VZCZCXRO2193
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1139/01 2671516
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241516Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6938
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001139 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPKO ASEC CG
SUBJECT: KABILA MAKES THREE-DAY SURPRISE VISIT TO GOMA 
 
KINSHASA 00001139  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  President Joseph Kabila made a three-day 
unannounced visit to North Kivu province September 19-22 
before beginning an extended trip to Belgium and the U.S.  In 
his second trip to the province since his December 2006 
inauguration, Kabila called once again for all military units 
to report for integration. During his stay Kabila met with 
provincial military and political authorities and toured the 
town of Sake, the site of recent fighting between the 
Congolese military and forces loyal to renegade General 
Laurent Nkunda.  It is not believed Kabila met with any 
Nkunda representatives.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) President Kabila made a surprise visit to North Kivu 
September 19 before he was to begin an extended trip to 
Belgium and to the U.S. for the UN General Assembly.  The 
visit was Kabila's second to the province since his December 
2006 inauguration.  The first visit, in December 2006, also 
followed fighting between pro-government Congolese military 
(FARDC) troops and forces loyal to Laurent Nkunda.  Despite 
his unannounced arrival, Kabila reportedly received a warm 
welcome in the provincial capital of Goma, walking from the 
airport to the center city with large crowds lining the 
route.  The president stayed in Goma until midday September 
22 when he departed for his previously scheduled trip to 
Brussels.  (Note:  Kabila had earlier planned to leave for 
Brussels on September 20; no announcement of his delayed 
departure was made until he returned to Kinshasa on September 
¶22.  End note.). 
 
¶3. (U) Speaking to the press shortly after his arrival, 
Kabila reiterated that all military forces that have not yet 
reported for integration ("brassage") must do so immediately. 
 Stating his position was firm, Kabila promised that those 
who refuse such orders will be "corrected" by the government. 
 He further rejected arguments -- such as Nkunda's -- that 
private militias were necessary to protect local communities. 
 Kabila argued that such a position was invalid as there was 
only one national army, whose mission was to protect all its 
citizens.  He further urged that all citizens and 
institutions, not just himself and the central government, 
 
¶4. (U) Kabila also called on FDLR fighters to return to their 
homes in Rwanda.  He said the militias can no longer remain 
on DRC soil and must turn over their weapons.  Kabila added 
that if they do not do so willingly, the GDRC would disarm 
the FDLR by force. 
 
¶5. (U) Kabila met with a variety of local actors during his 
stay, including provincial military and political officials 
on September 19.  He later spoke with representatives from 
the humanitarian community, thanking them for their hard work 
and reiterating his support for humanitarian operations in 
the province.  Kabila traveled to the town of Sake, 20 miles 
west of Goma, on September 21 to review the area's security 
situation two weeks after fighting ceased between government 
and Nkunda forces.  In Sake, he held a closed-door meeting 
with local residents.  One participant told MONUC's Radio 
Okapi Kabila promised to bring peace back to the region and 
to punish those who collaborate with the insurgents. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Kabila's visit has received mixed, albeit 
predictable, reviews in North Kivu.  Former governor and 
current provincial parliament member Eugene Serufuli, who met 
with the president, told us Kabila was able to assure the 
population he had the situation well in hand and had a plan 
to eliminate the threat of negative forces.  Didier Iwondo, 
the head of North Kivu's immigration authority, told us 
Kabila did not ask many questions during his meetings with 
provincial officials and did not appear particularly 
well-informed.  Iwondo added, however, that he believed 
Kabila now has a better appreciation of the province's 
problems. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Those close to Nkunda were more negative in their 
assessments.  Prominent local Tutsi businessman Victor 
Ngezayo told us Kabila refused to meet with any 
representatives from Nkunda's political party, the National 
Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), or with any 
groups opposed to him.  Ngezayo said this showed Kabila has 
little interest in hearing from all the people of North Kivu, 
only those who agree with him.  CNDP spokesmen argued 
Kabila's visit "changed nothing" and only served to increase 
tensions.  They told us Kabila refused to negotiate a peace 
with Nkunda and threatened "war" against those even suspected 
of being associated with the renegade general. 
 
 
KINSHASA 00001139  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment:  Kabila's visit to North Kivu may have been 
unannounced but was certainly not uncalculated.  The trip was 
clearly a maneuver to shore up his support in a region that 
voted overwhelmingly for him and in advance of a high-profile 
international tour.  The president's popularity has been 
eroding since the government launched its ill-fated "mixage" 
plan, and it fell further -- particularly in the 
international community -- with his militaristic stance on 
Nkunda and the army's poor performance against him.  It is 
unlikely, though, that Kabila's short stay -- with no change 
in policy or attitudes -- will soon end the deteriorating 
security conditions in the province.  End comment. 
BROCK