EU SEEKS COORDINATED APPROACH TO REFORM CONGOLESE

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001366 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/E WOLPE, S/GWI FOR JSOSNE, SGHORI, L FOR KGOROVE, S/P FOR CPOWELL, MPATEL, AF/C FOR CLAMORA, S/CRS FOR SPIERSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL ZF CG EUN SUBJECT: EU SEEKS COORDINATED APPROACH TO REFORM CONGOLESE POLICE AND COMBAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE REF: A. USEU TODAY JULY 27 2009 ¶B. USEU TODAY AUGUST 10-13 2009 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: EUPOL RD Congo, the EU's police reform mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo advises the Congolese police on police structure, civil rights, justice and police-judicial coordination, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). In the coming months, EUPOL RD Congo will take on a greater role in fighting SGBV, adding two interdisciplinary teams to do so. Noting the Secretary's statements on SGBV, our EU interlocutors suggested that the USG consider filling the vacant post of strategic SGBV advisor. They also asked us to consider contributing senior police advisors in Goma and/or Bukavu. End Summary. EUPOL RD CONGO: MENTORING, MONITORING, AND ADVISING ¶2. (SBU) On September 23, PolOff met with Simone Barenghi, Political Advisor, and Rodolphe Mauget, lead police expert, for the EU's police reform mission in the DRC (EUPOL RD Congo). Barenghi and Mauget described the EUPOL RD Congo mission as focused on "MMA": mentoring, monitoring, and advising. EUPOL personnel work closely with the Congolese authorities and MONUC, in some cases embedding in Congolese ministries, to implement the DRC's police reform plan. EU civpol participate in almost every sub-committee of the police reform committee (Comite du Suivi de la Reforme de la Police -- CSRP),alongside the Congolese government, the UN, NGOs, and other international actors. The EU mission has also facilitated or conducted training activities, such as the training of a quick-reaction unit and the training of junior police officers on basic policing activities such as report writing. Barenghi and Mauget said EUPOL generally enjoys the close cooperation of the Congolese authorities. INCREASED FOCUS ON SGBV ¶3. (SBU) As reported REF B, the EU is stepping up its activities to combat SGBV through its police reform mission. According to Barenghi and Mauget, EU Ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee would soon approve a plan to add 6 new positions to EUPOL RD Congo to establish two multidisciplinary teams focused on this issue (Comment: Mauget confirmed on October 1 that Ambassadors had approved the positions. End Comment.). In addition, the EU is looking to fill the now vacant post of strategic SGBV advisor, a position they suggested they would like to see the U.S. fill. This advisor would represent EUPOL on the CSRP sub-committee on SGBV. A ROLE FOR THE U.S.? ¶4. (SBU) Mentioning the invitation we received in July to participate in the EUPOL mission (REF A),PolOff asked if there were any particular posts the EU had in mind. After saying the EU would welcome any contribution, Barenghi and Mauget noted several positions of particular interest. First, they cited the strategic advisor on SGBV and the other positions likely to be created in October to fulfill the mission's expanded mandate on SGBV. They also described two vacant senior police advisor positions in the eastern DRC, based in Goma and Bukavu, as posts of particular importance. Officers in these positions would advise on the full range of police tasks in an unstable environment, so suitable candidates would have broad police experience. The EU has invited a number of non-EU countries to participate in the mission, including Norway, Angola, South Africa, Croatia, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, and Cape Verde. Of those, only Angola is currently participating, although Norway has reportedly expressed interest. ¶5. (SBU) Noting again the Secretary's statements while in the DR Congo, Mauget said the EU recognizes that if the U.S. gives it a higher priority, that will "bring the cavalry." Whether or not the U.S. participates in the EU mission, he said, we should closely coordinate our activities. MURRAY .