipment, clothing, and documents belonging to RDF personnel. A scanned copy of the letter in the original French was sent to AF/C and Embassy Kigali. An unofficial translation of the letter is at paragraph 4. ¶2. (U) The JVM was established in September 2004 as a follow on measure to the 1999 Lusaka Agreement, the July 2002 Pretoria Agreement, and the 2004 USG-facilitated Tripartite Agreement on Regional Security in the Great Lakes between DRC, Rwanda, Uganda (Note: Burundi later joined the Tripartite Agreement, which became the Tripartite Plus One. End note). The JVM consists of representatives from the DRC and Rwanda, as well as logistical and security assistance from the UN (MONUC) and the African Union (AU). The mandate of the JVM is to "to verify, investigate, and report on all allegations and carry out impromptu verifications on either territory." ¶3. Comment: (SBU) The JVM has remained dormant since its inception in 2004. In the current environment of heightened rhetoric between Kigali and Kinshasa, the successful implementation of the JVM may prove a positive disincentive to the release of unsubstantiated claims from the two governments. End comment. ¶4. (U) Unofficial translation of letter: Begin unofficial translation: "Democratic Republic of Congo Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kinshasa, 9 October, 2008 No. 130/01/CH/02476/2008 Info copies to: - The President of the Republic - The Prime Minister - The State Minister of the Interior, Decentralization and Security - The Minister of Defense and Veterans' Affairs - Mme Rose Museminari, Rwanda Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation - Mme Joyce Leader, Representative of the Tripartite Plus 1 Facilitation Commission - The European Union Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, President of the Joint Monitoring Group - Special Envoys to the JMG To: Mr. Alan Doss, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General Subject: Request to activate the Joint Verification Mechanism Excellency, Referring to my letter no. 130/24/jcsal/02329/2008 of 13 September, 2008 addressed to the European Union Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, President of the Joint Monitoring Group, of which a copy was sent to you, I have the honor to request that you convene the team of experts of the Joint Verification Mechanism, to proceed to the verification of allegations that the Government of Congo has formulated against the Government of Rwanda regarding the involvement of the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) in the resumption of hostilities in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. I have attached a chart representing the allegations mentioned above. Cordially, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi" End unofficial translation. BROCK