VZCZCXRO8167
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1058 3381730
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041730Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA PRIORITY 1977
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0369
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001058 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/C, AF/S AND L/AN (OHAHS) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EPET CG AO
SUBJECT: GDRC ISSUES STATEMENT ON RELATIONS WITH ANGOLA; 
REAL DEAL IS OFFSHORE OIL 
 
¶1. (SBU) Following increased tensions between the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Angola (for 
summary, see septel on SA Wolpe's visit to Kinshasa), on 
December 2 the DRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to all 
diplomatic missions in Kinshasa a statement clarifying its 
position on GDRC-GOA bilateral relations.  Translated text of 
statement (attached to diplomatic note no. 130.07/0554/2009) 
follows at para 2.  More analysis will follow septel. 
 
¶2. (U) Begin unofficial translation of MFA statement 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has become aware of the 
content of the press release of the sister Republic of Angola 
regarding the state of relations between the Republic of 
Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose wide 
distribution has included all foreign chanceries, thereby 
provoking the attention and the concerns of the chief of our 
diplomatic missions. 
 
Therefore, while we recommend calm and serenity to all 
concerned, the MFA wishes to dispel any misunderstanding and 
put the issue of the state of relations between the DRC and 
its sister Republic of Angola back into proper perspective by 
reviewing the actual underlying context of the problem, the 
real background for Angola,s reaction. 
 
While true that there are here and there a few problems 
regarding land borders and of expulsions in both directions 
of 
nationals from either country, an issue which indeed has been 
addressed during negotiations held in Kinshasa on October 13, 
2009, and at the end of whic a satisfactory resolution was 
achieved by referring the borders issue to an ad hoc 
commission to be formed later, the real problem that hits a 
sensitive nerve in the Republic of Angola is the fact that 
the DRC legitimately exercised its right, as recognized for 
all coastal states by the Montego Bay Convention, by 
submitting its preliminary request for a hearing to the 
Commission on Borders of the Continental Shelf. 
 
Rightfully indeed, and regardless of the degree to which the 
request is well-founded, the DRC,s maritime territory shall 
be reconsidered which, obviously will not be without 
consequences for the Republic of Angola, which until the 
present time has been exploiting exclusively for its own 
profit, all resources found in the Continental Shelf 
including, particularly, oil. 
 
However, as our two countries have said on many occasions 
through diplomatic notes, the DRC remains, to the extent 
possible, prepared to settle the issue peacefully and through 
negotiations. 
 
Therefore, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC calls 
on all diplomatic missions to remain calm, and maintain the 
firm hope that regardless of the nature of problems that may 
exist, they will never alter the good and profound relations 
that have united our sister countries for ages. 
 
Done in Kinshasa, on December 2, 2009 
Alexis Thambwe Mwamba 
 
¶3. (SBU) Comment.  Relations between the DRC and Angola have 
deteriorated steadily over the past months, as reported by 
embassies Luanda and Kinshasa.  Saber-rattling by both sides 
resulted in the expulsions of tens of thousands of 
expatriates from both countries, apparently for reasons that 
have little to do with the official justifications.  Until 
recently, neither side wanted to discuss publicly the 
underlying cause of the dispute between them -- DRC,s claim 
Qunderlying cause of the dispute between them -- DRC,s claim 
that Angola is stealing its undersea oil -- although both 
have asked for help privately in demarches to us and, we 
assume, others.  The Congolese have now announced they are in 
the first stages of referring the matter for international 
arbitration, apparently in the hope the Angolans will offer 
to resolve the disagreement amicably through direct talks or 
with the help of mutually agreed facilitators.  This approach 
would suggest that the Congolese are not fully confident they 
can win in an international court.  The ball is in Angola,s 
court.  End comment. 
GARVELINK