VZCZCXRO4127
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0740/01 2001417
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191417Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3069
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000740 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA - SECOND, "DEFINITIVE" CEASE-FIRE SIGNED IN 
CABINDA 
 
REF: A. LUANDA 00736 
 
     ¶B. LUANDA 00196 
     ¶C. LUANDA 00710 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CYNTHIA EFIRD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C)  GRA and Cabinda Forum for Dialogue (FCD) military 
representatives signed the second and "definitive" cease-fire 
agreement on July 18, 2006 in Macabi, Cabinda province. 
While some of those opposed continue to publicly attack the 
peace accord, including a call by some Front for the 
Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) members for a 
referendum on Cabindan independence, outspoken FLEC President 
Nzita Tiago's son, Antonio Nzita Mbemba, was present as an 
observer at the negotiations in Brazzaville and at the 
ceremony in Cabinda.  During a July 17-19 visit to Cabinda, 
EmbOff noted a "wait and see" attitude from the Cabindan 
people.  While Cabindans are excited by the prospects of 
peace, it is results, such as infrastructure developments and 
a reduced military presence, that are more important to them 
than the actual accord.  End Summary. 
 
Final Cease-Fire Signed 
----------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On July 18, 2006, General Sachipengo Nunda, Deputy 
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Angola (FAA), and 
General Mauricio Zulo, representing the military forces under 
the authority of the FCD, signed the second and "definitive" 
cease-fire in Macabi, Cabinda province (ref A).  Witnesses to 
the signing were Minister of Territorial Administration 
Virgilio de Fontes Pereira, on behalf of the GRA, and 
President of the FCD Antonio Bento Bembe, on behalf of the 
FCD. 
 
Opposition to the Accord Weakening? 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U)  Also present at the signing ceremony was Antonio 
Nzita Mbemba, son of the FLEC President Nzita Tiago and 
Executive Secretary of the FCD (ref B).  Given Tiago's 
opposition to Bembe's negotiations with the GRA, local press 
questioned Mbemba about his presence.  In carefully chosen 
words, Mbemba said that he had been invited by friends "to 
observe" the negotiations in Brazzaville and the signing 
ceremony.  When asked by reporters if he had his father's 
authorization to go to Brazzaville and Cabinda, he stated 
that his father knew where he was and that if the 
negotiations appeared serious his father may rethink his 
position.  (Note: Both father and son currently live in 
France.  End Note.) 
 
¶4. (U) Others opposed to the accord have stayed the course. 
Mplabanda and Father Tati continue to deny that the 
negotiations and the Memorandum of Understanding have 
legitimacy without the involvement of the Catholic Church and 
civil society (ref C).  Various members of FLEC upset by the 
accord called on the GRA to hold a referendum on Cabindan 
independence.  In a July 15, 2006 Lusa article, FLEC's 
Director of External Relations Joel Batila said that the 
Cabindan peace accord was a "game" and that given the human 
rights abuses in Cabinda this peace process should not be 
handled by the GRA, but by the United Nations, the African 
Union, and the international community. 
 
"Wait and See" Attitude 
----------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) A previously scheduled July 17-19, 2006 EmbOff visit 
to Cabinda focused on economic issues (septel) allowed the 
Embassy some on-the-ground insight.  Cabinda city, the 
capital of the province, was covered in GRA billboards and 
banners proclaiming peace, reconstruction, and development. 
Most Cabindans, while excited about the possibility of peace, 
questioned the GRA willingness to carry out the promises in 
the accord.  Many of them specifically mentioned that 
results, such as the building of a new port or the reduction 
of military forces, were more important than the actual 
accord.  Recent Radio Ecclesia commentary also noted that 
while the youth of Cabinda were excited, older generations 
remained skeptical. 
 
Comment - Cabindans Want Results, not Rhetoric 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶6. (C) Given the decision to hold the official signing of the 
Memorandum of Understanding in Namibe province, this ceremony 
publicly placed Cabinda as home to one of the three major 
signings.  The attitude of the average Cabindan seems to be 
 
LUANDA 00000740  002 OF 002 
 
 
less concerned who was involved in the peace process, 
contrary to assertions by those opposing the accord, and more 
concerned that the GRA fulfills its end of the bargain.  For 
Cabindans, the economic development of Cabinda is central to 
ensuring the long-term viability of this accord.  The GRA 
will continue to court those still in opposition.  Tiago's 
decision to allow his son, Mbemba, to observe negotiations, 
which Tiago had previously denied existed, indicates that 
Tiago wants to make sure he can still be a part of the deal. 
 
¶7. (C) Comment continued:  No date has been set for the 
official signing ceremony.  On July 17, 2006, President dos 
Santos attended the Community of Portuguese-Speaking 
Countries (CLCP) Summit in Guinea Bissau and is now on 
holidays in Spain, where he will have his annual 
ophthalmology appointment.  According to the Czech Charge 
d'Affaires, dos Santos will then go to the Czech Republic for 
routine dental work. The ceremony will likely not take place 
until his return.  End Comment. 
EFIRD