US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA872

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000872 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/C 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2010 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PREL, ASEC, CF 
SUBJECT: CONGO/B:  THE TROUBLED POOL REGION - EVERYONE'S TO 
BLAME 
 
REF: A) KINSHASA 0575 B) KINSHASA 0436 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBIN R. SANDERS, REASONS 1.4 B AND D 
 
1.(C) Summary:  Since the UN convey to the Pool Region was 
stopped and harassed by armed bandits in late April, there 
has been a flurry of activity (not all good) on addressing 
the security, elections, and development needs of the Region. 
 Everyone is playing their political game - the Congo/B 
Government as well as former Ninja rebel leader Pastor Ntumi 
- at the cost of the residents and the much-needed 
post-conflict rehabilitation of the Region. Very few NGOs 
work in the Pool because of the insecurities and lack of 
infrastructure. The Congolese Government (ROC), and Pastor 
Ntumi have more "smoke and mirrors" surrounding their actions 
on security and advancing development that it is clear that 
neither side is concerned with what is in the best interest 
of the Region's residents. Security in some areas is 
precarious as groups of 8-10 armed bandits (formerly Ninjas 
members) harass and intimidate the local population.  This 
does not bode well for the ROC's February 2005 announcement 
that elections would be held in the Pool this year (ref B). 
End Summary. 
 
 
-------------------------------- 
A Closer Look at the Pool Region: 
-------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Based on Ambassador's April 23 visit to the Pool 
Region (at the same time as the UN convoy was attacked) and 
subsequent discussions May 10-20 with journalists, former 
Ninjas, UN contacts, NGOs, clergy, ROC and Pool Region 
leaders, it is unclear how many armed men remain under former 
rebel leader Pastor Ntumi's control. What is evident, 
however, is that many of the young men who were part of 
Ntumi's Ninja forces prior to the March 2003 peace accords 
have struck out on their own in small groups of 8-10 armed 
men, intimidating and harassing the local population.  Hence, 
the security environment, outside of the major cities like 
Kinkala, Mindouli, and Mandamba is not under anyone's control 
--  including the ROC Government. This makes the task of 
advancing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) 
activities more of a challenge. 
 
3. (C) The devastation and destruction of the Pool is 
alarming. During Ambassador's April 23 visit it was evident 
that no rehabilitation had taken place in the Region. 
Schools, farms, homes, roads, and communities remained 
destroyed. Outside of the government, the church and a few 
NGOs, there is no formal employment.  The main route from 
Brazzaville to the Pool district capital of Kinkala-Mindouli, 
the distance of about of 80 kilometers, takes 5-6 hours to 
travel as a result of the deterioration of the road. Many 
schools have no roofs, textbooks, sanitation, water or 
electricity. Homes and farms are in the same deplorable 
conditions, with many abandoned. The few NGOs (none American) 
that work in the area focus mostly on health and food issues 
given the infrastructure challenges. The only bright spot is 
that many residents viewed the April 23 opening of the UNDP 
office in Kinkala, despite the UN convoy being stopped by 
armed bands en route, as a hopeful sign.  However, since the 
UN convoy incident, the UN has been cautious about road 
travel to Kinkala and Mindouli, although it now has two 
international staff members based there full time. 
 
The DDR Program - Remains on Hold: 
--------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) As a result of the UN convoy incident, the EU/UNDP DDR 
program announced in March 2005 has not advanced. In 
discussion on May 19-20 with both the EU and UNDP, they noted 
that they want the ROC to better underscore its commitment to 
addressing Pool Region development and more assurances about 
safety and security on the Brazzaville-Kinkala-Mindouli road. 
Moreover, there are public diplomacy challenges to DDR 
implementation as former Ninjas are reluctant to give up arms 
without payment, and are not yet confident that arms will 
truly be destroy. 
 
5. (C) The recent twist to the DDR debate, however, is that 
former rebel leader Pastor Ntumi announced on RFI on May 18 
that he would "execute his own DDR program, and collect arms 
from his men." Former Ninjas expressed concern over the 
announcement to the Embassy on May 25 as they now believe 
Ntumi and his family have been co-opted by the government. 
There are reports that Ntumi is receiving government stipends 
and vehicles. Thus, none of the former Ninjas, reportedly, 
will give their arms to him because they claim he in turn 
would just sell them for personal gain. 
6. (C) Meanwhile, despite the ROC's fanfare to provide DDR 
assistance to 450 ex-soldiers in the Pool under a government 
funded program, it has pulled back since the incident with 
the UN convoy (ref A). It is claiming that the "atmosphere in 
the Pool is no longer conducive for their program." The 
government has also encouraged other groups such as the ILO 
(which is implementing a small ex-child soldier's program 
with Department of Labor funds) not to work in the Pool. 
(Note: The Embassy has encouraged the ILO consultant to 
review options in this area given that parts of their program 
can be implemented in cities such as Kinkala and Mindouli 
working with local NGO partners in the Region. End Note). 
 
7. (C) Comment: Whether any of the analysis by the range of 
Embassy contacts -- journalists, former Ninjas, UN, NGOs, 
government and other political leaders -- is true, it 
demonstrates, however, that there is a lot of interest in the 
Pool Region, but all for the wrong reasons.  Without a real 
post-conflict development focus on rehabilitating the Pool, 
it is unlikely that the country overall can move from its 
fragile post-conflict status to lasting nation-wide security 
and development. In addition, the Pool Region was the 
agricultural breadbasket of the country prior to the years of 
civil war, and if farmers are afraid to return to the fields, 
lack of food self-sufficiency for the entire country, along 
with the high cost of living, will continue. As for elections 
in the Pool, despite the ROC leadership's stated commitment 
for elections this year, this too looks unlikely. 
 
8. (U) Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders 
MEECE 
MEECE