VZCZCXRO2559
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0644/01 1871700
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061700Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9868
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 05 KINSHASA 000644 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT:   KABILA'S TAPED STATEMENT TO THE NATION 
            ON THE 49TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE 
 
REF:        Kinshasa 632 
 
¶1.  (U) President Joseph Kabila presided over Congolese Independence 
day ceremonies in Goma on July 1 (reftel).  Kabila did not speak in 
Goma.  Instead, prior to leaving Kinshasa, Kabila taped a speech for 
nationwide diffusion that was later broadcast via the news media. 
The speech is at para 3 below in an unofficial English translation, 
and at para 4 in its original French text. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Comment:  Kabila's well-drafted National Day statement, 
which touches on many of the major issues of concern to Congolese 
and foreigners alike as the country enters its 50th year of 
independence, refers to many areas of activity but does not mention 
any meaningful results since Kabila took office in 2006.  On some 
matters we question Kabila's attribution of responsibility for a 
particular problem.  For example, he places the presidency in 
opposition to the judicial branch, which he clearly blames for 
wide-spread impunity when, in fact the armed forces (which Kabila 
tends to protect as a military man himself) is equally a culprit. 
In short, when reading the statement it is possible to imagine that 
the DRC is indeed making progress.  Although some progress may in 
fact be occurring, many observers would argue that it is much slower 
than the speech suggests.  This may explain why Kabila chose to tape 
it rather than read it before a live audience.  End comment. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Begin unofficial English translation: 
 
My dear compatriots, 
 
June 30, 2009, the anniversary of our independence, is celebrated 
this year in Goma.  Yesterday a victim, Goma is today bearing a new 
expectation for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, itself almost 
50 years old. 
 
In 49 years there have been breakthroughs, but also failures and 
backsliding, as was the case of the sad events of looting and 
destruction, foreign aggression, atrocities, including notably 
sexual violence against our mothers, our wives, or sisters and our 
children. 
I cannot overlook the looting of our natural resources, treasons and 
other shocks.  At the cost of numerous sacrifices, the country has 
been reunified, we have entered democracy and, despite turbulence 
here and there, peace is strengthening, the formal economy is 
restarting and renewed hope is on the agenda. 
 
All that which plunged our country into chaos, far from being 
forgotten, must rather serve as a lesson for us and compel us to 
deeply question ourselves, to correct errors of the past and seize a 
new momentum. 
 
Therefore: 
 
On the security front, we have firmly committed ourselves to 
eradicate remaining pockets of insecurity in the territories of 
Orientale Province and North and South Kivu. 
 
Efforts will be intensified with the objective of creating absolute 
security for our populations and immediate cessation of violence of 
all forms, especially rape and other odious acts against women, 
young girls and children. 
 
A stabilization and reconstruction program for zones emerging from 
armed conflicts will be set up soon.  Likewise, I want to reassure 
victims of the humanitarian catastrophe provoked by external 
aggressions, internal conflicts and other atrocities, of my 
commitment to continue existing efforts, and of the solidarity of 
the Congolese people to eradicate the causes of the tragedy in order 
to consolidate peace. 
 
Therefore, I salute our armed forces, police forces and security 
forces for the job they have done in the field, in an extremely 
difficult environment, often sacrificing their lives.  I use this 
opportunity to ask our people to offer them the support they need at 
this time.  The isolated cases of wrongdoing and indiscipline should 
not be attributed to the whole army.  Accordingly, the guilty have 
been rendered to the appropriate jurisdictions, as it should and 
always will be. 
 
On the social and economic front, the many-sided crisis that is 
directly hitting our country is due notably to a confluence of 
international events and do not spare any country in the world.  But 
it cannot stop our determination to go ahead in implementing of our 
development program. 
 
 
KINSHASA 00000644  002 OF 005 
 
 
Therefore, following the conference of provincial governors which 
has just taken place in Kisangani June 24-25, 2009, I have ordered 
the heads of provincial executive authorities to put our populations 
back to productive agricultural work with the short-term objective 
of the mechanization of agriculture, and in the medium term, food 
self-sufficiency and transformation of our agricultural industry to 
export. 
 
It is in this context that, for the first time, the agricultural 
fair will open here in Goma tomorrow (NOTE: July 1st). 
 
On the development front, I have proposed to you an ambitious 
national reconstruction program called 'the five priorities' to 
change the country.  Therefore, today's Congo looks like a huge 
worksite that we have undertaken together since 2006.  The program 
that is shaping up will certainly lead us to a real, endogenous and 
integral development. 
 
Several projects have already started and are in the process of 
implementation.  The Congolese people, rather than watching as 
spectators or critics, must accept and support these efforts.  Yet, 
if we do not care, negative values, which are taking root within 
Congolese society and which include indiscipline, intolerance, 
misappropriation of funds, financial mismanagement, and corruption 
risk endangering these ambitious projects. 
 
My dear compatriots, 
 
I have denounced several times since December 6, 2007 the 
troublesome application of justice in our country. 
 
Being rightfully perceived by the legislative as the guarantor of 
peace and indispensable to political stability as well as social and 
economic development, justice finds itself today in the defendant's 
dock. 
 
Abusive of the independence linked to the delicacy and nobility of 
his duty, the magistrate has proven himself to be guilty of theft, 
misappropriation of funds, corruption and even common law offenses, 
with disconcerting efficacy. 
 
As for me, the constitutional guarantor functional institutions, I 
am determined to end this state of affairs, with the assistance of 
the appropriate authorities. 
 
To this end, I intend to hold accountable immediately all 
conclusions of the work of the second extraordinary session of the 
Supreme Counsel of Magistrates held in Kinshasa from June 11-23, 
¶2009.  It is time for the members of judicial institutions to choose 
their side: either to serve, or to torture once more a people 
bruised and afflicted by several years of conflicts and violence. 
 
I have no doubt that the whole population will support the measures 
which, in the short run, will certainly contribute to guaranteeing 
justice and judicial security for all. 
 
My dear compatriots, 
 
Next year, our country will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of 
its independence.   This jubilee year is a propitious moment for 
consolidating our common vision of the Republic and its future. 
 
It is with this anniversary in mind that the General Commission for 
the 50th anniversary has just been set up with the major objective 
of devising and coordinating activities commemorating the 50th 
anniversary of our independence.  The commission is also tasked to 
rekindle the collective memory of the Congolese people. 
 
As you may well note, the work of the commission offers a timely 
framework for reflection to all Congolese and will enable them to 
bring substantial contributions to the improvement of the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo for the next fifty years. 
 
My dear compatriots, 
 
It must be noted that that all countries around the world face, to 
various degrees, problems related to security and development, which 
remain permanent challenges. 
 
As for me, I think we are on the right course.  Let us not be 
discouraged, let us rather be ready to assume, each of us, his part 
of responsibility, even if our full potential may be unknown. 
 
Therefore, I encourage each one of you, men, women, leaders, elites 
 
KINSHASA 00000644  003 OF 005 
 
 
from all sectors, intellectuals, church leaders from all religious 
denominations, workers, peasants, students, young and old, to a 
moral and patriotic rearmament to ensure a better future for our 
people and to bequeath a country that is more beautiful than before 
to our children. 
 
Happy Independence Day 
 
May God bless the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
 
Thank you. 
 
End unofficial translation. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Begin original French version: 
 
MES TRES CHERS COMPATRIOTES, 
 
LE 30 JUIN 2009, JOUR ANNIVERSAIRE DE NOTRE INDEPENDANCE, EST 
CELEBREE CETTE ANNEE A GOMA. HIER VICTIME, GOMA EST AUJOURD'HUI 
PORTEUSE D'UNE NOUVELLE ESPERANCE POUR LA REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU 
CONGO, PRESQUE CINQUANTENAIRE. 
 
DES AVANCES, IL Y EN A EU EN 49 ANS, MAIS EGALEMENT DES RATES, DES 
RETOURS EN ARRIERE, COMME CE FUT LE CAS DE TRISTES EVENEMENTS DES 
PILLAGES ET DESTRUCTIONS, DES AGRESSIONS EXTERIEURES, DES ATROCITES 
DE TOUS GENRES, DONT NOTAMMENT DES VIOLENCES SEXUELLES SUR NOS 
MERES, NOS FEMMES, NOS SOEURS ET NOS ENFANTS. 
 
JE NE SAURAIS PASSER SOUS SILENCE LES PILLAGES DE NOS RESSOURCES 
NATURELLES, LES TRAHISONS ET TANT D'AUTRES SOUBRESAUTS.  AU PRIX DE 
NOMBREUX SACRIFICES, LE PAYS A ETE REUNIFIE, NOUS SOMMES ENTRES EN 
DEMOCRATIE ET, EN DEPIT DE QUELQUES TURBULENCES ENREGISTREES CA ET 
LA, LA PAIX SE CONSOLIDE, L'ECONOMIE FORMELLE SE RELANCE ; L'ESPOIR 
S'INSCRIT DE NOUVEAU A L'ORDRE DU JOUR. 
 
TOUTE CETTE SITUATION QUI A PLONGE NOTRE PAYS DANS LE CHAOS, LOIN 
D'ETRE OUBLIEE, DOIT PLUTOT NOUS SERVIR DE LECON ET NOUS POUSSER A 
NOUS REMETTRE PROFONDEMENT EN CAUSE, POUR CORRIGER LES ERREURS DU 
PASSE ET PRENDRE LE PLUS BEL ELAN. 
 
VOILA POURQUOI : 
 
SUR LE PLAN SECURITAIRE, NOUS NOUS SOMMES ENGAGES FERMEMENT A 
ERADIQUER LES POCHES RESIDUELLES D'INSECURITE DANS CERTAINS 
TERRITOIRES DE LA PROVINCE ORIENTALE, DU NORD-KIVU ET DU SUD-KIVU. 
 
DES EFFORTS SERONT INTENSIFIES DANS CE SENS EN VUE DE DEBOUCHER SUR 
LA SECURISATION TOTALE DE NOS POPULATIONS AINSI QUE LA CESSATION 
IMMEDIATE DE VIOLENCES DE TOUTES FORMES ET PLUS PARTICULIEREMENT LES 
VIOLS ET TOUS AUTRES ACTES INFAMES CONTRE LA FEMME, LA JEUNE FILLE 
ET L'ENFANT. 
 
UN PROGRAMME DE STABILISATION ET DE RECONSTRUCTION DES ZONES SORTANT 
DES CONFLITS ARMES SERA INCESSAMMENT EN PLACE. DE MEME, JE VOUDRAIS 
RASSURER LES VICTIMES DE LA CATASTROPHE HUMANITAIRE PROVOQUEE PAR 
LES AGRESSIONS EXTERIEURES, LES CONFLITS INTERNES ET LES ATROCITE DE 
TOUS GENRES DE MON ENGAGEMENT A POURSUIVRE LES EFFORTS DEJA 
ENTREPRIS, ET DE LA SOLIDARITE DES CONGOLAIS A ERADIQUER LES CAUSES 
DE CE DRAME, EN VUE DE LA CONSOLIDATION DE LA PAIX. 
 
A CET EFFET, JE RENDS HOMMAGE A NOS FORCES ARMEES, DE POLICE ET DE 
SECURITE POUR LE TRAVAIL ABATTU SUR LE TERRAIN DES OPERATIONS, DANS 
UN ENVIRONNEMENT EXTREMEMENT DIFFICILE, SOUVENT AU SACRIFICE DE 
LEURS VIES. C'EST ICI, POUR MOI, LE LIEU DE DEMANDER A TOUT NOTRE 
PEUPLE DE LEUR APPORTER LE SOUTIEN DONT ILS ONT BESOIN EN CE MOMENT. 
LES CAS ISOLES DE DERAPAGE ET D'INDISCIPLINE RELEVES CA ET LA NE 
DOIVENT PAS ETRE ATTRIBUES A TOUTE L'ARMEE. C'EST POURQUOI LES 
COUPABLES ONT ETE TRADUITS DEVANT LES JURIDICTIONS COMPETENTES. IL 
EN SERA TOUJOURS AINSI. 
 
AU PLAN SOCIAL ET ECONOMIQUE, LA CRISE MULTIFORME QUI FRAPPE NOTRE 
PAYS DE PLAIN FOUET PROCEDE NOTAMMENT DE LA CONJONCTURE 
INTERNATIONALE QUI N'EPARGNE AUCUN PAYS DU MONDE. MAIS ELLE NE 
SAURAIT ARRETER NOTRE DETERMINATION D'ALLER DE L'AVANT DANS LA MISE 
EN OEUVRE DE NOTRE PROGRAMME DE DEVELOPPEMENT. 
 
C'EST POURQUOI, A L'ISSUE DE LA CONFERENCE DES GOUVERNEURS DE 
PROVINCE QUI VIENT DE SE TENIR A KISANGANI LES 24 ET 25 JUIN 2009, 
J'AI INSTRUIT LES CHEFS DES EXECUTIFS PROVINCIAUX A REMETTRE NOS 
POPULATIONS AU TRAVAIL PRODUCTIF DE LA TERRE, AVEC COMME OBJECTIF A 
COURT TERME, LA MECANISATION DE L'AGRICULTURE ET A MOYEN TERME, 
L'AUTOSUFFISANCE ALIMENTAIRE AINSI QUE LA TRANSFORMATION DE NOS 
PRODUITS AGRICOLES EN VUE DE LEUR EXPORTATION. 
 
KINSHASA 00000644  004 OF 005 
 
 
 
C'EST D'AILLEURS SOUS CES AUSPICES QUE S'OUVRE DEMAIN (NDLR : 1ER 
JUILLET) ET POUR LA TOUTE PREMIERE FOIS, ICI A GOMA, LA FOIRE 
AGRICOLE. 
 
AU PLAN DE DEVELOPPEMENT, JE VOUS AI PROPOSE UN AMBITIEUX PROGRAMME 
DE RECONSTRUCTION NATIONALE APPELE LES CINQ CHANTIERS POUR CHANGER 
LE PAYS. LE CONGO D'AUJOURD'HUI RESSEMBLE DONC A UN VASTE CHANTIER 
QUE NOUS AVONS ENTREPRIS ENSEMBLE DEPUIS DECEMBRE 2006. CE PROGRAMME 
QUI PREND DE PLUS EN PLUS CORPS, NOUS CONDUIRA CERTAINEMENT VERS UN 
REEL DEVELOPPEMENT ENDOGENE ET INTEGRAL. 
 
PLUSIEURS PROJETS ONT DEJA DEMARRE ET SONT EN COURS D'EXECUTION. 
NOTRE PEUPLE, PLUTOT QUE D'ASSISTER EN SPECTATEUR OU EN DETRACTEUR, 
DOIT S'EN APPROPRIER EN Y APPORTANT SON CONCOURS. CEPENDANT, SI ON 
N'Y PREND GARDE, LES ANTI-VALEURS QUI S'ENRACINENT AU SEIN DE LA 
SOCIETE CONGOLAISE A SAVOIR : L'INDISCIPLINE, L'INTOLERANCE, LA 
CONCUSSION, LA GABEGIE FINANCIERE AINSI QUE LA CORRUPTION RISQUENT 
DE METTRE EN PERIL CE PROJET AMBITIEUX. 
 
MES TRES CHERS COMPATRIOTES, 
 
J'AI, DANS CE SENS, DEPUIS LE 06 DECEMBRE 2007, DENONCE A MAINTES 
REPRISES, LA QUALITE PREOCCUPANTE DE LA DISTRIBUTION DE LA JUSTICE 
DANS NOTRE PAYS. 
 
PERCUE A JUSTE TITRE PAR LE LEGISLATEUR COMME GARANTE DE LA PAIX 
CIVILE ET FACTEUR INDISPENSABLE A LA STABILITE POLITIQUE AINSI QU'AU 
DEVELOPPEMENT ECONOMIQUE ET SOCIAL, AUJOURD'HUI, LA JUSTICE EST 
ELLE-MEME AU BANC DES ACCUSES. 
 
ABUSANT DE L'INDEPENDANCE LIEE POURTANT A LA DELICATESSE ET A LA 
NOBLESSE DE SA CHARGE, LE MAGISTRAT SE REND LUI AUSSI COUPABLE DE 
VOL, DE CONCUSSION, DE CORRUPTION ET VOIRE MEME DES INFRACTIONS DE 
DROIT COMMUN, AVEC UNE FACILITE DECONCERTANTE. 
 
QUANT A MOI, GARANT CONSTITUTIONNEL DU BON FONCTIONNEMENT DES 
INSTITUTIONS, JE SUIS DETERMINE A METTRE FIN A CET ETAT DE CHOSES, 
AVEC LE CONCOURS DES INSTANCES ATTITREES. 
 
DANS CETTE PERSPECTIVE, J'ENTENDS TIRER INCESSAMMENT TOUTES LES 
CONSEQUENCES DES CONCLUSIONS DES TRAVAUX DE LA DEUXIEME SESSION 
EXTRAORDINAIRE DU CONSEIL SUPERIEUR DE LA MAGISTRATURE TENUS A 
KINSHASA DU 11 AU 23 JUIN 2009. IL EST TEMPS QUE LES OPERATEURS 
JUDICIAIRES CHOISISSENT LEUR CAMP ; CELUI DE SERVIR OU DE MARTYRISER 
DAVANTAGE UN PEUPLE MEURTRI ET EPROUVE PAR PLUSIEURS ANNEES DE 
CONFLITS ET DE VIOLENCES. 
 
JE NE DOUTE PAS DU RESTE, DE TOUT LE SOUTIEN QUE LA POPULATION TOUT 
ENTIERE APPORTE A CES MESURES QUI, DANS LE PLUS BREF DELAI, 
CONTRIBUERONT, A COUP SUR, A GARANTIR LA JUSTICE ET LA SECURITE 
JUDICIAIRE POUR TOUS. 
 
MES TRES CHERS COMPATRIOTES, 
 
L'ANNEE PROCHAINE, NOTRE PAYS VA CELEBRER LE CINQUANTENAIRE DE SON 
INDEPENDANCE. CETTE ANNEE JUBILAIRE CONSTITUE UN MOMENT PROPICE A LA 
CONSOLIDATION DE NOTRE VISION COMMUNE DE LA REPUBLIQUE ET DE SON 
AVENIR. 
 
C'EST DANS CETTE PERSPECTIVE QUE LE COMMISSARIAT GENERAL DU 
CINQUANTENAIRE VIENT D'ETRE MIS EN PLACE AVEC POUR MISSION 
PRINCIPALE DE CONCEVOIR ET DE COORDONNER LES ACTIVITES 
COMMEMORATIVES DU 50EME ANNIVERSAIRE DE NOTRE INDEPENDANCE. CE 
COMMISSARIAT EST CHARGE EGALEMENT DE RECONSTITUER LA MEMOIRE 
COLLECTIVE DU PEUPLE CONGOLAIS. 
 
COMME ON PEUT BIEN LE CONSTATER, IL S'AGIT LA D'UN CADRE PROPICE DE 
REFLEXION OFFERT A TOUS LES CONGOLAIS EN VUE DE LEUR PERMETTRE DE 
DONNER DES CONTRIBUTIONS SUBSTANTIELLES A L'EDIFICATION DE LA 
REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO DES CINQUANTE PROCHAINES ANNEES. 
 
MES TRES CHERS COMPATRIOTES, 
 
IL Y A LIEU DE NOTER EN DEFINITIVE QUE TOUS LES PAYS DU MONDE SONT 
CONFRONTES, A DIVERS DEGRES, AUX PROBLEMES LIES A LA SECURITE ET AU 
DEVELOPPEMENT, QUI DEMEURENT DES DEFIS PERMANENTS. 
 
POUR MA PART, J'ESTIME QUE NOUS SOMMES SUR LA BONNE VOIE. NE NOUS 
DECOURAGEONS PAS, SOYONS PLUTOT PRETS A ASSUMER CHACUN SA PART DE 
RESPONSABILITE, DU RESTE INCOMPREHENSIBLE AU REGARD DES 
POTENTIALITES IMMENSES DONT IL EST DOTE. 
 
J'EXHORTE DONC CHACUN DE VOUS, HOMMES, FEMMES, GOUVERNANTS, ELITES 
 
KINSHASA 00000644  005 OF 005 
 
 
DE TOUS LES SECTEURS D'ACTIVITES, INTELLECTUELS, CADRES 
ECCLESIASTIQUES DE TOUTES LES CONFESSIONS RELIGIEUSES, OUVRIERS, 
PAYSANS, ETUDIANTS, JEUNES ET VIEUX, A UN REARMEMENT MORAL ET 
PATRIOTIQUE EN VUE D'ASSURER DES LENDEMAINS MEILLEURS A TOUT NOTRE 
PEUPLE ET DE LEGUER UN PAYS PLUS BEAU QU'AVANT A NOS ENFANTS. 
 
BONNE FETE DE L'INDEPENDANCE. 
 
QUE DIEU BENISSE LA REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO, 
 
JE VOUS REMERCIE. 
 
End original French version. 
 
GARVELINK