DURING DRC VISIT, ICC PRESIDENT CALLS FOR BOSCO'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001101 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS PHUM CG SUBJECT: DURING DRC VISIT, ICC PRESIDENT CALLS FOR BOSCO'S ARREST Classified By: Ambassador William J. Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ICC, Bosco, and Kabila -------------- ¶1. (U) During a keynote speech at a December 10-12 International Parliamentary Conference on Justice in the DRC and the Great Lakes Region, ICC President Sang-Hyun Song reiterated calls for the GDRC to transfer former CNDP chief of staff Bosco Ntaganda to the Hague. Song underscored that "the question of justice and peace is not abstract," maintaining that the ICC had contributed to both in the DRC, Uganda, and the Central African Republic. He added that with time, justice, whether administered by national or international jurisdictions, can contribute to peace throughout the region. While in Kinshasa, Song repeated this message in meetings with the Foreign Minister, MONUC, and members of the diplomatic community. ¶2. (U) On December 13-15 Song traveled to Bunia in Ituri, the area in which Bosco served as the chief of staff for the rebel group Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and the area in which the ICC accused Bosco of conscripting child soldiers in ¶2002. Addressing a crowd of 400, Song explained that the GDRC had requested ICC assistance in apprehending war criminals from the area, including Bosco, and three others who are already in the Hague -- Thomas Lubanga, Mathieu Ngudjolo, and Germain Katanga. ¶3. (U) Communications Minister Lambert Mende reiterated that the government's priority remained stabilizing the Eastern DRC. Stressing that the GDRC would honor its commitments to the Rome Statute, Mende said the GDRC had already informed the ICC of a timetable on how it would proceed with this issue. In February, when asked about the ICC indictment against Bosco, President Kabila emphasized that securing peace in the Kivus would take precedence over justice. ¶4. (C) In a follow-up conversation with polcouns, Manya Moupondo, a GDRC negotiator with Eastern DRC rebel groups, provided insight into President Kabila's thinking on the "Bosco issue." Moupondo maintained that Kabila was not at all opposed to the ICC apprehending and transferring Bosco to the Hague. However, according to Moupondo, Kabila wanted to have the entire process carefully "pre-arranged" within the DRC and with its international partners. Moupondo stressed that arresting Bosco would be very politically sensitive for Kabila. She added that, as with most issues, Kabila's decision-making was very deliberative; he liked his advisors to present him with step-by-step procedures to reach a desired outcome. If Bosco gets spooked, he will clearly take up arms, in Moupondo's opinion (Note: In January, as part of the CNDP's agreement to lay down its arms and become a political movement, the FARDC integrated Bosco with the rank of general. There are widespread and persistent rumors that Bosco exercises a command role in the Kimia II military operations. End note). MLC Supporters "Ambush" ICC President -------------- ¶5. (SBU) During a December 11 breakfast meeting with Ambassador and visiting S/WCI Ambassador Rapp, Song said that, during the question and answer period following his presentation at the conference, a string of deputies from the opposition Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) bombarded him with pointed criticism about the ICC's arrest Qbombarded him with pointed criticism about the ICC's arrest of former DRC Vice-President and MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, who is currently under ICC custody. Song added it was clear that the Bemba supporters had taken advantage of Song's presence to carry off a publicity stunt on their home turf. GARVELINK