US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1547

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001547 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, ECON, EIND, ELTN, PGOV, CG 
SUBJECT: CONGOLESE PASTORAL 
 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for internet 
distribution. 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
2. (U) From August 5-6, Emboffs traveled overland via the 
Matadi Road from Kinshasa to Lukala and Kimpese, Bas-Congo 
province.  Recent rehabilitation of the Matadi Road has 
ameliorated economic hardships in Bas-Congo, but shoddy 
workmanship could lead to a quick deterioration of the 
repairs.  In Lukala, Emboffs met with local government and 
police officials as well as the territorial administrator 
(AT) to discuss local economic conditions, refugee issues, 
and the anticipated national elections. 
 
Economic Profile 
---------------- 
 
2. (U) Officials reported that out of Lukala's 25,000 
citizens, some 700 are employed by various companies 
including CILU (Cimentier de Lukala) and SEPCONGO (petroleum 
parastatal).  The rest of the working population is engaged 
in subsistence agriculture, growing mainly manioc, corn, 
beans, and citrus fruits.  The AT expressed hopes of 
developing commercial agriculture in the region, but cited a 
problematic lack of capital.  (Comment.  Insufficient 
protection of property rights and deteriorating 
infrastructure should also be added to the AT's list of 
impediments to agricultural organization in Bas-Congo. 
Commercial agriculture once flourished in the DRC, but 
large-scale farmers have refused to return since the pillages 
of 1991 and 1993.  End Comment.) 
 
3. (U) The linchpin of economic activity in Bas-Congo is the 
Matadi Road, National Route No. 1.  It is the primary land 
transportation route between the port of Matadi, Bas-Congo's 
agricultural areas, and Kinshasa.  Until several months ago, 
the road was in severe disrepair, but World Bank-funded 
repairs were carried out by a Chinese engineering firm.  The 
road is now passable and commerce has increased 
significantly.  However, road conditions have already begun 
to relapse due to the high volume of truck traffic and lack 
of upkeep.  (Comment.  Repairs seem to have been carried out 
haphazardly.  Cursory Emboff inspection revealed that the 
road was paved in places with only a few inches of asphalt 
and no ballast/riprap.  The coming rainy season will likely 
speed its deterioration.  End Comment.) 
 
Political Climate 
----------------- 
 
4. (SBU) The major political issues facing the Bas-Congo 
community are election preparations and refugee flows. 
Officials expressed a strong desire for elections to be held 
as near as possible to the UN's 2005 deadline, but were 
skeptical that elections would occur in a timely manner if at 
all.  Numerous concerns including "international 
interference" and stalling by the transitional government 
were raised.  (Comment.  When Emboffs raised questions 
regarding election preparations, local officials admitted 
they were leaving the work up to various NGOs.  End Comment.) 
 
6. (SBU) Refugees continue to be a frustrating factor in 
areas near the DRC-Angola border.  Lukasa officials claimed 
that some 25,000 Angolans refugees had fled into their 
territory over the past decade.  Recently initiated 
repatriation programs have returned some 3,000 refugees to 
Angola, and an unknown number have voluntarily repatriated. 
Officials cited refugee problems as a severe strain on the 
local economy and a source of political tension.  (Note. 
There have been continuous refugee flows between the DRC and 
Angola since the early 1990s as citizens fled their 
respective countries' conflicts.  According to UNHCR figures, 
approximately 20,000 Angolan refugees remain in Bas-Congo. 
15,000 are in UNHCR camps where they receive food and medical 
assistance.  UNHCR officials feel that these refugees do not 
place a strain on the local economy, as they receive 
international aid and have been allocated separate land to 
cultivate.  UNHCR also opined that any political tension in 
the region was likely due to the expuslion of illegal 
Congolese diamond miners from Angola in late 2003 and early 
2004.  End Note.) 
 
7. (SBU) Bas-Congo sentiments towards the international 
community's presence in the DRC ranged from mild skepticism 
to utter disdain.  More than one official expressed contempt 
for the election process, stating that "the international 
community would hijack the elections to install a cooperative 
leader, just as it did in Rwanda."  Another official availed 
Emboffs of America's responsibility to rebuild the DRC, 
considering the fact that the USG had "taken advantage of the 
country."  (Comment.  Information flows outside of the major 
cities in the DRC continue to be unreliable, despite the 
prevalence of cellphones.  Public opinion tends to be 
polarized due to the lack of a credible news source and a 
victim mentality that has developed over a century of 
colonization and dictatorship.  End Comment.) 
MEECE