VZCZCXYZ0024
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJB #0307 1151241
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251241Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0244
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000307 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/C 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECIN ECON PGOV PINR PREL BY
SUBJECT: BURUNDI HOSTS THE RELAUNCH OF THE ECONOMIC 
COMMUNITY OF GREAT LAKES STATES 
 
¶1.  (U)  Summary:  Representatives from the Great Lakes 
member states of Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic 
of the Congo convened in Bujumbura on April 16 to open 
dialogue for the Economic Community of the Great Lakes States 
(CEPGL).  The CEPGL is relaunched after 13 years of 
inactivity following the regional ethnic violence begun in 
¶1994.   Former Burundi parliamentarian, Gabriel Toyi, was 
chosen as provisional Executive Secretary.  Among the major 
areas of focus for the CEPGL are the consolidation of 
regional peace and stability, democracy and good governance, 
energy, and investment.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U)  Delegations from the Great Lakes states of Burundi, 
Rwanda  and the Democratic Republic of Congo convened in 
Bujumbura on April 16 and 17 to relaunch the Economic 
Community of the Great Lakes (CEPGL) organization.  The 
Belgian Foreign Minister, Karel De Gucht, and the European 
Commissioner of Development and Humanitarian Action, Louis 
Michel, also attended the opening sessions.  The participants 
agreed that the peace, security and economic development of 
the Great Lakes region are dependent on the success of 
various regional integration mechanisms, including the CEPGL. 
 The CEPGL was created in 1976 but is emerging from 13 years 
of inactivity following the onset of regional violence in 
¶1994. 
 
¶3.  (U) The primary focus of the member states is to secure 
the peace and stability of the region through projects 
targeting democracy, good governance, energy and investments. 
 Minister De Kucht noted that as the region has evolved 
economically and politically, so too must the CEPGL 
partnership.  He invited the member states to strengthen and 
increase their cooperation as a means of generating regional 
peace and stability. 
 
¶4.  (U)  Minister De Gucht pointed out that the CEPGL cannot 
be an extension of the group originally conceived in 1976 but 
rather must evolve to be relevant within the new regional 
context.  The CEPGL member states quickly moved to recognize 
the sectors needing the most priority and attention in the 
region and creating a roadmap for the future.  Paramount 
among these priorities is using democracy and good governance 
to promote peace and stability within the region.  Other 
areas of focus include agriculture and food security, energy, 
infrastructures and communication, education and research, 
and investments.  Using studies previously completed, the 
ministers will begin to identify key projects and initiatives 
to address regional objectives, including a plan to 
reorganize the Permanent Executive Secretariat of the CEPGL. 
 
 
¶5.  (U)  Commisioner Michel indicated that it will be 
necessary for the CEPGL to work with a new perspective and 
vision for the future.   Michel reminded the participants 
that the European Community has already pledged 50 million 
euros, including five million currently available to finance 
initiatives that will reinforce the logistical, technical and 
strategic capacities of the CEPGL.  He also warned of three 
risks that will need particular focus to ensure the success 
of the CEPGL, including the need to realize a sense of 
urgency, the attention of the international community and the 
need to turn their backs on old misunderstandings.  He 
expressed confidence in the activities of the CEPGL, 
recognizing that the partnership has come a long way and its 
work will determine the destiny of peace and prosperity in 
the region. 
 
¶6.  (U)  The participating ministers named Gabriel Toyi as 
the provisional Executive Secretary of the CEPGL.  A CNDD-FDD 
party member, Toyi is a former Minister of Communal 
Development and parliamentatian from Gitega.  Toyi, who 
succeeds fellow Burundian Salvatore Matata, will remain in 
this post for four months. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  Comment:  The relaunch of the CEPGL is a 
significant step towards bringing lasting political and 
economic stability to the Great Lakes Region.  The longevity 
of Burundi's post-conflict stability and Congo's recent 
electoral successes are strong indicators of readiness to 
address regional cooperation and growth.  By putting 
priorities to ink and recognizing the need for the CEPGL to 
evolve and reorganize in an effort to meet the changing needs 
of the area, the member states have demonstrated their 
commitment to making the Great Lakes region a peaceful, 
stable, economic force in Africa.  End Comment. 
MOLLER