VZCZCXRO0427
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0812/01 2160842
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 040842Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3133
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000812 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA - CABINDAN PEACE ACCORD SIGNED 
 
REF: A. LUANDA 00740 
 
     ¶B. LUANDA 00806 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CYNTHIA EFIRD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) On August 1, 2006, the GRA and the Cabindan Forum for 
Dialogue (FCD) officially signed the Memorandum of 
Understanding for Peace in Cabinda.  In attendance at this 
event were the highest officials of all three branches of the 
GRA, including the acting President Roberto de Almeida.  The 
FCD delegation was lead by its President Antonio Bento Bembe 
and included a number of Cabindan traditional leaders.  In 
speeches during the ceremony GRA officials, including de 
Almeida, focused on the importance of Cabinda's special 
status and the implementation of the accord.  Bembe speech 
covered similar issues, but also brought attention to the 
possibility of "acts of terrorism" following the signing of 
the Memorandum.  The President of the Front for the 
Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), Nzita Tiago, and 
the leaders of Mpalabanda continue to criticize the accord. 
Bembe seems to have the support of Cabinda's traditional 
leaders, the political base of power in Cabinda, while Tiago 
continues to represent some elements of the FLEC and 
Mpalabanda the elite, intellectual minority.  Tiago and 
Mpalabanda issued statements in which they reject the 
Memorandum.  The signing of the Memorandum is important, but 
even more important, especially for the citizens of Cabinda, 
will be the peaceful implementation of the accord.  End 
Summary. 
 
------------------------ 
Highly-Attended Ceremony 
------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) At 12:35 local time on August 1, 2006 the GRA's 
Minister of Territorial Administration, Virgilio de Fontes 
Pereira, and the President of the Cabindan Forum for Dialogue 
(FCD), Antonio Bento Bembe, officially signed the Memorandum 
of Understanding for Peace in Cabinda in the city of Namibe, 
the capital of Angola's southeastern-most province.  Over 35 
representatives from the FCD, including Antonio Bento Bembe 
and a number of Cabindan traditional leaders, arrived in 
Namibe on July 31.  The GRA delegation, led by Roberto de 
Almeida, currently serving as the acting President, arrived 
on August 1.  Also included were Joao Baptista Kussumua, the 
acting Prime Minister; Jeronimo Wanga, the acting President 
of the National Assembly; and Cristiano Andre, the President 
of the Supreme Court.  Also invited to witness the ceremony 
were all GRA Cabinet members, the membership of the National 
Assembly, opposition party leaders, the diplomatic community, 
religious leaders, and members of civil society. 
 
¶3. (U) In a speech given during the ceremony, de Almeida 
called upon all parties to "proceed with efforts to overcome 
the basic problems that affect the lives of Cabindans." 
Specifically mentioning the GRA acceptance of Cabinda's 
special status, de Almeida noted that this status would allow 
future generations to better manage the natural and human 
resources of Angola.  Pereira noted that "the GRA guarantees 
its total engagement in the execution" of the Memorandum.  He 
also stated the GRA's willingness to work with the 
international community during the implementation of the 
accord.  Bembe also called upon the international community 
to assist in the implementation of the accord.  During his 
speech, Bembe pointed out that certain "enemies of peace" 
could carry out "acts of terrorism" following the signing of 
the accord.  He called on those remaining skeptics to 
"participate in the building of peace and the reconstruction 
of the province." 
 
¶4. (C) Contacts in the British and Dutch Embassies told 
PolOff that, besides the late arrival of de Almeida, the 
ceremony went as planned.  The location selected was an older 
colonial building, mostly likely one of the only in Namibe 
that could accommodate such a large group.  Both GRA 
officials and the diplomatic corps paid particular attention 
to who attended the event.  Noticeably absent was Minister of 
Interior Roberto Leal Monteiro "Ngongo," UNITA President 
Isaias Samakuva, the Bishop of Cabinda Filomeno Vieira Dias, 
and a representative from the French government.  (Note:  On 
August 1, UNITA issued a statement   noting the importance of 
the peace process, but challenging the accord due to lack of 
full representation and the decision to not grant Cabinda 
full autonomy.  End Note.)  The USG's absence was noted, but 
given the press releases in Luanda and Washington and a 
statement by Ambassador Efird our position in favor of a 
peaceful resolution of outstanding issues was obvious to all 
parties.  Privately, EmbOffs have made it clear that while we 
support peace in Cabinda, we do not support Bembe and his 
 
LUANDA 00000812  002 OF 002 
 
 
actions against American citizens.  Diplomatic sources also 
reported that the GRA has only allowed the Papal Nuncio in 
Angola, Angelo Beccio, to read the Memorandum of 
Understanding -- which remains unpublished as of yet. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Detractors Continue to Speak Out 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) While an overwhelming majority of the press coverage 
over the past couple of days has been positive, including 
statements of support from the Cabindan Catholic Bishop, 
Filomeno Vieira Dias, and Luis Ranque Franque, the founder of 
FLEC, the President of FLEC Nzita Tiago and the leadership of 
Mpalabanda have continued their efforts to undermine the 
accord.  Tiago put out an August 1 press release stating his 
rejection of the Memorandum.  Noting his willingness to enter 
into a dialogue with the GRA, he reiterated his hope for a 
response to his personal letter to President dos Santos.  He 
also renewed FLEC's call for a referendum on the Cabinda, 
stating that "the Cabindan people do not accept this accord" 
(Ref A). 
 
¶6. (C) Mpalabanda has continued to apply steady pressure 
against the GRA and Bembe, even alleging in independent 
newspaper articles that fighting has continued in Cabinda 
after the first cease-fire.  The International Committee of 
the Red Cross (ICRC) Deputy Country Director, Fabrizio 
Carboni, has received no reports of fighting in Cabinda. 
When asked if Mpalabanda or the FLEC, the only sources for 
these reports, were fabricating the statements, Carboni said 
he was "surprised that none of his office's contacts in 
Cabinda had contacted them about the new fighting."  (Note: 
The ICRC is the only international organization with a 
mandate that allows it to have an active, regular field 
presence in Cabinda.  End Note.)  Mpalabanda released on 
August 2, a press statement noting its decision to not 
recognize the accord and criticizing the GRA for not working 
to honestly resolve the problem. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Comment - Peaceful Implementation Most Important 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶7. (C) Tiago and Mpalabanda were unwilling to enter into a 
viable discussion with the GRA -- possibly misjudging their 
relative weakness vis-a-vis the GRA.  Bembe recognized that 
the GRA was willing to give the FLEC a face saving solution 
and engaged with the GRA.  As the President of the FCD he 
brought legitimacy to the negotiations and apparently allowed 
the GRA to work out a deal with the Cabindan traditional 
leaders that are the political power base in the province. 
Government media sources report that over 500 FLEC fighters 
have moved into quartering sites waiting to be demobilized 
and reintegrated into the National Police or the Armed Forces 
of Angola indicating that Bembe may be able to deliver as 
negotiated.  We are attempting to verify this information 
through ICRC and military contacts.  Current political 
commentary is focused exclusively on the splintering of the 
FCD, and has yet to find a way to evaluate the most important 
factor -- the will of the Cabinda people.  Without credible 
polling and based an anecdotal evidence from EmbOffs who have 
visited and spoken to Cabindans recently (Ref A and B), one 
can only assume that like most Angolans, the average 
Cabindans are tired of fighting and wish only to have a 
better life.  For them the most important part of this 
Memorandum of Understanding is not who was present at the 
signing, but the reality of a successful and peaceful 
implementation of the accord. 
EFIRD