Cablegate: Eastern Drc Notes - December 10

VZCZCXRO2652
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1089 3451153
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101153Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8877
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 001089

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - DECEMBER 10

1. (U) The items contained in this report consist principally of
spot information from various sources. This report is not
exhaustive, nor can all the information contained therein be
confirmed at this time.

Nairobi Talks
-------------

2. (SBU) MONUC and the international community continue to receive
few details from the talks in Nairobi. Obasanjo's mediation team
reportedly asked that the two sides conduct the talks in strict
confidentiality, given their shared tendency to posture in public.

3. (SBU) According to MONUC contacts, discussion on December 10
centered on procedures and rules, while talks on December 11 moved
to more substantive issues. The CNDP opened with a hard line
position, calling for dismissal of the current GDRC, renegotiation
of Amani, a new constitution, and the return of Tutsi refugees in
Rwanda. The GDRC continued to insist on utilizing the current Amani
framework for political negotiations. According to press reporting,
Obasanjo announced that further substantive talks would take place
before Christmas.

4. (SBU) MONUC contacts in Goma opined to poloff that many in the
GDRC and FARDC still believe they can defeat the CNDP militarily,
thus, in the view of these contacts, raising questions about the
GDRC's commitment to pursue a political settlement at the moment.

Security Situation
------------------

5. (SBU) MONUC in Goma reported a relatively calm military
situation on December 9. MONUC has diverted substantial forces from
Ituri and from the Grand Nord to reinforce units in the Petit Nord,
closer to the Goma-Rutshuru axis. MONUC anticipates using the 3,000
additional troops recently authorized by the UNSC to rebalance its
forces in the Grand Nord. Separately, a senior MONUC military
source told Goma poloff that MONUC is willing to support the FARDC,
if it moves against the LRA.

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