US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1284

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001284 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, PINS, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: NEW ITURI DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TRAVELS TO BUNIA 
WITH OPTIMISTIC VISION 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) Summary. New Ituri District Commissioner Petronille 
Vaweka traveled to Bunia on July 12 with a goal of improving 
security, resolving the IDP situation and rebuilding Ituri. 
Although she is a competent and determined individual, her 
effectiveness will be contingent on receiving support from 
the national and provincial governments. End Summary. 
 
Petronille Vaweka's Vision for Ituri 
------------------------------------ 
 
2. (C) As part of its push to reintegrate the East, Kinshasa 
announced on June 28th the appointment of Petronille Vaweka 
as new district commissioner for Ituri. Her appointment 
effectively brings to an end the tenure of the Ituri Interim 
Administration (IIA) and restores normal district governance. 
Vaweka met with poloff on July 9th to discuss her vision for 
the region. She said that her top three priorities were 
improving security, the return of internally displaced people 
(IDPs) and reconstruction of Ituri. Vaweka noted that these 
issues were intertwined and that improving security was 
essential to the return of IDPs to their areas of origin and 
would also make it possible to rebuild the infrastructure and 
the economy of Ituri, which in turn, would also foster 
greater security. 
 
3. (C) Vaweka acknowledged that she would have to work 
closely with MONUC in the area of security since the 
Congolese police in Ituri lack arms and all other basic 
equipment to function as a law and order entity. However, she 
said that she would also use her excellent relations with all 
relevant actors in Ituri to negotiate and encourage people to 
contribute to her vision for security and development of the 
area. She wants real DDR of militias and increased job 
opportunities for community re-insertion, especially in 
activities that would help improve the socio-economic 
situation such as repairing roads and rebuilding schools. 
 
4. (C) Vaweka welcomes the Union of Congolese 
Patriots-Lubanga's (UPC-L) recent decision to become a 
political party. She said that now that UPC-L had officially 
been recognized by the GDRC as a political party, she would 
work to sensitize its members in Ituri to the importance of 
giving up violence and using political channels to 
participate in the democratic process. She noted that she 
would also try to persuade other militias in Ituri to evolve 
into political parties and to disarm and re-integrate into 
their communities. 
 
Serious Challenges Remain 
------------------------- 
 
5. (C) The main challenge facing Vaweka as new District 
Commissioner is the lack of means to function as an effective 
administrator. She said that she is assuming her new post in 
Bunia on Monday, July 12, without any funds. The GDRC 
promised to send her one million Congolese francs (less than 
$3,000) by the end of July, to fund her administration. There 
was also no indication of when she would receive a salary. 
Vaweka was planning on using the offices, computers, 
furniture and vehicles left by the Ituri Interim 
Administration for the new district administration. 
 
6. (C) Vaweka explained that she had emphasized to President 
Kabila the importance of supporting the new administration in 
Ituri and showing that the GDRC was serious about 
incorporating the district back into Province Orientale and 
the DRC. She also said that she was ready to work with new 
Oriental Province Governor Theo Baruti, but wanted to avoid 
past practices in which Ituri supplied most of the revenues 
received by Kisangani and then sent to Kinshasa, but received 
virtually nothing in exchange. She wants an equitable 
distribution of revenues that would permit the effective 
administration and economic development of Ituri. 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7. (C) Petronille Vaweka's appointment to lead the new Ituri 
administration is an encouraging sign. She is a competent and 
respected leader who has excellent relations with all 
relevant players in Ituri, including MONUC, Kinshasa, local 
militias and community leaders. She has also maintained an 
optimistic and positive attitude even when faced by serious 
obstacles. However, without appropriate resources to pay 
staff and fund administrative activities, Vaweka's 
effectiveness could be severely limited. 
SWAN