US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1143

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001143 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, KPKO, CG 
SUBJECT: TRANSITION ASSESSMENT: AN AMBITIOUS BLUEPRINT FOR 
THE COMING YEAR 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 964 
     B. KINSHASA 01066 
     C. KINSHASA 01077 
 
Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: The final report from the government's 
transition assessment seminar highlighted challenges faced 
during the past two years and outlined recommendations for 
the third - and last - year of the transition. Although some 
recommendations were constructive, the vague and overly-broad 
report lacked guidance as to how the government could achieve 
them. END SUMMARY. 
 
A Look Back 
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2. (SBU) The final report from the transition government's 
assessment seminar summed up challenges encountered over the 
past two years, such as budgetary constraints, bad 
governance, the slow integration of the army, periodic crises 
creating conflict between political actors, and the 
impartiality of certain media outlets. Lack of money and 
political will seemed to be the primary contributors to the 
government's inaction. 
 
Looking Forward 
--------------- 
3. (U) The report, a bulleted laundry list of recommendations 
for the government's four standing commissions, outlined 
general recommendations for the coming year, including 
increasing transparency and fighting corruption. In the 
political, defense and security sector, key recommendations 
included prioritizing funding for activities focused on the 
transition; immediately disarming the FDLR; improving police 
and military living conditions; accelerating the DDR process; 
improving relationships with neighboring countries to 
consolidate peace in Central Africa; building new prisons and 
improving conditions in existing ones; increasing national 
radio and television coverage; and fighting against sexual 
violence. 
 
4. (U) In the economic and financial sector, key 
recommendations included compiling monthly budget reports; 
conducting audits of all companies; tracking resources given 
to the army and police; finalizing the national civil servant 
census; forbidding the Central Bank from printing money; and 
limiting official travel. 
 
5. (U) In the reconstruction and development sector, key 
recommendations included improving access to water and 
electricity throughout the country and accelerating the 
rehabilitation of the railroad and ports. In the social and 
cultural sector, key recommendations included guaranteeing 
the payment of salaries and building schools and hospitals. 
 
Comment 
------- 
6. (C) The transition assessment report outlined numerous 
laudable recommendations, but it is unlikely that the 
government will be able to accomplish many during the coming 
year. While the assessment was arguably a generally useful 
exercise, the suggestions are vague and offer few concrete 
action items. The report's impact is further diluted by the 
overly-broad range of issues addressed, and the failure to 
identify clearly the most critical priority goals. The 
international community will need to continue to remain 
strongly engaged, primarily through the CIAT, to ensure that 
the highest priority transition items (i.e., disarming the 
FDLR, paying regular salaries, improving communication...) 
are accomplished. 
MEECE