US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1149

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001149 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, NI 
SUBJECT: CONGO AND RWANDA RE-COMMIT TO PRETORIA AGREEMENT 
 
REF: 25 JUNE 2004 - MOPPERT/EPSTEIN E-MAIL 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY A/POLCOUN RUSSELL J. HANKS.  REASONS 1.5 ( 
B & D). 
 
1.  (U) Presidents Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic 
of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda held a four-hour 
closed-door meeting in Abuja on June 25.  The meeting, 
initiated and chaired by President Olusegun Obasanjo of 
Nigeria, took place at the Nnamdi Azikwe International 
Airport.  According to the media spokesperson for the 
Nigerian Government, the meeting was in "continuation of 
efforts to achieve lasting peace and political stability in 
all parts of Africa." 
 
2.  (U) Although details remain sketchy, sources outside the 
meeting said both Presidents Kabila and Kagame have agreed to 
re-dedicate themselves to the Pretoria Agreement, signed by 
both leaders two years ago.  The sources further explained 
that Obasanjo personally appealed to the leaders to cease 
hostilities between the two neighbors and focus their 
attention on specific areas of the agreement that spell out 
modalities for "disarmament, demobilization, repatriation and 
rehabilitation of ex-combatants." 
 
3.  (U) Nigerian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Olu Adeniji, 
who addressed the press along with former military President 
Abdulsalami Abubakar, stated that "after discussions in an 
atmosphere of cordiality and a review of all the issues, 
President Kagame and President Kabila recommitted themselves 
to the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement."  Adeniji 
extended Obasanjo's gratitude to the two leaders for 
accepting his invitation "at short notice." 
 
4.  (C/NF)  COMMENT: Just prior to the meeting, DATT received 
indications that President Obasanjo would offer Nigerian 
personnel to assist in the DDR process.  We have not been 
able to confirm exactly what form this assistance would take. 
 END COMMENT. 
CAMPBELL