VZCZCXRO3181
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1129/01 3561702
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 221702Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 4862
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0485
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001129 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2019 
TAGS: PREL PBTS EPET EAIR MARR PREF RW CG
SUBJECT: DRC-RWANDA BILATERAL COMMISSION DISCUSSES SECURITY 
AND RESOURCES 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1066 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  The DRC-Rwandan Joint Grand Commission 
met in Kinshasa December 17-19, after a recess of 21 years. 
Minister for International Cooperation Raymond Tshibanda led 
the DRC delegation and his former homologue and newly 
appointed Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo led the Rwandan 
contingent.  The commission, a possible mechanism for 
implementing rapprochement, reviewed the gamut of issues from 
economic and military cooperation to management of trade and 
population flows.  Although not mentioned in the press, 
discussions on competing claims to methane reserves under 
Lake Kivu may also have been on the agenda.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) The fourth bilateral commission meeting was the third 
in a series of publicized confidence-building measures 
following closely on the presidential summit in August and 
the exchange of ambassadors in recent weeks.  Although the 
commission's final report is pending publication, a joint 
communique quoted in the pro-government daily "L'Avenir" said 
in part: "The two delegations note with satisfaction progress 
in bilateral relations, notably in the sectors of politics, 
defense, and security."  The delegations discussed 
"harmonizing administrative procedures" concerning border 
issues including migratory and refugee movements, and "hailed 
the success of Kimia II military operations in eradicating 
the FDLR and other armed rebel groups." 
 
¶3.  (C) Recently accredited Rwandan Ambassador Amandin Rugira 
(reftel) coordinated preparations for and participated in the 
bilateral event, yet, a reliable diplomatic source told 
poloff that Rugira expressed "surprise" at the idea of Kimia 
2 operations coming to an end.  Rugira also told the source 
the GDRC asserted the FDLR contributed to unrest in Dongo 
(Note:  The decision to bring Kimia 2 to an end was probably 
a MONUC decision the DRC -- and Rwanda -- had no choice but 
to accept.  While not surprising that Ambassador Rugira would 
assert FDLR connivance in the Dongo violence, we have seen no 
credible evidence of FDLR involvement in that conflict.  End 
note).  The next meeting of the commission is forecast for 
¶2011. 
 
¶4.  (U) In addition to the joint communique, the respective 
delegation heads talked to the press.  While Tshibanda's 
public comments underscored in broad terms the commitment of 
Presidents Kabila and Kagame and their desire for 
implementation of the commission's recommendations, 
Mushikiwabo's comments were more specific.  Quoted by Radio 
Top Congo, she said Rwanda is committed to achieving concrete 
results in common projects, such as enabling "Rwandan 
aviation companies to open direct routes from Kigali to Goma 
and Kinshasa" (Note: Some local observers fear such flights, 
especially small carriers, would support smuggling of 
minerals.  End note).  Mushikiwabo also called for 
cooperation in exploitation of methane deposits in Lake Kivu. 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) Fearing a repeat of increased tensions with another 
neighbor, Angola, over contested natural resources, 
independent daily "Le Potential" asked if rancor would 
replace rapprochement given the potentially explosive debate 
over methane gas reserves located under the DRC-Rwandan 
littoral border.  The bilateral commission called for an 
Qlittoral border.  The bilateral commission called for an 
environmental impact study on gas extraction in Lake Kivu, 
home to six blocks of proven methane reserves currently 
exploited by Rwanda.  Based on findings published in June 
from a two-year study funded by the World Bank, Congolese and 
Rwandan ministers of energy met in August and agreed to 
conduct a feasibility study for a joint electricity 
generation project.  Areas of possible contention include 
credible claims that the GDRC already initiated negotiations 
with private investors for exploitation of some blocks, and 
that Rwanda appears ready to begin operation next month of 
two independent electricity generation projects. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Comment:  Resumption of the Joint Grand Commission 
bilateral framework is a welcome sign that rapprochement 
between the DRC and Rwanda is ongoing and becoming stronger. 
It is noteworthy that the DRC is also in diplomatic 
discussions regarding competing claims for gas and oil 
resources with two other neighbors -- Uganda on Lake Albert, 
 
KINSHASA 00001129  002 OF 002 
 
 
and Angola along the Atlantic coast. This is a hopeful 
regional trend and would suggest that armed conflict over 
competing claims to resource rights may soon become a thing 
of the past.  It may also attest to an evolution in the way 
the GDRC thinks trategically:  a move away from short-term 
military security towards longer-term economic security. 
End comment. 
 
GARVELINK