US embassy cable - 01HARARE353

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000353 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6 X5 
TAGS: PREL, ZI, CG, UK 
SUBJECT: BRITISH INSTRUCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE DEATH 
OF PRESIDENT KABILA 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR 
REASONS 1.5 B AND D. 
 
1.  (C) BRITISH DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER IAN HAY- 
CAMPBELL (PROTECT) SHARED THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTION, 
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CLASSIFIED "RESTRICTED," THAT HE HAD RECEIVED FROM 
LONDON DATED JANUARY 18 WITH RESPECT TO THE DEATH OF 
PRESIDENT KABILA.  THE BRITISH ARE PLAYING CATCH-UP 
HERE AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT 
WITH ANYONE AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO 
DELIVER THE DEMARCHE.  WE TRANSMIT IT FOR DEPARTMENT'S 
INFORMATION.  WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE 
INSTRUCTION TO KAMPALA AND KIGALI TO SEND A CLEAR 
MESSAGE TO MUGABE THAT THEY WILL NOT SEEK TO IMPOSE A 
NEW LEADER IN KINSHASA, THE POSITIONS LONDON TAKES 
APPEAR TO ADHERE CLOSELY TO OUR OWN. 
 
2.  (C) BEGIN TEXT: 
 
SUMMARY 
 
THE PARALYSIS IN KINSHASA PROVIDES THE EXTERNAL PLAYERS 
WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE LUSAKA FORWARD. 
INSTRUCTIONS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEIZE THE INITIATIVE. 
 
DETAIL 
 
WE ARE TRYING TO ASSESS THE IMPLICATIONS OF EVENTS IN 
KINSHASA ON THE INTERNAL POLITICAL SITUATION, LUSAKA AND 
MONUC DEPLOYMENT.  BUT WITH NO FORMAL STATEMENT FROM 
GDRC ABOUT KABILA'S DEATH AND NO POLICY STATEMENT FROM 
THE NEW LEADERSHIP, IT IS TOO EARLY TO MAKE SENSIBLE 
JUDGEMENTS.  WE WILL PROVIDE A CONSIDERED ASSESSMENT 
ONCE THE DUST HAS SETTLED. 
 
WHILE A VACUUM REMAINS IN KINSHASA, THERE IS A DANGER 
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THAT LUSAKA PARTIES MIGHT TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.  WE 
MUST URGE THEM NOT TO DO SO.  RATHER, THEY SHOULD SEIZE 
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WAYS OF MAKING PROGRESS ON 
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LUSAKA AND THE KAMPALA AND HARARE 
DISENGAGEMENT PLANS.  THERE ARE ALREADY INDICATIONS OF 
MOVEMENT IN THIS DIRECTION.  MUGABE AND NUJOMA ARE 
REPORTED TO BE PLANNING AN EARLY SUMMIT; THE 
AFRICA/FRANCE SUMMIT IN YAOUNDE WILL DISCUSS THE CRISIS 
(THOUGH WITH MOST OF THE KEY PLAYERS LIKELY TO BE 
ABSENT, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE); 
RWANDA AND UGANDA HAVE ISSUED STATEMENTS URGING THE DRC 
TO IMPLEMENT LUSAKA. 
 
WE MUST CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE NON-CONGOLESE 
BELLIGERENTS TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO MAKE PROGRESS. 
ACTION ADDRESSEES SHOULD SEEK AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO 
MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS AT A SUITABLY SENIOR LEVEL: 
 
- WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW LEADERSHIP IN KINSHASA TO 
RESTORE STABILITY, 
 
- WILL URGE THEM TO BRING ABOUT THE CONDITIONS FOR MONUC 
TO DEPLOY, 
 
- CONCERNED THAT NONE OF THE PARTIES SEEK TO TAKE PROFIT 
MILITARILY FROM THE UNCERTAINTY IN KINSHASA, 
 
- HOPE YOU WILL DO ALL YOU CAN TO DEFUSE MILITARY 
TENSIONS AND GET IMPLEMENTATION OF LUSAKA UNDERWAY, 
 
- THERE IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO LAUNCH NATIONAL DEBATE 
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AS ENVISAGED IN LUSAKA. 
 
FOR KAMPALA AND KIGALI ONLY: 
 
- HOPE YOU WILL SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO MUGABE AND DOS 
SANTOS THAT YOU WILL NOT SEEK TO IMPOSE A NEW LEADER IN 
KINSHASA, 
 
- ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENGAGE CONSTRUCTIVELY IN TAKING 
FORWARD IMPLEMENTATION OF DISENGAGEMENT PLAN. 
 
FOR HARARE, WINDHOEK AND LUANDA ONLY: 
 
- AN EARLY MEETING OF ALLIES VITAL.  HOPE YOU WILL ALSO 
HAVE EARLIER CONTACTS WITH UGANDA/RWANDA. 
 
COOK 
 
END TEXT. 
 
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                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3002 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  00353  02 OF 02  181550Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  DS-00    EUR-00 
      VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    VCE-00   NSAE-00  SSO-00 
      SS-00    DSCC-00  NFAT-00  SAS-00     /000W 
                  ------------------B81AA6  181550Z /38 
O 181550Z JAN 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8024 
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY KIGALI 
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 
AMEMBASSY LUANDA 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 000353 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6 X5 
TAGS: PREL, ZI, CG, UK 
SUBJECT: BRITISH INSTRUCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE DEATH 
OF PRESIDENT KABILA 
 
IRVING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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