Cablegate: Kabila and Bemba Hold Private Meeting

VZCZCXRO3728
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1817 3351143
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011143Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5250
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001817

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG
SUBJECT: KABILA AND BEMBA HOLD PRIVATE MEETING

REF: KINSHASA 1791

1. (U) President Joseph Kabila and Vice President Jean-Pierre
Bemba met at Bemba's riverside residence early in the
afternoon of November 30. This was the first meeting between
the two since the Supreme Court's official certification of
Kabila's election (reftel).

2. (SBU) Presidency officials told us that the two discussed
a full range of issues, and that it was a private one-on-one
meeting. Kabila left the capital later in the day for North
Kivu province, which has seen fighting between renegade and
regular troops during the past week (septel).

3. (SBU) Bemba adviser Thomas Luhaka separately
characterized the meeting as important. Luhaka told us he
had met with Kabila earlier to help facilitate it, and
predicted that Kabila and Bemba would hold additional
meetings after Kabila's return to Kinshasa.

4. (SBU) Comment. Newly-elected, Kabila showed magnanimity in
meeting his defeated rival on his own turf -- a gesture that
Bemba would likely appreciate. The meeting sent a strong and
positive signal at the end of a hard-fought and divisive
campaign. End comment.
MEECE

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