VZCZCXRO2434
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1147 3571433
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221433Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8947
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 001147
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: BACK ON TRACK: 43RD MEETING OF
THE JMG TASK FORCE ON DECEMBER 19
REFS: (A) KIGALI 859; (B) KINSHASA 1016;
(C) KINSHASA 1146
1. (SBU) The Joint Monitoring Group Task Force (JMG TF) met at
MONUC Headquarters in Goma on December 19, the first meeting since
October 10 in Gisenyi, after which subsequent meetings were
suspended due to Rwandan concerns about security in Goma. The
three-person Rwandan delegation was led by Franco H. Rutagengwa,
Director of the Office of the President (Note: Rutagengwa replaces
Damascene Rudasingwa. End note). The GDRC delegation was led by
Colonel Augustin Mamba. Representatives of the AU, EU, France, UK,
MONUC and the UN also attended the two and a half hour meeting,
under the chair of U.S. Goma Poloff. JMG participants agreed to
meet on a fortnightly basis in Goma, but in view of the holidays,
delayed the next meeting until January 9.
2. (SBU) Brief introductory remarks in French (GDRC) and English
(GOR) reflected a new determination to cooperate at all levels. The
delegations agreed that "we speak with one voice," a marked
departure from previous discussions replete with mutual accusations.
Rutagengwa confirmed GOR support for anti-FDLR military operations
(as agreed at a December "4 x 4 Commission" meeting in Goma),
normalization of diplomatic relations with the DRC, and regular
meetings between authorities on both sides of the border.
3. (SBU) FARDC Colonel Mamba reviewed the conclusions of the JMG
Envoy Level (JMG - EV) meeting December 8-10 in Kigali, including
the resumption of meetings at the UN/AU level and the JMG TF under
U.S. chair (ref A). The International Facilitation (IF) reviewed
its December 15 trip to Kasiki where 140 FDLR-RUD combatants await
repatriation to Rwanda. All sides agreed that ex-combatants could
return at any time, and the Rwandan delegation welcomed an
exploratory visit if it would facilitate the return. Mamba stated
that the Nairobi Communique would still govern repatriation, but he
added that it could happen quickly. The meeting participants agreed
to discuss the matter again at the next JMG TF meeting with a view
to repatriation early in 2009 (Note: per Ref B, FDLR-RUD elements in
Kasiki have expressed a preference for repatriation vice relocation
in the DRC. End note).
4. (SBU) Alex Smith Mackenzie, Chief of Office for DDR/DDRRR in
South Kivu, reviewed recent trends in repatriation, noting that the
FDLR in South Kivu appeared to be giving up on a military option.
Almost all FDLR, however, refer any political questions to Ignace
Murwanashyaka, the FDLR political leader in Germany, who still
appears to wield great influence over the FDLR.
5. (SBU) In an aside, Rutagengwa told Goma Poloff that he warmly
welcomes the U.S. MIST team's involvement in the DDRRR effort. He
also said that he did not think Rwandan forces would participate on
the ground in any joint actions against the FDLR, but that Rwanda
would help plan, support, and coordinate actions undertaken by the
FARDC (ref C).
6. (SBU) Comment: The December 19 meeting represents a promising
resumption at the technical level, but action on the ground against
the FDLR will be needed to sustain the warming relations between the
DRC and Rwanda. Continued dialogue at the ministerial level and
actual operations against the FDLR will capitalize on the momentum
generated by diplomatic efforts. End Comment.
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