SECRETARY CLINTON'S VISIT TO DRC: ADVANCING ANTI-CORRUPTION

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000787 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCOR PGOV PREL ECON EAID CG SUBJECT: SECRETARY CLINTON'S VISIT TO DRC: ADVANCING ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS THROUGH U.S. TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During her August 11 meeting with President Kabila, Secretary Clinton expressed U.S. willingness to provide technical assistance and expertise to help the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (GDRC) address the country's significant challenges, including promoting Security Sector Reform (SSR) and addressing endemic corruption. President Kabila has welcomed the Secretary's offer of assistance, noting his desire to prioritize anti-corruption efforts as part of this new cooperative partnership. We hope to build on the positive momentum from the Secretary's visit by responding to the offer of assistance and outlining specific areas o cooperation as soon as possible. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) President Kabila has appointed a team, including members from the Presidency, the DRC's Ambassador to Washington and the FARDC, to work with the USG on developing specific initiatives where the USG could provide technical assistance and expertise as follow-up to the Secretary's initiatives. We anticipate that officials from relevant line ministries will be included in these discussions as specific mechanisms and initiatives are further defined. ¶3. (SBU)Charge, Acting USAID Director and Economic Counselor met with the President Kabila's Chief of Staff, Adolphe Lumanu Mulenda, and members of the above mentioned team on August 14 to develop an initial work-plan on possible areas for USG technical assistance and expertise. Speaking on behalf of the GDRC, Ambassador Mitifu described the following broad themes for possible USG technical expertise and assistance: anti-corruption/good governance; investment climate; SSR; and food security. It was agreed that the GDRC team would provide emboffs with a list of specific challenges and action items under each of the themes. This, in turn, would allow the USG to identify appropriate resources and expertise for each area. ¶4. (SBU) Post is eager to move forward quickly on President Kabila's stated desire to work together on anti-corruption measures. The first step in this process will be to send an internationally-recognized, independent anti-corruption expert to the DRC to meet with President Kabila and senior GDRC officials. The objective of the expert's visit will be to initiate a frank dialogue with senior GDRC leadership on how to address the country's endemic corruption and to propose solutions and mechanisms to address corruption. This visit would be followed by a group of USG technical experts to further define, develop and eventually implement proposed mechanisms. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: President Kabila's positive response to Secretary Clinton's offer of USG technical assistance and expertise to address the DRC's rampant corruption presents an opportunity that we need to seize. Post has established an internal working group to ensure that the positive momentum and goodwill from the Secretary's visit is used to quickly define areas for collaboration. Post's working group looks forward to the visit of the independent anti-corruption expert to help define specific mechanisms for USG assistance that build on existing USG anti-corruption programming, compliment other donor initiatives, and achieve real results. The Secretary's visit has provided a window of opportunity to address some of the DRC's most vexing problems. The success of these Qsome of the DRC's most vexing problems. The success of these efforts, however, will depend on the GDRC's political will and commitment, as well as adequate USG resources. End comment. GARVELINK