VZCZCXRO5770
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKI #0992/01 2331305
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211305Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6723
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000992 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELTN PGOV PHUM CG
SUBJECT: KABILA VISITS KASAI OCCIDENTAL PROVINCE IN WAKE OF 
DEADLY TRAIN WRECKENTAL 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 932 
 
     ¶B. KINSHASA 945 
 
 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: President Kabila traveled to Kasai 
Occidental province August 8-10 with a delegation of 
ministers and provincial authorities, his first visit to the 
region since his election in October of last year.  He 
visited Kakenge, the site of the August 1 train accident, and 
the provincial capital Kananga, where he met with survivors 
and toured several development projects. He announced plans 
for development initiatives in the region as well as 
rehabilitation and restructuring of the National Railroad 
Company (SNCC). He was generally well received by the local 
population, which was hostile during his last visit in 2006 
and voted massively against him in the presidential 
elections. Although little has improved since Kabila took 
office, the warm welcome appears due to appreciation for his 
effort to reach out and hopes he will make good on his 
promises.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) President Kabila led a delegation of government 
officials, including the transport, interior, and 
humanitarian affairs ministers, as well as the governor of 
Kasai Occidental and other provincial authorities, to the 
town of Kakenge, where he visited August 8 with survivors of 
the August 1 train accident that claimed at least 89 lives 
and injured over 100 (ref A).  He met with hospitalized 
victims and presented his condolences to families whose 
relatives had died.  Acknowledging the poor condition and 
management of the National Railroad Company (SNCC), Kabila 
said he would explore avenues to restructure SNCC's 
management and provide the financial assistance needed to 
rehabilitate the ailing parastatal. 
 
¶3. (U) Kabila traveled August 9 to Katende, some 40 km from 
the provincial capital Kananga, where he visited several 
water and power projects, including the site of a dam at 
Katende Falls.  The dam is expected to supply electricity to 
the greater part of Kasai Occidental but construction has 
been delayed due to a lack of funds.  Recalling campaign 
promises, Kabila pledged to improve water and electricity 
services for the population. 
 
¶4. (U) Accompanied by Governor Tresor Kapuku, Kabila met 
August 10 with local stakeholders in Kananga, including 
traditional chiefs and managers of public utility companies, 
August 10. He also visited the central prison and general 
hospital, where he met other patients from the train wreck. 
Surprised by the hospital's lack of basic equipment and 
supplies, Kabila said in a press conference that efforts 
would be made to refurbish and restock it.  He expressed 
interest in reconstructing Kananga's soccer stadium.  Kabila 
concluded his stay by attending a mass in memory of those 
killed and injured in the train accident.  He returned to 
Kinshasa August 11. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Kabila's visit marks his first trip to the Kasai 
provinces since a campaign stop in July 2006.  Unlike his 
last visit to the region, when protesting crowds threw rocks 
at his motorcade, the president was more warmly welcomed this 
time.  He was observed walking through neighborhoods in the 
mornings and talking with students in the afternoon.  MONUC 
officials in Kananga reported that Kabila seemed, by most 
accounts, to be engaging comfortably with the local 
population. 
 
¶6. (U) Kabila's arrival in Kananga followed that of four 
senators August 7 under a parliamentary mandate to 
investigate the causes of the train accident. Preliminary 
investigations led the senators to express concern over the 
possibility of additional accidents, given SNCC's worn-out 
equipment. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment:  Kabila's unexpected decision to venture to 
Kasai Occidental in response to the train accident was 
opportune, helping divert attention from any government 
culpability in a region generally hostile to Kabila and his 
allies.  It was also a rare touch of political acumen from 
the President, who has thus far demonstrated little 
appreciation for the importance of connecting with ordinary 
citizens.  Kabila himself noted to Ambassador Meece August 14 
that the trip had been a success.  Little has changed in the 
province since Kabila took office, and his apparently 
positive reception can be attributed to a number of factors, 
including the surprise timing of the visit and the fact that 
he promised assistance to a region that has long been 
marginalized or ignored by the central government.  End 
 
KINSHASA 00000992  002 OF 002 
 
 
comment. 
BROCK