VZCZCXRO2229
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0256/01 0551625
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 241624Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0280
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE
SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC 0050

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 000256 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS PREL PHUM PGOV CG KPAO
SUBJECT: CONGOLESE PRESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY REACT POSITIVELY TO U.S. 
MILITARY TRAINING, FOR NOW 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1080 
 
¶1.  Summary:  Following an initial series of logistical challenges, 
U.S. and Congolese personnel successfully assembled Government of 
Democratic Republic of Congo (GDRC) officials, members of civil 
society and press in Kisangani and Kinshasa for an inaugural 
ceremony on February 17 commemorating the beginning of the general 
training of a Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) Light Infantry 
Battalion.  After the ceremony, Ambassador Garvelink and members of 
the visiting U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) responded to questions 
and concerns from leaders of Kisangani civil society and Congolese 
press over the nature of the training and suspicions of U.S. 
motives in the region, and Ambassador Garvelink continued outreach 
with key international and local press outlets in Kinshasa.  Both 
events acted as a starting point to inform key audiences about the 
Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) training.  A concerted U.S. 
interagency effort is needed to continue to educate audiences and 
garner support for the training and broader U.S. commitment to 
Security Sector Reform.  End summary. 
 
Despite challenges, Kisangani ceremony takes place 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 
- 
 
¶2.  The Kisangani ceremony to inaugurate training of soldiers of a 
Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)took place on February 17 amid 
tremendous logistical challenges.  Following torrential rains two 
nights before the event that destroyed much of the camp 
infrastructure and flooded the ceremonial grounds, U.S. and FARDC 
personnel, as well as local contractors, worked tirelessly for 48 
hours to rehabilitate much of the damaged infrastructure. Thanks to 
these efforts, the event was able to take place on the scheduled 
date of February 17. 
 
¶3.  Following initial ceremonial pageantry, leading GDRC and U.S. 
officials made remarks in front of foreign missions, international 
organizations, civil society leaders and journalists.  Brigadier 
General Jean-Claude Kifwa, commander of the FARDC ninth region, 
asserted the training of the LIB was a sign of progress in ongoing 
efforts to reform the FARDC.  He also committed the battalion to 
protect the territorial borders of the DRC and the Congolese 
people.  Ambassador Garvelink, in his remarks, emphasized the 
commitment of the U.S. and FARDC "to develop a professional force 
that respects civilian authority and that provides security to all 
citizens of this country."  Following these remarks, the battalion 
conducted a "pass-in-review" march around the ceremonial grounds 
for invited guests and concluded with national anthems of both 
countries. 
 
Ambassador Garvelink and U.S. officials respond to concerns 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 
------------ 
 
¶4.  As an opportunity to explain the training objectives and 
highlight the U.S.-DRC partnership, senior U.S. and GDRC officials 
held a press roundtable following the ceremony.  While 
participants, who included leading civil society figures and local 
and regional press, agreed the training was a positive development, 
they indicated a clear suspicion of the U.S. motivations for 
engaging this is training.  Speculation of U.S. objectives ranged 
from establishing a larger AFRICOM presence in the DRC to using 
Kisangani as a forward operating base to confront regional threats, 
such as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and Islamic terrorist 
threats in Sudan.  Ambassador Garvelink, Ambassador Holmes, and 
Major General Sherlock all refuted these notions, and pointed out 
the U.S. had no intention to install a base in the DRC or the 
continent.  Major General Sherlock stated that U.S. efforts were 
"designed to grow capacity within the FARDC to grow a professional 
battalion that is responsible to a civilian government and to the 
people of the [DRC].  Our efforts are not about Africa Command. 
Our efforts are in support of our partners in the [DRC]." 
 
¶5.  Responding to concerns that U.S. motivations are linked to an 
effort to support any subversive Rwandan efforts to destabilize the 
DRC, Ambassador Garvelink noted the U.S. sought to maintain 
positive relations with both countries, and there were no 
intentions to destabilize the DRC.  Rather, the "interest of the 
U.S. in the Congo is to see a democratic, representative government 
that takes care of its people and is at peace with its neighbors." 
The Ambassador also noted that the U.S. hoped the battalion would 
act as a platform "from which additional training of Congolese 
troops could be done by very well training Congolese troops."  The 
ultimate hope, as indicated by the Ambassador, was that the 
 
KINSHASA 00000256  002 OF 003 
 
 
training would continue to expand under the direction and 
leadership of the Congolese military. 
 
¶6.  Local Kisangani community radio stations aired the Ambassador's 
and General Sherlock's comments, and local newspapers reported 
positively on the event, providing key images of the ceremony and 
press event and citing the delegation's statements that AFRICOM 
would not establish a permanent military presence in the DRC.  Key 
Kinshasa dailies that were present at the event cited quotes from 
U.S. officials that highlighted the positive objectives of the U.S. 
training.  Pro-government L'Avenir reported extensively on the 
human rights component of the training and the potential positive 
impact in reducing gender and sexual-based violence (SGBV) in 
conflict zones (a point emphasized in Ambassador Garvelink's 
remarks and an interagency-cleared fact sheet that was distributed 
to roundtable participants).  Independent Le Potential also noted 
the training's expected result to contribute to local and regional 
peace, and underscored the U.S. commitment to enhance the capacity 
of the FARDC, not to establish a permanent military presence in the 
DRC. 
 
 
Continued outreach in Kinshasa 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  Embassy Kinshasa also hosted a press conference on February 22 
for local and international press agencies based in Kinshasa to 
amplify the messages beyond Kisangani and Kinshasa.  Ambassador 
Garvelink highlighted the importance of the training in the broader 
context of U.S. commitments to SSR and political and economic 
development of the DRC.  Both he and Colonel Crowder, Office of 
Security Cooperation (OSC) chief, addressed questions on the 
specific modalities of the training, particularly in terms of 
funding and training activities.  Both also highlighted the 
training elements that focused on combating Sexual and Gender Based 
Violence (SGBV) and indications of the U.S. commitment to ensuring 
the LIB did not commit acts of SGBV against communities. 
Ambassador Garvelink emphasized that while the GDRC would be 
responsible for the payment of the battalion, the United States and 
other international partners would support efforts to reinforce the 
country's public finance and payment systems.  Following the event, 
local media outlets received edited footage (taken by an Embassy 
grantee) of the Kisangani ceremony from the Embassy's Public 
Affairs Section (PAS) to incorporate into their broadcasts and 
reports of the event. 
 
 
 
¶8.  Local press and international media outlets reported positively 
on the Kinshasa press conference and side interviews with 
Ambassador Garvelink and Colonel Crowder.  The independent 
newspaper Le Potentiel highlighted the training's objective to help 
develop a professional army that respects civilian authority and 
protects the Congolese people, and noted in its front page 
headline: "Reforming the FARDC, the U.S. Picks up the Pace." 
Positive newspaper articles also appeared in Le Phare, Forum Des 
As, and L'Avenir.  Several pro-government and independent 
television networks all ran news stories on the press conference, 
using footage provided by the PAS.  Discussing United States' SSR 
objectives, several media outlets emphasized the Ambassador's point 
that reform of the Congolese military would lead to progress on 
good governance, economic development, and stable civil 
institutions.  "Obama Wants a Professional Army in the DRC," was 
the sub-headline of the article in the moderately pro-opposition Le 
Phare, noting that "The United States is ready to help the DR Congo 
build an army that is strong and professional," and will play a key 
role in providing security in the Great Lakes region and protecting 
the territorial integrity of its own country.  International press, 
including VOA, Bloomberg, and Reuters, also reported key messages 
from the Ambassador's and Colonel Crowder's remarks, including the 
reference to human rights training as being a key component to the 
objectives of the initiative. 
 
 
¶9.  Comment:  Embassy Kinshasa's efforts to amplify our public 
message on the LIB training and explain to key opinion-makers the 
intentions of U.S. activities appeared to resonate quite 
positively.  However, as public attitudes in the DRC are fluid, and 
skepticism of the LIB training (which is engrained in deep, 
historically-based suspicions of U.S. objectives in the region) 
will likely continue, regular and constant engagement with public 
audiences in Kisangani, Kinshasa, and elsewhere will be necessary 
to build on these initial efforts. In the coming weeks, Embassy 
 
KINSHASA 00000256  003 OF 003 
 
 
Kinshasa will discuss opportunities with the Department and AFRICOM 
to program activities and determine funding opportunities to 
support these activities.  Funding will be critical to supporting 
and sustaining any long-term initiatives and respond to concerns 
and counter misinformation regarding the LIB training.  End 
comment. 
 
 
 
 
 
Signature: 
 
GARVELINK 
GARVELINK