Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 04KINSHASA1399, ECONOMIC REPORT - LATE JUNE THROUGH 23 JULY

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04KINSHASA1399.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04KINSHASA1399 2004-07-29 06:15 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Kinshasa
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KINSHASA 001399 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR EAID EAIR ECON ECPS EFIN EIND EINV ELAB ELTN EMIN ETRD PGOV PREL CG
SUBJECT: ECONOMIC REPORT - LATE JUNE THROUGH 23 JULY 
2004 
 
1. Summary.  Bank of Commerce and Development (BCD) 
liquidation and conflict in eastern DRC temporarily 
raise exchange rates.  Prices remain relatively stable. 
The diamond sector continues to see increased activity 
with CEEC projecting exports of USD 1 billion by 2006 
(up from current USD 700-800 million).  Public 
enterprise workers (ONTRA, RVF, RVM, OFIDA, and OCPT) 
strike for salary arrears.  Air traffic controllers may 
be threatening similar action.  The Kindu-Lubumbashi 
rail line reopens with assistance from USAID. 
Utexafrica merges with Hong Kong-based Cha Textiles. 
The IMF approves USD 40 million for the DRC and 
commends GDRC progress towards structural reform.  DRC 
domestic debt reaches USD 1.15 billion. 
Gastroenteritis infection rates rise in Kinshasa due to 
low Congo River water levels.  End Summary. 
 
MONETARY AND PRICE UPDATE 
 
2. Prices have remained relatively stable.  Despite 
problems with river commerce due to low water levels of 
the Congo River during the dry season, most roads are 
passable during this time of year.  Prices also 
remained mostly stable in the DRC's eastern provinces 
despite continuing tensions. 
 
3. Exchange rates rose slightly in June and early July 
due to two major events.  First, the Congolese Central 
Bank's (BCC) liquidation of the BCD increased the 
demand for USD as bank depositors receiving their 
payments in local currency rushed to convert it to USD. 
Roughly USD 2.5 million was disbursed as part of the 
liquidation during this period.  This situation 
primarily affected the parallel market in Kinshasa, 
where 90 percent of BCD clients reside.  Second, Goma 
and Bukava saw rising exchange rates due to continuing 
regional tension.  Some analysts have suggested that 
rates increased because General Nkunda's forces flooded 
Goma and Bukavu exchange markets with local currency 
looted from the BCC's Bukavu branch office.  These 
reports are unconfirmed. 
 
MINING 
 
INCREASE IN DIAMOND EXPORTS FORECASTED 
 
4. According to CEEC director Victor Kasongo, the GDRC 
diamond supervisory agency expects DRC rough diamond 
exports to increase to USD 1 billion by 2006. 
Additionally, Kasongo projected production of USD 1 
billion and exports of USD 700-800 million for 2004. 
Kasongo noted that the present difference between 
production and export figures represents the value of 
diamonds being smuggled out of the country. 
 
SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESSMAN FREEZES DRC ASSETS IN BELGIUM 
 
5. The South African press reported that Frans Rootman, 
a businessman formerly operating in the DRC, has frozen 
over USD 20 million in gold and diamonds deposited in 
Belgian banks by the GDRC.  Rootman won a judgment 
against the GDRC in the Transvaal High Court for breach 
of a 1998 contract with former President Laurent Kabila 
whereby Rootman was to receive a commission on the 
recovery of cobalt ore allegedly stolen from Gecamines 
by Zimbabwean Billy Rautenbach, then CEO of Gecamines. 
Rootman filed the suit in civil court naming himself 
plaintiff as a private citizen.  Orders to freeze the 
assets were secured by a Brussels law firm acting on 
Rootman's behalf after investigators traced the assets 
to GDRC accounts in the Belgian banks.  Under Belgian 
law the GDRC has 15 days to oppose the order, after 
which Rootman may formally seize the assets.  These 
recent events come in addition to Rootman's seizure 
earlier this year of DRC assets in South Africa 
including Gecamines' corporate jet (since sold at 
auction for USD 1.9 million) and two large tracts of 
land in the Western Cape.  (Comment.  The South African 
Embassy commented that the freeze order was likely 
carried out by the Belgian banks in good faith after 
being contacted by Rootman's legal representation in 
Brussels.  SA Embassy was unaware of any specific 
bilateral agreements that would have formerly extended 
the Transvaal High Court's ruling.  As a final note, 
press reports on the matter of Rootman's freezing and 
seizure of GDRC assets have tended towards the 
outlandish.  Some of the reports are contradicted by 
widely known information, e.g. earlier reports that the 
GDRC's 80 percent share in MIBA had been seized are 
simply untrue.  End Comment.) 
 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
 
TELECEL BUSINESS LEAKS ACROSS BORDER 
 
6. DRC-based Starcell (formerly Telecel) is penetrating 
the cellular market in northern Angola.  Starcell 
phones and prepaid subscription cards are being 
smuggled across the border by Angolan nationals and 
sold at cheaper prices than phones offered locally (USD 
100 versus USD 240).  Proximity to the DRC border 
permits Angolan users access to Telecel's network. 
(Comment.  Starcell may have little other option than 
to actively promote this trade.  The company has been 
losing market share since the arrival in the DRC of 
Celtel and Vodacom.  End Comment.) 
 
LABOR AFFAIRS 
 
PUBLIC ENTERPRISE WORKERS STRIKE FOR SALARY ARREARS 
 
7. Workers at DRC public enterprises and government 
services including ONATRA (transportation) RVF (river 
commerce), RVM (maritime trade), OFIDA (customs), and 
OCPT (postal and telecommunications) staged brief 
strikes in Kinshasa and the port cities of Banana and 
Boma to protest unpaid wages and poor working 
conditions.  The strikes occurred in late June and 
early July, but work quickly resumed after the GDRC 
agreed to distribute a portion of the unpaid wages 
totaling several million FC.  (Note.  Many DRC public 
enterprises are in arrears.  RVF workers, for example, 
had not been paid for nine months prior to the strike, 
but returned to work after being promised one month's 
back pay.  End Note.) 
 
POSSIBLE RVA STRIKE 
 
8. Local press reports that workers of La Regie des 
Voies Aeriennes (RVA) are preparing to strike. 
Unconfirmed reports indicate that workers had 
tentatively set 26 July as the final date for 
negotiation before the strike begins.  RVA's air 
traffic controllers and technicians claim that the GDRC 
has reneged on an agreement negotiated to end a strike 
last April.  (Comment.  Econoffs interviewed local 
sources including air traffic controllers who indicate 
that strike rumors may be to due to internal RVA 
management wrangling.  Salary arrears are a common 
cause of labor unrest in the DRC, but RVA is generally 
timelier in its salary payments than other government 
services.  End Comment.) 
 
TRANSPORTATION 
 
KINDU-LUBUMBASHI RAIL LINE REOPENS 
 
9. Rail transportation between Kindu and Lubumbashi in 
Katanga province has resumed.  No trains had traveled 
the route since 1998.  The line will be used primarily 
to transport freight and food aid.  USAID provided most 
of the USD 1.3 million in repair costs.  (Comment.  The 
reopening of the Kindu-Lubumbashi line is important in 
that it 1) reconnects regions of the DRC isolated by 
conflicts of recent years, thus promoting 
reunification, and 2) permits the flow of aid and 
commercial traffic which will help to reinvigorate the 
economy in Maniema.  End Comment.) 
 
JORDAN, DRC SIGN AIR TRANSPORT AGREEMENT 
 
10. Jordan's Petra News Agency reported that DRC 
Transport Minister Joseph Olenghankoy signed an 
agreement with Jordanian civil aviation authorities to 
allow commercial flights between the two countries. 
(NFI) 
 
FORESTRY 
 
11. Local press reports that La Societe Africaine des 
Bois (Safbois), an American-owned company, has 
purchased USD 2 million in equipment and vehicles to 
augment its timber exploration and exploitation 
operations in Isangi, Orientale Province. 
 
TEXTILES 
 
HONG KONG TEXTILE GROUP PURCHASES UTEXAFRICA 
 
12. Local press reported that the Hong Kong-based Cha 
Textiles purchased a majority of the public shares of 
Utexafrica from the company's former Franco-Belgian 
owners.  Press reports indicate that Cha intends to 
change the firm's name to Congotex and trim its 
workforce.  (Comment.  Econoffs have met with Cha 
Textiles' representative in Kinshasa.  The case appears 
to be a merger rather than a buy-out.  Cha had a 
presence in Kinshasa until 1993, when its facilities 
were looted.  Utexaftrica's operations have also been 
severely reduced since the pillages of 1991 and 1993. 
The company is now in dire financial straits.  Cha's 
offer constitutes an opportunity to recapitalize.  End 
Comment.) 
 
REGULATORY ISSUES 
 
PARLIAMENT ADOPTS DRAFT BILL ON MONEY LAUNDERING 
 
13. In early July, the national parliament adopted a 
draft bill on money laundering.  The proposed 
legislation creates a clear definition of money 
laundering and provides for domestic enforcement 
mechanisms and international cooperation.  The draft 
bill also includes a provision defining and outlawing 
the financing of terrorism.  (Comment.  While this 
draft bill is a step towards financial transparency and 
accountability, it remains to be codified into law. 
Even if this occurs, detection and enforcement 
shortcomings are likely.  End Comment.) 
 
HEALTH 
 
GASTROENTERITIS HITS KINSHASA 
 
14. Gastroenteritis infection due to water supply 
contamination by E. Coli bacterium has resulted in 77 
deaths and nearly 3,000 reported infections in 
Kinshasa.  Local authorities and NGOs have established 
treatment centers and are monitoring the spread of 
infection.  (Comment.  Lack of access to clean drinking 
water results in occasional outbreaks of bacterial 
infection in Kinshasa.  The unusually low water level 
of the Congo River during this dry season has 
exacerbated contamination problems.  End Comment.) 
 
AID 
 
IMF APPROVES USD 40 MILLION FOR DRC 
 
15. The IMF has approved a release of USD 40 million to 
the DRC after completing a fourth review of the 
country's performance under a USD 861 million Poverty 
Reduction and Growth Facility Arrangement.  The IMF 
also approved an additional USD 1.7 million requested 
by the DRC under the HIPC initiative. 
 
DEBT 
 
AUDIT REVEALS DEBT INCREASE 
 
16. According to Finance Minister Andre-Phillipe Futa, 
the DRC's domestic debt climbed to USD 1.15 billion in 
2003.  Futa noted that the DRC is not likely to clear 
this debt in the near future.  (Comment.  The fact that 
domestic debt received scrutiny via an audit report is 
in itself a positive development.  Nevertheless, the 
GDRC has yet to make any clear provisions for dealing 
with its debt.  End Comment.) 
 
17. INFLATION BY CATEGORY (IN PERCENT) 
 
WEEK ENDING            6/10      6/18      6/25     7/2 
FOOD                   1         1        -1        0 
BEVERAGE               0         0         0        0 
NON-FOOD              -3         0        -5       -2 
CLOTHING               0         0         0        0 
RENT                   0         0         0        1 
TRANSPORT              0         0         0        0 
SCHOOL COSTS           0         0         0        0 
UTILITIES              0         0         0        0 
COMBINED FIGURES 
WEEKLY INFLATION       0         0         0        0 
MONTHLY INFLATION      1         1         1        0 
 
WEEK ENDING            7/9       7/16      7/23 
 
FOOD                   0         2        -2 
BEVERAGE               0         0         0 
NON-FOOD               1         1         8 
CLOTHING               0         0         0 
RENT                   0         0         0 
TRANSPORT              0         0         0 
SCHOOL COSTS           0         0         0 
UTILITIES              0         0         0 
COMBINED FIGUERS 
WEEKLY INFLATION       0         1        -0.6 
MONTHLY INFLATION      0         1         0.4 
 
MAY 2004 INFLATION:  0.2 
JUNE 2004 INFLATION:  0.4 
JULY 2004 INFLATION (TO DATE):  0.4 
YEAR TO DATE INFLATION:  0.0 
2003 INFLATION:  7.0 
2002 INFLATION:  22.0 
 
18. EXCHANGE RATES IN CONGOLESE FRANCS PER US DOLLAR 
 
                    6/4       6/10      6/18      6/25 
CENTRAL BANK RATE   386.4978  386.9505  387.075 
391.0448 
PARALLEL MARKET 
-KINSHASA           370-390   380-390   385-390   385- 
392 
-LUBUMBASHI         375-380   380-390   380-390   380- 
390 
-MBUJI MAYI         375-380   380-385   380-305   380- 
390 
-KISANGANI          375-385   375-385   405-415   375- 
385 
-GOMA               405-415   405-415   405-415   400- 
410 
-BUKAVU             400-410   405-415   415-425   400- 
410 
 
                    7/2       7/9       7/16      7/23 
CENTRAL BANK RATE   390.7816  392.7530  389.5709 
388.1864 
PARALLEL MARKET 
-KINSHASA           385-392   385-392   390-395   388- 
398 
-LUBUMBASHI         380-390   380-390   380-390   385- 
395 
-MBUJI MAYI         385-390   385-390   380-385   380- 
385 
-KISANGANI          375-385   375-385   400-410   400- 
410 
-GOMA               400-410   400-410   400-410   400- 
410 
-BUKAVU             390-400   390-400   400-410   400- 
410 
 
MEECE