US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1867

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001867 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPKO, CG, UNSC 
SUBJECT: CIAT ENDORSES REVISED ROAD MAP 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1851 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROGER MEECE.  REASON 1.5 (B/D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: In an October 4 meeting, the International 
Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT) concurred with 
revisions to its version of the DRC transition "road map," 
the fundamental plan for the transition period.  Copies are 
being sent to President Kabila and other senior GDRC 
officials.  The road map focuses on four key areas: army 
restructuring, integration, and disarmament/demobilization; 
foreign armed groups in the DRC; election preparations; and 
extension of state authority to all DRC territory.  The 
revised road map notes steps already accomplished, as well as 
outlining GDRC actions required.  The CIAT document does not 
identify needed international community actions, such as 
efforts to harmonize currently uncoordinated initiatives from 
various countries regarding military integration.  End 
summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The International Committee to Accompany the 
Transition (CIAT) approved October 4 a revised draft of the 
DRC "Road Map" which serves as the base reference document 
for the transition period.  Copies of the document were being 
sent to President Kabila, the four Vice Presidents, and other 
GDRC officials prior to a scheduled meeting of the CIAT with 
the "Espace Presidentiel" (President plus four Vice 
Presidents) on October 6.  (Note: Vice President Bemba, 
currently in the U.S. will not be present for the October 6 
meeting.) 
 
3. (SBU) The road map focuses on the four key areas for 
transition progress identified by the international community 
following the conclusion of peace accords establishing the 
transition.  Chapter one looks at "Integration and 
restructuring of the army, implementation of the national 
plan for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration." 
Chapter two focuses on "Definitive resolution of the problem 
of armed foreign groups in Congolese territory."  Chapter 
three deals with "Preparation and organization of elections," 
and Chapter four with "Extension of State authority 
throughout all national territory." 
 
4. (SBU) Each of the chapters has an opening bullet list of 
actions already accomplished.  Chapter one steps, for 
example, include among other items the adoption of a national 
DDR plan, elaboration of an integration plan, launch of the 
High Defense Council (composed of representatives of former 
belligerents), formation of the Ituri integrated military 
brigade, and an integrated police brigade in Bunia (Ituri). 
Chapter two accomplishments list only two bullets to-date, 
establishment of a Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) between 
the DRC and Uganda, and the voluntary repatriation of 5,000 
combatants plus families.  Chapter three accomplishments 
include the elaboration and adoption of the Independent 
Electoral Commission (CEI) law and the launch of CEI 
operations, and the elaboration of the electoral registration 
law.  Chapter four lists, among others, the installation of 
provincial governors and vice governors, deployment of the 
Ituri Brigade (in process), and the nomination of an Ituri 
territorial administration. 
 
5. (SBU) The list of remaining tasks is, not surprisingly, 
extensive.  In Chapter one, these are divided into separate 
lists dealing with the Army, DDR, Police, and "others," the 
latter category including intelligence services.  Each step 
includes a target time frame for implementation and 
identification of the GDRC authority with lead 
responsibility.  For example, one item identifies 
"finalization and adoption of a plan of integration and 
restructuring of the Army by the Transition Government" by 
November 2004, with the High Defense Council listed as the 
lead authority.  Chapter two includes only two tasks, 
specifically "Implementation of the Pretoria Declaration of 
November 27, 2003 and completion of the JVM accords between 
Rwanda and the DRC" targeted for October - November, 2004; 
and "Elaboration by the FARDC (Congolese National Army) of a 
strategy for the disarmament of foreign fighters in RCD - for 
example assignment of integrated units of the FARDC for the 
specific task of supporting DDRRR of foreign fighters" 
identifying November - December, 2004 as a target date. 
Chapter three tasks are allocated into four categories: 
"Common core" (e.g., allocation of funds for the CEI 
elaboration of election and Constitution laws, etc.); 
"Constitutional Referendum"; "Elections (local and 
legislative)"; and "Presidential Election."  Finally, Chapter 
four includes thorny issues such as the allocation of 
territorial, diplomatic, parastatal, and security service 
senior positions, implementation of a system to ensure 
regular and effective salary payments throughout the country, 
and other issues. 
 
6. (C) The list does not identify tasks or actions needed by 
the international community.  In terms of urgent priorities, 
this includes some degree of harmonization of initiatives of 
various countries, notably including South Africa and 
Belgium, for military integration.  The various plans and 
actions currently on the table at best are not coordinated, 
and are widely perceived to be in at least some respects 
competitive.  With growing recognition of the problem, there 
are efforts underway now to achieve greater coordination, and 
indeed the topic is expected to be one of the primary issues 
to be discussed in the CIAT- Espace Presidentiel meeting 
October 6. 
 
7. (U) A copy of the revised Road Map (in French) is being 
sent to AF/C. 
 
8. (C) Comment:  The road map is useful in maintaining 
pressure on Congolese leaders to realize progress on the key 
elements of the transition, as well as serving a secondary 
purpose of keeping CIAT members on the same page.  The latest 
revision reflects only an update of the basic plan and dates, 
but does not vary significantly from the earlier base line 
plan.  There is reason to be hopeful of progress in the near 
future on the question of harmonizing the disparate 
international initiatives regarding military integration. 
Given the reluctance of many Congolese in the transition to 
move on this issue, the achievement of a largely common 
international community position would be extremely useful to 
increase pressure to ensure timely forward movement.  End 
comment. 
MEECE