VZCZCXRO2434
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1147 3571433
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221433Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8947
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 KINSHASA 001147 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT:   BACK ON TRACK: 43RD MEETING OF 
            THE JMG TASK FORCE ON DECEMBER 19 
 
REFS: (A) KIGALI 859; (B) KINSHASA 1016; 
          (C) KINSHASA 1146 
 
¶1.  (SBU) The Joint Monitoring Group Task Force (JMG TF) met at 
MONUC Headquarters in Goma on December 19, the first meeting since 
October 10 in Gisenyi, after which subsequent meetings were 
suspended due to Rwandan concerns about security in Goma.  The 
three-person Rwandan delegation was led by Franco H. Rutagengwa, 
Director of the Office of the President (Note:  Rutagengwa replaces 
Damascene Rudasingwa.  End note).  The GDRC delegation was led by 
Colonel Augustin Mamba.  Representatives of the AU, EU, France, UK, 
MONUC and the UN also attended the two and a half hour meeting, 
under the chair of U.S. Goma Poloff.  JMG participants agreed to 
meet on a fortnightly basis in Goma, but in view of the holidays, 
delayed the next meeting until January 9. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Brief introductory remarks in French (GDRC) and English 
(GOR) reflected a new determination to cooperate at all levels.  The 
delegations agreed that "we speak with one voice," a marked 
departure from previous discussions replete with mutual accusations. 
 Rutagengwa confirmed GOR support for anti-FDLR military operations 
(as agreed at a December "4 x 4 Commission" meeting in Goma), 
normalization of diplomatic relations with the DRC, and regular 
meetings between authorities on both sides of the border. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) FARDC Colonel Mamba reviewed the conclusions of the JMG 
Envoy Level (JMG - EV) meeting December 8-10 in Kigali, including 
the resumption of meetings at the UN/AU level and the JMG TF under 
U.S. chair (ref A).  The International Facilitation (IF) reviewed 
its December 15 trip to Kasiki where 140 FDLR-RUD combatants await 
repatriation to Rwanda.  All sides agreed that ex-combatants could 
return at any time, and the Rwandan delegation welcomed an 
exploratory visit if it would facilitate the return.  Mamba stated 
that the Nairobi Communique would still govern repatriation, but he 
added that it could happen quickly.  The meeting participants agreed 
to discuss the matter again at the next JMG TF meeting with a view 
to repatriation early in 2009 (Note: per Ref B, FDLR-RUD elements in 
Kasiki have expressed a preference for repatriation vice relocation 
in the DRC.  End note). 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Alex Smith Mackenzie, Chief of Office for DDR/DDRRR in 
South Kivu, reviewed recent trends in repatriation, noting that the 
FDLR in South Kivu appeared to be giving up on a military option. 
Almost all FDLR, however, refer any political questions to Ignace 
Murwanashyaka, the FDLR political leader in Germany, who still 
appears to wield great influence over the FDLR. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In an aside, Rutagengwa told Goma Poloff that he warmly 
welcomes the U.S. MIST team's involvement in the DDRRR effort.  He 
also said that he did not think Rwandan forces would participate on 
the ground in any joint actions against the FDLR, but that Rwanda 
would help plan, support, and coordinate actions undertaken by the 
FARDC (ref C). 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Comment: The December 19 meeting represents a promising 
resumption at the technical level, but action on the ground against 
the FDLR will be needed to sustain the warming relations between the 
DRC and Rwanda.  Continued dialogue at the ministerial level and 
actual operations against the FDLR will capitalize on the momentum 
generated by diplomatic efforts.  End Comment. 
 
GARVELINK