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Cablegate: Second International Conference On Ddr And

Published: Tue 3 Jul 2007 08:11 AM
VZCZCXRO1960
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0739 1840811
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030811Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6425
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000739
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KPKO CG
SUBJECT: SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DDR AND
STABILITY IN AFRICA
1. (SBU) Summary: The GDRC and the UN co-hosted a conference
in Kinshasa June 12-14 on disarmament, demobilization and
reintegration (DDR) programs in Africa. Delegates agreed on
the need to link transitional justice to ongoing programs, to
focus on the needs of women and children, and to proceed with
repatriation of foreign armed groups, but issued no concrete
proposals. End summary.
2. (U) The Second International Conference on Disarmament,
Demobilization and Reinsertion (DDR) and Stability in Africa
took place in Kinshasa June 12-14. It was hosted by the GDRC
and the UN Office of the Special Advisor on Africa (OSAA),
and funded by Belgium and Sweden. Delegations from 22
African countries participated along with representatives of
NGOs, regional organizations, and several UN offices. SRSG
Swing and DRC Foreign Minister Mbusa Nyamwisi addressed the
delegates, who discussed four main issues: the links between
DDR and Security Sector Reform (SSR), the need for
transitional justice to be incorporated into DDR, the special
role of women and children in armed groups, and combatants on
foreign soil.
3. (U) Delegations focused on the challenges specific to
reintegration. Working groups developed recommendations on
each of the four DDR issues. Their conclusions emphasized
the need to integrate DDR and SSR strategies, create local
ownership of the DDR process, and include regional partners.
They also recommended separating women and children during
the DDR processes and providing special support programs for
them. They proposed that locally-inclusive transitional
justice mechanisms be integrated in the DDR process, and
emphasized the importance of political will and national and
regional dialogue. Other recommendations called on
governments and regional organizations to oversee existing
cease-fire agreements.
4. (SBU) Plenary discussion focused on comparing African
experiences and lessons learned as the basis of practical
strategies to improve DDR and build peace in Africa. The DRC
was one of five case studies participants analyzed. The GDRC
delegate emphasized the necessity of follow-through and
continuing foreign financial support. He highlighted the
creation of integrated brigades, but conceded that the
process had not successfully reintegrated former combatants
into society. He stated that community development projects
were needed to reconcile ex-combatants to their communities
and to pursue transitional justice. He did not address
recruitment and use of child soldiers, but noted that the DRC
is continuing to repatriate foreign combatants.
5. (SBU) Comment: The conference recommendations provided an
intellectual framework for dealing with DDR issues by
creating "African solutions to African problems." Practical
implementation of DDR programs in Africa will require
concrete strategies by the governments themselves. Delegates
instead called on donors to finance African programs and did
not discuss political initiatives. End comment.
MEECE
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