VZCZCXRO7293
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0439/01 1400600
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190600Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8008
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000439 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG BE
SUBJECT: MASHAKO MISSION UNTIES PARECO KNOT 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  After three days of pressure from officials and 
facilitators of the Amani Program, PARECO-FAP leaders agreed on a 
list of members from the Mugabo and LaFontaine factions who would 
jointly represent their movement in the Goma Process.  Amani 
Humanitarian Coordinator Professor Mashako Mamba ("le Professeur") 
and North Kivu Provincial Assembly member Robert Seninga 
("l'Honorable") returned to Goma the night of May 7 from Rutshuru 
Territory, where they had contact with CNDP and PARECO-FAP military 
representatives.   CNDP made no commitments to move ahead with 
"sensitization," (awareness-raising efforts) but PARECO-FAP 
political bosses Museveni Sendugu and Firmin Mathe signed the joint 
representation list on May 9, and the movement prepared to begin 
sensitization activities. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) All the same, the continuing feud between Mugabo and 
Laurent Nkunda leaves Prof. Mashako discouraged.  Even if both 
movements undertake sensitization, combatants fear FDLR retaliation 
for laying down arms.  The Professor doubts that the two strongmen 
will do much to dispel those fears, or the ingrained Tutsi-Hutu 
enmity, without "guarantees" of their own security from 
peace-keeping forces.  End summary. 
 
Chasing Down the Problem 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Prof. Mashako and the Honorable Seninga made the dusty 
trip to Kalengera, Rumangalo and Rubare in Rutshuru Territory to 
sort out the political differences that short circuited a 
conciliatory meeting of PARECO-FAP's military leaders, Mugabo and 
LaFontaine, planned for May 9 in Masisi.  Yet the real problem was 
not between the leaders, who in fact respect one another, are in 
permanent contact, and have similar views of what the movement 
should do.  Rather, differences between political lieutenants 
Museveni and Mathe over which delegates of the movement's two wings 
will fill jobs at the provincial level held up the planned 
unification meeting. Mashako told Facilitation members who waited up 
for him in Goma on Thursday night that Museveni and Mathe now agreed 
to create an acceptable list in two days. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In fact, with pressure from the Facilitation, Museveni and 
Mathe delivered the very next day, preparing and signing the list as 
gingerly as they had signed the Acte d'Engagement itself.  Since the 
list was essentially a political football, the Facilitation pointed 
out that there is no need for an immediate Mugabo-LaFontaine 
meeting, or for any media coverage that would emphasize PARECO-FAP's 
internal disputes rather than their solution. 
 
Saving "Sensitization" 
---------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In telephone conversations this week, Mugabo told Mashako 
that he wants to participate fully in "sensitization," and that this 
is one reason he does not want to separate from LaFontaine. 
PARECO-FAP is ready to begin working at once, and pounced on MONUC 
and Facilitation well-wishers at the signing ceremony to mobilize 
transportation for the teams now waiting to fan out across North 
Kivu.  Like other groups, PARECO-FAP must appeal such needs to he 
JTCPS, which will reconvene late in the week of May 12. Mashako is 
convinced that problems such as transportation and the groups' 
hesitation to assemble openly with the population will delay 
progress in sensitization by at least a month, to say nothing of 
regrouping and brassage. 
 
Mashako Complains 
----------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Mashako said he was appalled at the belligerence of CNDP 
personnel in Rugari on May 7; armed members surrounded the office 
where they met as though it was a battle zone.  Houses in CNDP 
territory are empty, he reported, and new IDP's are arriving at 
camps in Rutshuru every day.  Mashako heard that other groups are 
limiting their teams to the lake shore and to a few relatively 
peaceful areas in Rutshuru Territory.  CNDP has not yet begun 
"sensitization" and the Professor believes that Amani and the 
Facilitation must soon tell Nkunda that he needs to meet with Mugabo 
and be part of the solution to the humanitarian and political 
crisis. Further, Mashako criticized the GDRC for failing to push the 
Amani Program energetically. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Comment:  Mashako's mission, and especially the Honorable 
Seninga's savvy pressuring of Museveni and Mathe, created a 
milestone moment for the Goma process by repositioning one of its 
most important members into a positive stance.  While Museveni and 
Mathe were competent to engage their movement in forward motion, a 
meeting between Mugabo and LaFontaine in the near future could raise 
Amani's profile and generate some rare public esteem for PARECO-FAP. 
 
KINSHASA 00000439  002 OF 002 
 
 
 Not incidentally, such a meeting would push Laurent Nkumba out of 
the spotlight he has hogged for the past several months, and perhaps 
encourage him to follow old rivals down new paths.  End comment. 
 
BROCK