VZCZCXRO8689
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0237/01 0721209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131209Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9302
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 000237 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT:  EASTERN DRC NOTES - MARCH 13; STATUS OF GDRC-CNDP TALKS 
 
¶1.  (U) The items contained in this report consist principally of 
spot information from various sources.  This report is not 
exhaustive, nor can all the information contained therein be 
confirmed at this time. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) International Facilitation members in Goma met on March 11 
with MONUC Political Officer M'hand Lajousi to discuss the status of 
the GDRC-CNDP talks.  Lajousi reported that meetings were held from 
February 22-24 in Nairobi, under Obasanjo/Mkapa auspices, between 
Minister of Regional Cooperation Raymond Tshibanda and the new CNDP 
leadership, headed by Desire Kamanzi and Jean Munyampenda.  These 
discussions were meant to be procedural, but they demonstrated that 
the two sides actually have a long way to go. 
¶3.  (SBU) Lajousi said that the CNDP announced in Nairobi that it 
wanted an enhanced role for the Obasanjo/Mkapa Mediation, 
specifically that it be empowered to adjudicate disputes and that it 
stand as guarantor of any final agreement.  The GDRC rejected both 
of these demands out of hand and called instead for direct, 
bilateral talks in Goma, "between Congolese," with no Mediation 
involvement. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The CNDP gave ground on both of these issues.  It was 
agreed that future talks would be held in Goma, but the Mediation 
would attend from time to time to observe developments.  Any final 
signing ceremony will take place in the DRC (but not necessarily in 
Goma).  The notion of some kind of Mediation guarantee seems to have 
been taken off the table.  The CNDP then put forward another, 
unexpected demand, doubtless feeling pressure from its former 
leader's still-strong constituency: that Nkunda be repatriated and 
included in a new, all-purpose general amnesty.  Obasanjo apparently 
exploded in fury at this.  Minister Tshibanda advised the CNDP to 
forget about any broader amnesty. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Lajousi confirmed that, as agreed in Nairobi, the 
bilateral talks have since continued in Goma.  On March 4, there 
were closed sessions, with only two representatives of each side 
present.  Tshibanda has been adamant that the GDRC does not want any 
further direct Mediation involvement, but General Sumbewo was 
scheduled nonetheless to come to Goma on March 12, before heading to 
Bukavu. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The talks are now using a working document originally 
drafted by Tshibanda, which takes on board many of the points raised 
in the CNDP's earlier "Aide-Memoire," but avoids actual commitments 
on the part of the GDRC.  CNDP representatives have come back with 
several later versions and appear to be hardening their tone and 
demanding specific commitments, not promises to consider. New 
demands have arisen, including for negotiations over the future 
status of the FARDC.  Other points that the GDRC has made clear are 
not acceptable (especially the notion of a broader amnesty) have 
been retained in the CNDP's drafts. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The CNDP apparently wants to use the discussions to 
consolidate its political hold on Masisi and Rutshuru.  They are 
reportedly poring over maps and discussing the redrawing of 
territory boundaries, and in particular demanding that all 
administrators and police officials appointed by the CNDP during its 
occupation of parts of these two territories be made official by the 
GDRC.  They are pushing hard for their proposed new local police 
force to replace the PNC (Note: this of course would look very much 
like a local militia.  End note).  They clearly expect a raft of new 
appointments within the central, provincial and local governments. 
 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Separately, Christian Manahl, MONUC Director of Political 
Affairs in Kinshasa, provided post with additional views on this 
issue.  He said that if CNDP military needs are accommodated, for 
example, with better and regularly paid salaries, there is much less 
space for CNDP political demands, for example, on amnesty and 
refugee return.  He opined that the CNDP demand for a local police 
force appears to be a compromise of sorts to allow them some 
influence over the police in exchange for giving up demands for 
control over military integration.  However, Manahl said that the 
GDRC might not accept this proposal. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Comment: Those who may have thought that the GDRC/neo-CNDP 
deal had somehow been precooked between Kinshasa and Kigali appear 
to be in for a surprise.  On the contrary, a familiar scenario seems 
to be playing out:  the GDRC, having agreed to enter negotiations 
with a non-state actor, now seeks to reassert its sovereignty, 
refusing to make specific commitments, resisting external mediation, 
and inserting language that implies that any concessions it does 
make are in fact favors freely bestowed.  For its part, the CNDP is 
once again seeking to assert itself as an equal partner in the 
internationally-mediated forum it has always sought, insisting on 
 
KINSHASA 00000237  002 OF 002 
 
 
maximalist demands.  Lajousi, according to Goma sources, believes 
that at least some of the CNDP's posturing is in fact deliberate 
stalling, buying time for Rwanda to sort out how it is going to deal 
with its "Nkunda problem."  End comment 
 
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