VZCZCXRO6270
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1103 3501117
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151117Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8898
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 001103
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: GOMA NOTES - SUMBEIWO'S MEETING WITH NKUNDA
REF: KINSHASA 1095
1. (SBU) Retired Kenyan General Sumbeiwo, in his capacity as chief
mediator for SGSE Obasanjo's peace efforts in the eastern DRC, met
with CNDP Chairman Laurent Nkunda and approximately 15 members of
his North Kivu administration on December 11 in the context of the
negotiations that were being held in Nairobi. According to a MONUC
source who atended the meeting, Sumbeiwo stressed that the Naiobi
talks had made little progress because of unesolved procedural
issues. Nkunda dominated themeeting, insisting that the political
problems i question were national in nature, and not confinedto
North Kivu. Sumbeiwo reportedly urged Nkundato enter his
reservations on the agenda for futue talks, but to sign the
document presented in Nirobi so that the process could continue.
2. (SBU) Nkunda reportedly agreed to allow his negotiators to sign
the document in question, saying that he trusted Obasanjo and
Sumbeiwo as "African leaders," but had little trust in the broader
international community. (Note: It is unclear to which document
the MONUC source is referring. The readout we previously received
and reported reftel stated that no agreement had been reached
regarding the documents presented in Nairobi. End note)
3. (SBU) EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Louis Michel also
joined the meeting with Nkunda, reportedly at the invitation of
Obasanjo. According to a EU diplomat in Goma, Michel delivered a
message to Nkunda from Rwandan President Kagame informing Nkunda
that the Nairobi discussions should focus only on North Kivu issues,
and not on broader national concerns (such as changing the
government or constitution). Louis Michel arrived late to the
meeting, but then drove with Nkunda back to Rutshuru, where he was
deposited just outside the MONUC base.
4. (SBU) Comment: MONUC is impressed with the Sumbeiwo/Mkapa team.
Sumbeiwo knows how to keep negotiations moving forward, while Mkapa
can be brought in to placate intransigent or offended leaders.
MONUC believes that Louis Michel, however, is acting outside his
humanitarian mandate, and adding an unneeded and unwanted new
negotiating track. His arrival at the gates of MONUC in Nkunda's
car, in full view of the international press, was an unnecessary
affront to MONUC because it demonstrated Nkunda's determination and
ability to assert his authority in MONUC territory. End comment
GARVELINK