DRC ACCREDITS RWANDAN AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001066 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV CG SUBJECT: DRC ACCREDITS RWANDAN AMBASSADOR REF: A. KIGALI 770 ¶B. KINSHASA 1064 Classified By: Ambassador William J. Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Rwandan Ambassador Amandin Rugira submitted his credentials to DRC President Joseph Kabila on December 2 in a brief ceremony at the presidential offices, Palais de la Nation. Prior to formally assuming his duties, Rugira met with USG officials to discuss the new Rwandan diplomatic mission in Kinshasa, the situation along the turbulent shared border, and next steps in Rwandan-DRC relations. Rugira also said that Kabila was unhappy with GDRC ministers who maintained ties with the FDLR. The exchange of envoys is a positive step along the long path of diplomatic, military, and economic rapprochement. End summary. ¶2. (C) Rwandan Ambassador Rugira presented his credentials to President Kabila in a ceremony described by Rwandan First Secretary Firmin Karanganwa as "positive and friendly," mirroring the positive reception of the DRC ambassador in Kigali (reftel A). Karanganwa said the Rwandan Embassy -- refurbishing a chancery across from their temporary offices in the Grand Hotel -- is fully staffed with five local employees, himself, and the ambassador. Ambassador Rugira, in an introductory office call with Ambassador Garvelink attended by poloff on November 5, described his three-fold mandate as building mutual confidence between Rwanda and the DRC, developing economic opportunities, and organizing exchanges, both civil society (e.g. journalists) and official visits. Following up on the exchange of ambassadors, Rugira said Rwandan President Kagame planned an exchange of head-of-state visits with Kabila after the new year. ¶3. (C) In a meeting with USG officials on November 14, Rugira spoke as someone who would seem to have direct access to Kagame and inside information on Kabila. Rugira said the DRC should pay more attention to the situation in the East, deal decisively with the FDLR, and settle the refugee issue. Kabila is upset with GDRC ministers who maintain ties to the FDLR, according to Rugira, who refused to name the ministers (Note: see reftel B for discussion of purported ties between GDRC leaders and FDLR in mineral exploitation. End note). Rugira did offer, however, names of doctors he claims MONUC transported to treat an FDLR general based in Brazzaville. Rugira said he provided the identities (including that of Dr. Francoise Gutman of France) to SRSG Alain Doss when he protested MONUC's alleged complicity in providing logistical support to the FDLR under humanitarian pretenses. Rugira said Kigali wanted to settle the issue of Rwandan refugees in DRC and requested a tripartite meeting to discuss potential competing claims of land ownership by returnees. ¶4. (SBU) Biographic Note: Kinshasa is the first foreign posting for Ambassador Amandin Rugira, 47, whose career includes positions as: A) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (March 2005 to May 2009) B) Managing Director of the Rwandan Development Bank (November 2003 to February 2005) C) Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (March 2001 to November 2003) D) Managing Director of the National Post Office (June 2000 to March 2001) E) Director of the Higher Institute of Public Finance (February 1992 to June 2000) F) Director of Import Policy in the Ministry of Commerce (November 1991 to February 1992) G) Head of the Department of Exchange Operations, QG) Head of the Department of Exchange Operations, National Bank of Rwanda (March 1988 to November 1991) He received his baccalaureate in economics from the National University of Rwanda (1987) and speaks French, English, Swahili, and Kinyarwanda. End biographic note. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The accreditation of Amandin Rugira completes a couplet of ambassadorial exchanges across the DRC's eastern border that began with the August exchange of envoys between the DRC and Uganda. Kabila clearly decided to restore diplomatic relations with his eastern neighbors to enlist those countries' support in combating foreign rebels wreaking havoc in the Eastern DRC, specifically the FDLR and the LRA originally based in Rwanda and Uganda, respectively. The opening of direct lines of communication bodes well for regional peace but much work remains to be done to keep KINSHASA 00001066 002 OF 002 rapprochement on track and to translate reconciliation into real cooperation. End comment. GARVELINK