US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1345

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001345 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR AF, AF/C, AND AF/RSA 
AF FOR AS FRAZER 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ECON, PHUM, ASEC, ETRD, EINV, CF 
SUBJECT:  CONGO-B: AN ASSESSMENT OF POLITICAL STYLE AND 
VISION 
 
REF:  KINSHASA 001329 
 
1.  (U) This is an action request.  See paragraph 10. 
 
2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  A product of years of strife, struggle, 
and coalition building to gain and retain power, Congolese 
President Denis Sassou-Nguesso has emerged as the 
uncontested and unquestioned leader of government, chairman 
of the corporate board, and visionary of a better future for 
the people of Congo.  He has amassed considerable wealth, co- 
opted or neutralized his political opponents, and appears to 
be concerned about his international image and his 
historical legacy.  In order to achieve his objectives for 
the future, and while maintaining strict control of the ship 
of state, he has shown a willingness to seek and accept the 
advice and assistance of the international community to 
develop critical sectors of the economy and to increase 
openness and transparency in government.  The Executive 
Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved an 
$84.4 million Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) 
for the Republic of Congo on December 6, 2004, and the Paris 
Club has agreed to reschedule its foreign debt.  The French 
oil company TotalFinaElf and the Government of France 
continue strong ties with Congo, and China is moving to 
establish its presence in Congo as well as elsewhere in 
Africa.  As a gesture to encourage President Sassou to 
continue on a path of sustained economic growth, poverty 
reduction, transparency and good governance, and to improve 
the observance of human rights in Congo, CDA recommends that 
AS Frazer meet with President Sassou during his planned 
visit to New York city for the meeting of the UN General 
Assembly in September 2005.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
THE VISION STATEMENT 
 
3.  (U) In his State of the Nation address delivered before 
a joint session of parliament on August 8, 2005, President 
Sassou outlined his vision of a strategy to strengthen 
democratic institutions, to accelerate economic growth and 
development, to reduce poverty, and to cooperate with 
international financial institutions to sustain the social, 
financial, and economic programs of his government. 
Emphasizing the importance of peace and security in building 
democratic institutions, he accepted the challenge to build 
a peaceful democracy that would be unceasingly improved and 
reinforced.  He announced a plan to build democracy at the 
local level through decentralization and delegation of 
authority.  He appealed to the private sector and financial 
institutions to join hands with his government to create 
enterprises and to fight unemployment.  He warned corrupt 
civil servants that they could undermine the nation's 
economic and social foundation and said they would be rooted 
out.  The aim of his government, he said, is to develop and 
transfer skills in the fields of public education, health, 
social affairs, civilian protection, transportation and 
public works, commerce, tourism and the crafts industry. 
 
4.  (U) The President said his major preoccupation is 
putting an end to the multiple problems of public access to 
water and electricity, and cited several building projects 
that will expand the electric and water supply.  These 
include the water projects at Nkombo, Sibiti, and Mossaka, 
the thermal power station in Mpila and the hydro-electric 
complex at Imboulou.  He announced that the government has 
adopted a National Plan for Regional Development that will 
soon be submitted to the Parliament for approval.  The plan 
will outline a strategy to advance the harmonious 
development of the country to achieve its full potential, he 
said.  A major portion of the speech was devoted to a 
detailed status report on the arrangement with the IMF for 
the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and the 
Paris Club debt rescheduling.  Giving specific figures on 
the amounts of debt involved, he concluded that Congo had 
just benefited from foreign debt cancellation and 
rescheduling measures in relation to three bilateral 
partners:  France, the United States, and Italy.  With the 
entire diplomatic corps and heads of international 
organizations assembled in the Hall of Congress (Palais du 
Parlement), President Sassou seized the opportunity to 
express recognition and thanks to the countries, 
international financial institutions, as well as other 
partners who brought their help and support to Congo's work 
of reconstruction and development.  As you can see, he said, 
our efforts were not in vain. 
 
THE REALITY 
 
5.  (U) There are indications that President Sassou is 
committed to meeting the IMGF targets as set forth under the 
PRGF arrangements as well as the Paris Club criteria for 
debt relief.  The chiefs of all diplomatic missions and 
international organizations in Brazzaville have formed an 
advisory group called Partners for Poverty Reduction in 
Congo.  The Group meets periodically, usually monthly, with 
the Minister of Plans (or his representative) to assess 
approaches and progress and to offer technical advice and 
assistance to the government on how to meet IMF targets and 
reduce poverty.  The group is chaired by the World Bank 
Resident Representative and includes representatives from 
donor agencies such as UNDP, IMF, AU, ICRC, UNHCR, and 
UNICEF.  The group has emphasized the need for a 
comprehensive development plan that identifies actions that 
each ministry must implement, not just the Ministry of 
Plans.  Time tables, follow-up and oversight functions have 
been emphasized.  A smaller oversight committee has been 
formed within the larger group consisting of the World Bank, 
IMF, UNDP and AU representatives and the Ambassadors of 
France and the United States.  When it appears that advice 
is not being well received or that programs are lagging off 
schedule, this watch-dog committee will request an audience 
with the President to advise him personally of corrective 
measures required to stay on course.  President Sassou has 
welcomed this international intervention and assistance. 
 
6.  (U) In the area of economic development, China has 
assumed a leading role.  The China Machinery Equipment 
Corporation (CMEC) entered into a contract with the 
Congolese Government on March 25, 2003, to construct a dam 
on the Lefini River at Imboulou located about 125 miles 
north of Brazzaville.  Construction started in April of this 
year and is expected to be completed in 2009 at a cost of 
some $250 million.  Most of the material for the project 
will be imported from China.  About 500 workers are 
currently employed by the project: 115 Chinese technicians 
and 385 Congolese.  This appears to be China's largest 
project in Congo.   Another Chinese company called WIETC has 
a joint venture agreement with a construction company called 
SOPROGI to build housing projects.  In the first phase of 
construction, 103 houses will be built in Oyo, a city 
located 187 miles north of Brazzaville.  This project is 
employing 70 Congolese workers and 12 Chinese engineers.  On 
July 15, 2005, this company also began construction of low- 
income housing in Bacongo, a district of Brazzaville heavily 
populated by supporters of Pastor Ntumi, the leader of the 
Ninja rebels.  Housing is a major social issue for low- 
income Congolese, and completion of this project will be 
highly valued by all Congolese, including Pastor Ntumi. 
This brief summary is not comprehensive; it is intended only 
to give a sense of significant economic development 
projects.  There are others ongoing. 
 
7. (SBU) In the area of human rights, there is a need for 
improvement.  The Pygmies are still discriminated against in 
all aspects of society, and about 30 persons arrested in 
Pointe Noire in the spring of this year suspected of coup 
plotting are being held without trial.  Efforts to implement 
the March 2003 Peace Agreement between the Government of 
Congo and the Ninja rebels continue.  President Sassou has 
announced that legislative elections will be held in the 
Pool Region, probably in the winter.  Chief Frederic 
Bitsango, alias Pastor Ntumi, has clearly expressed his 
intention to be a part of the political process and to seek 
election from the Pool.  This poses a political challenge 
for the President since the incumbent Member of Parliament 
from the same District in the Pool Region is a close friend 
and political ally.  In another District of the Pool Region 
the Minister of Commerce, Mrs. Adelaide Moundele-Ngollo, has 
indicated her intention to seek election.  She is considered 
the front-runner in her district because of the popularity 
and reputation of her father who is highly revered in the 
region.  Experienced observers believe that a way will be 
found to bring Pastor Ntumi into the government.  An example 
of Ntumi's dialogue with the government may have already 
been shown. 
 
8. (SBU) In April 2005, a convoy of 8 UN vehicles was 
attacked by armed Ninja rebels, robbed, and later released 
unharmed by Pastor Ntumi.  The purpose of the UN Mission to 
the Pool was to assess conditions there.  The convoy 
consisted of some 25 persons, including chiefs of UN 
Missions in the Congo, and journalists.  One of the young 
boys, armed with a loaded gun, told the UNICEF Program 
Coordinator "we are not bad people, we are just hungry." 
The rebels knew the convoy was coming and were waiting for 
them at a selected spot along the route.  The fact that no 
one was harmed and that Pastor Ntumi personally rescued the 
mission and led them to safety gave rise to speculation that 
the entire incident was staged to make a political point. 
 
THE BEACH TRIAL VERDICT 
 
9.  (SBU) The not guilty verdict announced by the 
Brazzaville Criminal Court last Wednesday (see reftel) 
clearing the senior military and police officials accused of 
crimes in the disappearance of some 350 refugees from the 
beach in 1999 did not surprise most observers.   Those 
accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes 
were leaders of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso's support 
base within the military and police, including the Chief of 
Police.  A guilty verdict against them would have been 
viewed as a betrayal of trust within the ranks and could 
have led to more serious disruptions and intrigue.  The 
victor in a civil war that pitted north against south, tribe 
against tribe, and brother against brother, the President 
owes political favors to numerous individuals and groups for 
helping him win that war.  These Sassou loyalists now hold 
key positions in government at all levels (including the 
judiciary), in international institutions, and in the 
private sector.   His loyalty to them and their loyalty to 
him is the base of his power.  Thus, the trial was held in 
response to demands from grieving families, human rights 
groups, and the international community for justice and 
transparency.  The verdict, interestingly, found the 
government responsible for not adequately providing security 
for the refugees and ordered it to pay 10 million CFA 
($18,500) in compensation to the relatives of 86 of the 
missing refugees.  None of the officials charged were found 
individually culpable for the disappearances. 
 
10.  (SBU) COMMENT:  After 45 years of political 
instability, ideological shifts, and civil war, the Republic 
of Congo remains in an early stage of economic and political 
development.  The resulting contradictions and distortions 
are strikingly obvious.  The audacious accumulation of 
wealth in the hands of the President and his family in the 
face of widespread poverty and disease among the population, 
the huge amount of food imported into the country (estimated 
to be valued at 100 billion CFA, or 20 USD million per 
month) despite hunger, high unemployment and a low minimum 
wage, and the high level of government spending on champagne 
at official parties verses no books and benches for school 
children cannot be explained nor excused by the uneven 
impact of history.  Strong political leadership and vision 
are required to reverse these trends.  President Sassou says 
that he is now ready to step up to the plate and lead this 
nation out of poverty and into an era of economic and 
political renewal based on transparency and good governance. 
CDA recommends that we seize the opportunity of his planned 
visit to New York for the UNGA to encourage him to do just 
that and to improve the observance of human rights in Congo. 
CDA believes the Assistant Secretary of State for African 
Affairs is the appropriate level for this demarche' given 
the relatively early stage of many of these development 
programs, and CDA strongly recommends that AS Frazer 
undertake this initiative. 
 
11.  (U) Brazzaville Embassy Office - Anderson 
Meece