VZCZCXRO8733
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1099/01 3510851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170851Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0443
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1320
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 2981
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001099 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INR, RRU, AF/C, AF/PDPA, NSC 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM KPAO MARR MASS PGOV PHUM PREL CG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HOLMES PRESS BRIEFING 
 
REF:  Kinshasa 1073 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: During his briefing with local press on December 
14, Ambassador Anthony Holmes, AFRICOM Deputy to the Commander for 
Civil-Military activities, stated that AFRICOM seeks to help African 
countries build capacity in security sector in order to more 
effectively protect their own civilians, sovereignty, and resources. 
 Holmes also described U.S.-DRC military cooperation programs, 
emphasizing partnership, and stressing protection of civilians and 
respect for human rights, as well as the importance of rule of law 
and transparency.  Coverage was positive, establishing a good 
opportunity for enhanced dialogue with local press and opinion 
leaders concerning U.S.-DRC military cooperation.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Ambassador Holmes emphasized that AFRICOM had no intentions 
of establishing a headquarters in Africa, nor to have any permanent 
bases on the continent.  He made a clear statement that AFRICOM 
seeks to help African countries build capacity in the security 
sector in order to more effectively protect their own civilians, 
sovereignty, and resources.  Holmes emphasized that while the USG 
was willing to help African nations achieve these important goals, 
it would do so only in partnership and upon invitation by host 
countries.  He also stressed the protection of the civilian 
population and human rights, respect for rule of law and 
transparency, as well as cooperation with the international 
community.  Holmes made clear that the Light Infantry Battalion 
(LIB) being trained in Kisangani was meant to create a model 
battalion that could then train other units. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Press coverage of the briefing was generally positive. 
"AFRICOM is Ready to Support Security Sector Reform in the DRC," 
read the headline over a back page article in Le Potentiel on 
December 15.  The article noted that the LIB will go on to train 
other units in the FARDC, with a particular emphasis on protecting 
civilian populations and respecting human rights.  (Note: Le 
Potentiel is often critical of the U.S., other Western nations and 
international organizations.  At the same time, Le Potentiel 
frequently cites SSR as a high priority for the DRC, and is 
generally receptive to USG SSR activities.  End note.) 
 
¶4. (U) On December 15, the pro-government newspaper L'Observateur's 
front-page headline noted "U.S. will provide $35 million for FARDC 
Capacity Building."  Ambassador Holmes's photo was also published on 
the front page.  The article focused on the LIB training, AFRICOM 
efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in the local military, cooperation with 
international partners in security sector reform, and the fact that 
AFRICOM has no intention of establishing a headquarters or bases in 
Africa.  Ambassador Holmes is quoted as saying: "We want above all 
to see the Congolese Army use its own members to train the soldiers 
who will make up an army that is professional and will integrate the 
concepts of respecting human rights and protecting civilian 
populations - an army that will apply itself to putting an end to 
the culture of impunity."  The article can be found at 
http://www.lobservateur.cd/. 
 
¶5. (U) The pro-government L'Avenir's December 15 edition ran a front 
page headline "DRC-USA: AFRICOM for a Professional Army in the DRC." 
 A sub-headline highlighted Ambassador Holmes's statement: "AFRICOM 
will respect the sovereignty of the DRC and has no intention of 
Qwill respect the sovereignty of the DRC and has no intention of 
establishing a permanent military presence against the will of the 
government or Congolese people."  The nearly full-page jump article 
reported that Ambassador Holmes cited security as the greatest 
challenge facing the DRC; emphasized respect for human rights and 
rule of law; stressed the importance of building judicial capacity; 
described AFRICOM's role as working in partnership with host 
governments; and expressed the hope that the DRC will work with the 
USG and other international partners to achieve effective SSR.  The 
newspaper also ran the full text of Ambassador Holmes's biography, 
along with his photograph.  The article can be found at 
http://www.groupelavenir.cd/spip.php?article2 9692 . 
 
¶6. (U) National television and radio station RTNC attended the press 
briefing, but as of the afternoon of December 15 had not yet aired 
any reports, as they are assembling a more detailed package to be 
broadcast in the near future.  (Post will advise when that report 
airs.)  Radio Okapi was invited to the press briefing, but the 
reporter was not able to attend, due to logistic difficulties. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment:  The press coverage of Ambassador Holmes' briefing 
was overwhelmingly positive, and provided a good basis for continued 
outreach and discussion with local press and opinion leaders.  Local 
opinion of AFRICOM and US-DRC military cooperation is often fraught 
with misperceptions (see reftel).  These misperceptions include: 
 
KINSHASA 00001099  002 OF 002 
 
 
speculation that AFRICOM is seeking a headquarters or permanent 
bases in Africa; civilian and civil society distrust of local 
military, and by consequence, USG military training and cooperation 
programs; the widespread view that USG strategy is closely tied to 
economic interests, and aims to destabilize or even break up the 
DRC; and the feeling that the U.S. has historically sided with 
Rwanda and/or other countries in the Great Lakes Region against the 
DRC.  PAS Kinshasa plans to work in close coordination with OSC, 
DAO, AFRICOM, AF PD/PA and other colleagues in developing an 
effective public diplomacy strategy for outreach and communications 
concerning SSR and related activities.  End comment. 
 
¶8. (U) Ambassador Holmes cleared on this cable. 
 
GARVELINK