US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA655

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 000655 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KDEM, KPKO, CG 
SUBJECT: CIAT MEETING WITH THE ESPACE PRESIDENTIEL APRIL 14 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Roger Meece.  Reason 1.4 (b/d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: The International Committee to Accompany the 
Transition (CIAT) met April 14 with President Kabila and 
three of DRC's four Vice Presidents; VP Ruberwa was absent. 
The first two discussion points centered on progress being 
seen to disarm militias in DRC's northeastern Ituri District, 
and problems being experienced in the national military 
integration program and related disarmament, demobilization, 
and reintegration (DDR) activities.  Turning to elections, 
the CIAT Ambassadors again underscored the need for improved 
communication with the Congolese public regarding election 
planning; the Congolese leaders reported on a recent 
senior-level GDRC "inter-institutional" meeting which set out 
plans and strategies.  The group also reviewed the status of 
Congo's draft constitution, now pending with the National 
Assembly.  All participants discussed how to manage a formal 
six-month extension of the transition period beyond June 30, 
a process expected to be initiated formally when the National 
Assembly finishes work on the constitution.  The Congolese 
addressed several questions to the Ambassadors regarding 
election support, and rumors of contingency evacuation 
planning by Western embassies.  Following the pattern 
established at the last similar meeting, the tone of the 
meeting was businesslike and productive.  End summary. 
 
The Fourth Encounter 
-------------------- 
 
2. (C) Heads of Mission of the sixteen members of the 
International Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT) 
met with the DRC "Espace Presidentiel" Thursday afternoon, 
April 14.  The "Espace Presidentiel" consists of President 
Kabila and the four GDRC Vice Presidents; however, Vice 
President Ruberwa was absent, traveling to Gabon.  The 
Congolese leaders were accompanied by Presidency Chief of 
Staff She Okitundu, Political Advisor Marcellin Shikambo, and 
Diplomatic Counselor Andre Kapanga.  This was the fourth such 
CIAT/Espace meeting in a series initiated late last year to 
advance the DRC's transition process. 
 
3. (C) President Kabila opened the meeting by noting that 
there had been positive developments since the last similar 
meeting, perhaps most notably in Ituri District. (Note: Ituri 
District is roughly the size of Liberia, located in the DRC's 
northeastern region bordering Uganda.  End note.)  SRSG Bill 
Swing picked up on the subject, reviewing the progress made 
by continuing MONUC and FARDC operations to disarm the 
illegal militia groups who have largely controlled the 
district in the past.  Swing also followed up on a point from 
the last meeting, asking on behalf of the CIAT about promised 
progress to ensure government funds reach the Ituri District 
government authorities, and efforts to establish government 
authority on the border. 
 
4. (C) Vice President Bemba, who has general authority over 
economic issues, fielded the questions by acknowledging that 
central government funds are still going to the provincial 
capital, Kisangani, and likely not being disbursed to 
district capitals.  Per the pledge he made at the last 
meeting, however, he asserted that a new system should be 
implemented very soon to send funds monthly directly to 
Bunia, Ituri District capital, with similar procedures also 
to be implemented elsewhere.  Bemba also reported that there 
had been problems finding customs service and other civil 
servants willing to be assigned to Ituri District, and 
particularly the volatile border area with Uganda. 
Nonetheless, he said that people are now being found which, 
together with security measures being taken for their 
protection, should begin to establish government authority 
and customs collections at the border in coming weeks. 
 
5. (C) Kabila, Bemba, and Vice President Z'Ahidi Ngoma all 
praised current MONUC efforts in Ituri.  On a related note, 
Z'Ahidi Ngoma asked about the status of MONUC and other 
efforts to implement Rwandan FDLR disarmament and 
repatriation following the FDLR's recent declaration in Rome 
renouncing their armed struggle.  In response, Swing noted 
that the Kigali government, contrary to the tone of some 
reporting, is in fact making preparations for large-scale 
returns to Rwanda, and that MONUC is actively working to put 
arrangements in place to facilitate major FDLR disarmament 
and repatriation movements as quickly as possible.  Swing 
also noted he assumes that the FDLR declaration would almost 
certainly be an important topic in the next U.S.-facilitated 
Tripartite meeting, expected to be held April 21-22 in 
Lubumbashi. 
 
Military Integration 
-------------------- 
6. (C) The Dutch Ambassador reiterated CIAT concerns that the 
rather quickly accelerated military integration program has 
several flaws and problems that need ongoing attention.  Even 
more importantly, the lagging disarmament, demobilization, 
and reintegration (DDR) program needs to be improved.  She 
referenced earlier-expressed concerns in particular about the 
DDR financial management committee.  While VP Ruberwa would 
normally have the lead in dealing with security issues, 
Kabila responded in his absence, suggesting that the 
solutions earlier discussed for the management committee and 
CONADER (note: the agency responsible for DDR) should be 
adopted during a Friday Council of Ministers meeting. 
 
Elections and Communication 
--------------------------- 
 
7. (C) By prior arrangement, the Ambassador introduced the 
subject of elections planning.   While noting that 
substantial specific planning efforts are now underway, he 
also expressed CIAT concern on the lack thus far of any 
apparent overall communication strategy from the government, 
parliament, and election commission to get information to the 
public.  Such efforts are badly needed to convince skeptical 
Congolese that there is a real process underway to move 
toward elections.  Regular, ongoing activities are needed, 
for example to supply weekly or more frequent progress 
reports, and all government members and others need to be 
actively involved in helping convey key messages.  The 
Ambassador noted that several CIAT members have already 
stepped up their own complementary media and public outreach 
activities, consistent with prior CIAT/Espace Presidentiel 
discussions.  The Ambassador also noted the CIAT's continuing 
concern regarding the Independent Election Commission's (CEI) 
efforts to find adequate office and storage space in Kinshasa 
and around the country. 
 
8. (C) Apparently well-prepared on the subject, President 
Kabila reported (without reference to notes) on a meeting 
held two weeks before involving senior members of the 
executive, parliament, and the CEI.   Agreement in this 
senior-level "inter-institutional" meeting had been reached 
on key issues, and an overall communications strategy mapped 
out.  VP Bemba added that, per the results of the same 
meeting, the CEI is to initiate regular press briefings and 
appoint a designated spokesperson.  In addition, he indicated 
that the government will be fully engaged in the overall 
communication effort.  Bemba also reported progress on the 
issue of buildings for the CEI, including a Public Works 
Ministry team now traveling in the interior to identify 
adequate state-owned buildings that can be made available to 
the CEI quickly and at low cost.  Kabila, Bemba, and Z'Ahidi 
Ngoma asked about the status of international funding 
support, and the timetable for materials needed to start 
voter registration. 
 
9. (C) SRSG Swing reviewed funding status, noting that 
roughly half the USD 170 million pledged by donors to-date 
has already been received.  Swing and others also reviewed 
the procurement status of voter registration materials, 
underscoring the importance of a scheduled prototype test 
late this month.  Congolese and CIAT members all agreed on 
the fundamental importance of initiating actual voter 
registration activities before the transition's two-year 
anniversary on June 30.  Responding to a Kabila question, 
Swing suggested that voter registration would likely take a 
minimum of three months once started. 
 
Extending the Transition and Parliament 
--------------------------------------- 
 
10. (C) Meeting participants reviewed the status of the draft 
constitution now pending in the National Assembly, and noted 
some concerns regarding specific provisions, primarily coming 
from the European Commission.  All agreed on the importance 
of timely adoption of draft text by the National Assembly 
before the end of April.  This timing, and the related voter 
registration prototype test also scheduled for late this 
month, led logically to a discussion of how to manage the 
process of a formal extension to the DRC transition, as 
provided for in Article 196 of the Global and All-Inclusive 
Accord (note: the DRC's de facto interim constitution). 
 
11. (C) Bemba underscored that, contrary to the assertions of 
some (comment: meaning Etienne Tshisekedi and his UDPS 
party), there cannot be a "constitutional coup," and that it 
is important for the international community to make that 
clear to those who seem to favor such a scenario.  All the 
Congolese and CIAT Ambassadors agreed that, per previous 
discussions, the preferred way to proceed would be a CEI 
notification to the parliament to invoke a six-month 
extension under Article 196 based on technical grounds around 
the end of the month shortly after the adoption of a draft 
constitution.  Constitutionally, this will require 
parliamentary approval.  Z'Ahidi Ngoma implied that there was 
already agreement that the Espace Presidentiel members would 
clearly pronounce themselves at about the same time in favor 
of the extension to provide the needed time to complete 
elections planning.  Clearly, corresponding communication 
from the CEI and international community should be part of 
the process as well. 
 
12. (C) Bemba asked about rumors that at least some Western 
embassies had already advised their citizens to leave the DRC 
before June 30 in anticipation of civil disorder, or had 
prepared specific evacuation plans.  Several Ambassadors 
denied this was the case, although all acknowledged concerns 
regarding the general security environment.  Ambassador Meece 
noted that the U.S. Mission has initiated planning for July 4 
celebrations - in Kinshasa.  Kabila asked for an invitation, 
adding that the transition government had no evacuation plans 
itself. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
13. (C) As was the case in the previous meeting, the tenor of 
the meeting was business-like and productive.  Whatever 
tensions continue to exist between Kabila and Bemba were not 
displayed, although it is possible Tshisekedi's new public 
activism may be spurring somewhat greater unity within the 
Espace Presidentiel in the face of a perceived common enemy. 
Ruberwa's absence was unfortunate and limited discussion of 
security issues, although the Congolese participants were 
generally somewhat more forthcoming in this meeting than had 
been the case previously.  The CIAT will probably be inclined 
to follow a similar format at future meetings, including de 
facto reviews of promised actions or policies from previous 
meetings.  The next Espace meeting will probably take place 
in May.  End comment. 
DOUGHERTY