DRC TAKES ON SADC CHAIRMANSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 000826 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD CG SUBJECT: DRC TAKES ON SADC CHAIRMANSHIP REF: KINSHASA 801 KINSHASA 00000826 001.4 OF 003 Classified By: Ambassador William Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: As expected, Zimbabwe and Madagascar were front and center at the September 7-8 SADC Summit. On Zimbabwe, the SADC leaders called for a lifting of all sanctions against the country, with some arguing that full implementation of the global political agreement should not be a pre-condition for lifting sanctions. On Madagascar, SADC remained more "principled.8 SADC Mediator Joaquim Chissano voiced support for a consensual solution, but warned that, until such a solution is found, Madagascar would remain suspended from SADC. Other issues discussed included regional economic integration (progress on the FTA and the long-term goal of a customs union); democracy consolidation (elections throughout the SADC region); gender parity in politics; food security/agricultural productivity; support for a new global climate change protocol; and HIV-AIDS. Joining the incoming chair (DRC) and outgoing chair (South Africa),is the new vice-chair, Namibia, which takes over as chair next year at this time. Not insignificantly, Mozambique has assumed the chairmanship of SADC,s Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security, the SADC body to which the Zimbabwe question has been referred. The final communique announced that SADC would support Malawi,s candidacy to become the next AU chairman. End summary. Opening Session Atmospherics -------------- ¶2. (U) On the way to the summit site, ambassador noticed that some of the main roads had just been paved and the fronts of buildings were freshly painted. The meeting facility was an impressive tent structure with air conditioning and monitors scattered around the hall. It was an excellent meeting environment rumored to have been built by the South Africans. Although dignitaries had been instructed to arrive at the location at 7:30am for an 8am start of the summit, the meeting got underway shortly after 11:00am. Seven or eight of the fifteen heads of state showed up. The heads of state were from the Congo, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. President Mugabe was there as was Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. ¶3. (SBU) The speakers in the morning were the President of Zambia, the outgoing member of the governing troika, President Zuma the outgoing chairman of SADC and President Kabila, the incoming chair. After a short greeting by President Kabila, a 10-minute video of the Congo with narration in French was shown. At the end, in English, it thanked those countries of SADC which came to the aid of the Congo in its hour of need. There was nothing remarkable about any of the speeches. The Zambian President focused on economic issues, the global economic crisis, trade, and some vague references to political issues facing SADC. No reference was made to specific countries. ¶4. (U) In his statement, President Zuma talked about climate change, trade, a possible SADC customs union, and food security. He noted the SADC countries that had elections in the past year and listed the countries that would have elections in the coming year. He stressed the importance of peace and security and of democratic government and pointed to the peaceful transition of government in South Africa. He noted improvements in the situations in eastern Congo and in Qnoted improvements in the situations in eastern Congo and in Zimbabwe. Zuma urged all parties in Lesotho to reach a peaceful solution. He urged Zimbabwe to overcome the obstacles of the past and to move forward as a united government. He lamented the unscheduled change of government in Madagascar, noted its suspension from SADC and recognized former President Chissano as the SADC facilitator for the Madagascar question. He concluded his remarks with the importance of gender balance and stressed the importance of the SADC protocol on gender. ¶5. (U) President Kabila began his remarks with the listing of critical issues similar to the ones mentioned by President Zuma, including climate change, trade, cooperation with COMESA, agriculture and food security and the global economic crisis. He also emphasized the importance of infrastructure to economic development. Kabila noted the importance of peace and security and democracy and mentioned the importance of democracy in Zimbabwe and Madagascar. He ended his remarks by stressing the importance of the role of women in national life. KINSHASA 00000826 002.3 OF 003 ¶6. (U) The opening session concluded about 1:00pm and then the heads of state adjourned to closed sessions for the afternoon. The new SADC team -------------- ¶7. (U) Namibia, in its role as vice chairman and future chair, joined the DRC and South Africa on the SADC Troika. SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao (Mozambican) was sworn in for a second four-year term, as was the Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Economic Integration Joao Caholo (Angolan). Mozambican President Armadno Guebuza accepted the chairmanship of SADC's Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security. Zimbabwe -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Most notably, the SADC leaders called for the immediate lifting of all sanctions against Zimbabwe. While rumors flew at what level and in what forum the internal situation in Zimbabwe should be discussed, in the end, the question of the country,s fragile political situation was referred to the SADC,s Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security. A spokesman for Tsvingarai, James Maridadi, had earlier maintained that Zimbabwe would be the subject of a special summit. Following the summit, Tsvangirai told the press that the power-sharing accord between the MDC and ZANU-PF should be fully and quickly implemented, but he expressed confidence that the organ,s three-member panel was able to handle the issue. Some MDC officials reportedly wanted SADC to review certain aspects of the global political agreement (GPA),especially controversial governmental appointments by President Mugabe. DRC Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe told the Kinshasa diplomatic corps on September 10 that, although "things were not perfect in Zimbabwe," the SADC leaders agreed that continued sanctions were negatively affecting the population much more than the Zimbabwean leadership. Madagascar -------------- ¶9. (SBU) On Madagascar, the summit communique &firmly rejected and strongly condemned any unilateral decision that violates the spirit of the Maputo power-sharing agreements.8 SADC mediator Joaquim Chissano added that SADC had rejected the recent &unilateral decision taken in Madagascar.8 Chissano said he would continue to work for a consensual solution, but Madagascar,s SADC suspension would remain in place until a solution is reached. During his briefing to the diplomatic corps, Thambwe stressed that SADC resolutely opposed any unilateral moves outside of the framework of the Maputo agreements. Other issues -------------- ¶10. (U) The final communique echoed previous comments by Zuma and Kabila, noting the "consolidation of democracy8 in the region (various levels of elections in Angola, Malawi, Swaziland, South Africa, and Zambia already in 2009, with elections for later in 2009 scheduled in Botswana, Mozambique, and Namibia). SADC recommitted to strive for its gender parity goal of 50% women in political positions. Progress on strengthening the Free Trade Area and the possible creation of a customs union was also noted. Other issues addressed included the following: food security/agriculture productivity (higher productivity has been offset by higher food prices); support for a new climate change treaty as a successor to Kyoto; and continued efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIS, particularly through mother-to-child transmission and better access to anti-retroviral drugs. Qanti-retroviral drugs. ¶11. (C) Comment: The MDC came to Kinshasa hoping to highlight the lack of progress on implementing the GPA as the summit,s main outcome. However, the MDC had to revise its objectives of calling an extraordinary summit on Zimbabwe down to referring the issue to the SADC,s political organ. While we are not privy to the internal discussions on Zimbabwe, the marquee headlines in local and international press has been &SADC calls for lifting of Zimbabwe sanctions.8 On Madagascar, SADC took a more laudable stand by demanding a return to constitutional normalcy before suspensions would be lifted. Madagascar, however, is not a KINSHASA 00000826 003.3 OF 003 very important -- or emotional -- issue for most SADC members, whose leaders hold Robert Mugabe, a fellow anglophone who fought against colonialism and racism, in high regard. For the DRC, the summit was important symbolically, as this was the first regional or international conference in Kinshasa since the 1980s when Mobutu hosted a France-Africa summit. For many DRC citizens, from Kabila down to the man on the street, the fact that the DRC could host (albeit with considerable South African logistical support) such an event confirms that the DRC has moved out of the deepest depths of conflict and is perhaps ready to be viewed as &a normal African state.8 End comment. GARVELINK