VZCZCXRO3877
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0628/01 1821548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011548Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9838
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 000628 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO KWMN OEXC SCUL PREL PGOV
           PINS, MARR, MASS, MCAP, MAP, CG 
SUBJECT:   CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AND DEFENSE COOPERATION CHIEF 
           URGE GDRC GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST SGBV 
 
REF:   (a) Kinshasa 613; (b) Kinshasa 624 
 
¶1.  (SBU):  Summary:  Charge d'affaires and director of office of 
security cooperation (OSC) held separate meetings June 25 with 
foreign minister's chief of staff and acting director of military 
operations respectively to urge the Government of the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo to take quick and decisive action against 
sexual and gender based violence (SGBV).  Both interlocutors agreed 
to convey our message to their bosses, i.e. the ministers of foreign 
affairs and of defense.  These demarches are part of a concerted 
effort to make DRC officials aware of our concerns and to impress 
upon them that the USG is willing to work closely with the GDRC to 
combat SGVB.  On June 24 Charge and mission team working on SGBV 
issues met with Congolese reporters to talk about USG anti-SGBV 
programs (ref a).  More information about SGBV in the DRC and 
mission's efforts to address it is at ref b.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Charge d'affaires, accompanied by acting DCM, met June 25 
with Valentin Matungul, foreign minister Alexis Thambe Mwamba's 
chief of staff.  The meeting was requested by charge.  Also present 
was Ms. Clementine Shakembo Kamanga, director of the Foreign 
Ministry's office of American affairs.  Charge began by noting that 
recent reports in the international media on SGBV in the eastern 
Congo have contributed to a heightened awareness in the United 
States of the alarming incidence of SGBV in the DRC.  This in turn 
had resulted in demands for greater action to address the problem. 
The charge emphasized that American interest would not diminish any 
time soon because the issue had come to the attention of senior 
members of the administration who were working with the embassy to 
strengthen USG action against SGVB.  The U.S. mission expected to 
receive increased funding in the near future to bolster existing 
activities and to devise and implement new programs, in traditional 
areas and in new ones as well.  Mission staff would work closely 
with the GDRC in an effort to make real headway in combating SGBV. 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Charge also mentioned that a number of U.S. celebrities 
had come to the DRC to lend their support to efforts to combat SGBV 
and that it would be logical to expect more visitors, including both 
entertainment and political personalities.  He urged Matungul to 
convey to the foreign minister and other senior government members 
the message that the USG strongly urges the GDRC to take resolute 
action against SGBV and that the U.S. stands ready to help.   (Note: 
 the previous day the Mission held a press event to inform Congolese 
journalists of ongoing USG efforts to combat SGBV.  A report on the 
press event is at ref a; a summary of press reports on the event is 
at ref b.  End note.)  Matungul listened carefully but did not ask 
questions or otherwise make comments.  After the charge had 
finished, Matungul acknowledged that SGVB is a significant problem 
and that he appreciated the United States' willingness to assist in 
efforts to address it.  He promised to convey the charge's message 
to the foreign minister. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Chief, Office of Security Cooperation (OSC), met with Col. 
Ekuba Mondo, Acting Chief of Operations of the Congolese Armed 
Forces (FARDC), also on June 25.  OSC Chief mentined to Ekuba that 
SGBV has become a prominent isse at Department of State, Office of 
the Secretar of Defense, and U.S. Africa Command and that a grat 
deal of focus will be placed on the topic in he coming months.  OSC 
Chief stated that FARDC neded to address the problem quickly and 
vigorousl and that OSC would assist in the effort where possible. 
Ekuba made notesduring the conversation and recognized that SGBV 
was a problem that required attention in the FARDC. He aknowledged 
the OSC offer of assistance. 
¶5.  (SBU) Chief OSC then discussed several means t assist the FARDC 
in addressing SGBV.  Mondo conurred that continuation of Defense 
International nstitute of Legal Studies (DIILS) programs would ad 
the military courts in legal adjudication of rpe cases brought and 
would aid in addressing theproblem with soldiers attending U.S.- 
provided training and engagement.  OSC Chief presented the option of 
developing a training program focused on production of 
FARDC-developed media that could be made available to media outlets 
for publication and presentation.  After the meeting OSC Chief 
presented the concept of a media training event designed to engage 
FARDC public affairs soldiers over the course of the next fiscal 
year to USAFRICOM for consideration and sourcing. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Comment:  Low-key reactions of Matungul and Mondo were not 
unexpected.  Many Congolese interlocutors understand our concern and 
acknowledge there is a problem but typically are not willing or able 
to comment on the issue in concrete terms.  A commitment from the 
GDRC to take SGBV seriously will require intense engagement by 
 
KINSHASA 00000628  002 OF 002 
 
 
senior USG leaders vis-a vis the highest levels of the GRDC over an 
extended period of time.  End comment. 
 
BROCK