Zimbabwe’s Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge told United States special envoy Howard Wolpe that Heads of State of the external actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo war had met at Victoria Falls to discuss ways of getting out of the Congo.
He said that although Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos and Rwandan President Paul Kagame were not able to attend because of commitments, the meeting had been frank and cordial- the friendliest such gathering he had ever observed.
He said the discussion centred on the disarmament of the Interahamwe and mounting successful inter-Congolese dialogue by the facilitator former Botswana President Ketumile Masire.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE2200, S/E WOLPE DISCUSSES DRC DISENGAGEMENT AND
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221927Z Apr 00
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4188
PAGE 01 HARARE 02200 01 OF 05 221924Z
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/010W
——————4EE921 221924Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5815
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUANDA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY KIGALI
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 HARARE 002200
SIPDIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02200 01 OF 05 221924Z
STATE FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE, DAS POWELL
USUN FOR AMBASSADORS HOLBROOKE AND SODERBERG
USUN/W FOR ORR
STATE PASS DOD FOR OSD/PKHA/JSCHEAR
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH AND ERIC SCHWARTZ
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/10
SUBJECT: S/E WOLPE DISCUSSES DRC DISENGAGEMENT AND
DISARMAMENT WITH ZIMBABWEAN FOREIGN MINISTER
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD, REASONS 1.5
(B), (D)
REFS: A) HARARE 2198
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: ACCORDING TO THE ZIMBABWEAN FOREIGN
MINISTER, THE APRIL 21 VICTORIA FALLS MEETING WAS
DESIGNED AS A SUMMIT OF THE HEADS OF STATE OF THE
EXTERNAL STATE ACTORS TO DISCUSS WAYS OF EXTRICATING
THEMSELVES FROM THE CONGO. THE CONGOLESE WERE NOT
INVITED. AT THE LAST MOMENT, DOS SANTOS COULD NOT
ATTEND. BECAUSE OF HIS PENDING INAUGURATION, KAGAME
WAS ALSO ABSENT BUT HAD SENT BOTH HIS FOREIGN
MINISTER AND EMMANUEL GASANA. THE ZIMBABWEAN FOREIGN
MINISTER DESCRIBED THE MEETINGS AS REMARKABLY FRANK
AND FRIENDLY. HE REPORTED THAT THE DISCUSSION
CENTERED ON TWO ISSUES THAT WERE VIEWED AS CENTRAL TO
A RESOLUTION OF THE DRC CONFLICT: THE DISARMAMENT OF
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02200 01 OF 05 221924Z
THE EX-FAR/INTERHAMWE, AND THE MOUNTING OF THE
SUCCESSFUL MASIRE-FACILITATED INTER-CONGOLESE
DIALOGUE. THE VIC FALLS PARTICIPANTS ALSO DISCUSSED
WAYS OF SELF-ENFORCING THE KAMPALA CEASE-FIRE
AGREEMENT PENDING SECOND PHASE MONUC DEPLOYMENT AND,
IN PARTICULAR, OF INSURING THAT NEITHER STATE ARMIES
NOR NON-SIGNATORY FORCES WOULD VIOLATE THE 30
KILOMETER DEMILITARIZED ZONE. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (C) ON APRIL 22,2000, S/E WOLPE, ACCOMPANIED BY
LT. COL. GADDIS, SPECIAL ADVISOR PRENDERGAST, THE
AMBASSADOR AND ECONOFF (NOTETAKER), MET FOR TWO HOURS
WITH ZIMBABWEAN FOREIGN MINISTER STAN MUDENGE TO
REVIEW RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LUSAKA PEACE
PROCESS AND THE RECENT POLITICAL DETERIORATION IN
ZIMBABWE. THE EXTENDED AND AT TIMES EMOTIONAL
EXCHANGE ON ZIMBABWE’S DOMESTIC SITUATION IS REPORTED
SEPTEL.
—————————————
WOLPE: LOCKING IN THE KAMPALA AGREEMENT
—————————————
¶3. (C) WOLPE OPENED WITH A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE
PURPOSE OF HIS CURRENT MISSION, MAKING THE FOLLOWING
POINTS:
— ZIMBABWE WAS TO BE CONGRATULATED ON ITS ROLE IN
BRINGING ABOUT THE RECENT KAMPALA CEASE-
FIRE/DISENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02200 01 OF 05 221924Z
— THE USG RECOGNIZED THAT A SUSTAINABLE AGREEMENT
REQUIRED GOOD FAITH EFFORTS ON ALL SIDES, AND THE
CONTINUED ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
— THE USG WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO INSURE
THAT THE MOMENTUM GENERATED BY THE KAMPALA AGREEMENTS
WAS SUSTAINED. IN HIS REGIONAL VISITS WOLPE WOULD BE
STRESSING TO ALL PARTIES THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL
COMPLIANCE WITH THESE AGREEMENTS. HE ALSO WANTED TO
EXPLORE POSSIBLE WAYS OF ACCELERATING FULL LUSAKA
IMPLEMENTATION.
–THE UPCOMING UNSC MISSION LED BY AMBASSADOR
HOLBROOKE TO KINSHASA AND LUSAKA WAS SIMILARLY
DESIGNED TO SUSTAIN THE NEW MOMENTUM. THIS WAS A
CRITICAL MISSION WHICH, IF IT COULD REPORT
SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS ON THE GROUND, WOULD SET THE
STAGE FOR SECOND PHASE MONUC DEPLOYMENT.
–THE USG WAS SEEKING NOT ONLY SHORT-TERM
DISENGAGEMENT ON THE GROUND, BUT THE FULL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LUSAKA AGREEMENT. NOTHING LESS
THAN THE FULL RESTORATION OF CONGOLESE SOVEREIGNTY
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4189
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——————4EE925 221924Z /38
P 221927Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5816
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUANDA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY KIGALI
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 05 HARARE 002200
SIPDIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02200 02 OF 05 221924Z
STATE FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE, DAS POWELL
USUN FOR AMBASSADORS HOLBROOKE AND SODERBERG
USUN/W FOR ORR
STATE PASS DOD FOR OSD/PKHA/JSCHEAR
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH AND ERIC SCHWARTZ
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/10
SUBJECT: S/E WOLPE DISCUSSES DRC DISENGAGEMENT AND
DISARMAMENT WITH ZIMBABWEAN FOREIGN MINISTER
AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.
——————————–
THE TRUE STORY OF VICTORIA FALLS
——————————–
¶3. (C) FOLLOWING S/E WOLPE’S EXPLANATION OF THE
PURPOSE OF HIS CURRENT MISSION TO REGIONAL CAPITALS
— TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL COMPLIANCE WITH
THE RECENT CEASE-FIRE/DISENGAGEMENT AGREEMENTS
REACHED AT KAMPALA, AND TO EXPLORE WITH REGIONAL
LEADERS WAYS OF ACCELERATING THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE LUSAKA ACCORD — MUDENGE GAVE A READ-OUT OF
THE PREVIOUS DAY’S VICTORIA FALLS MEETING. MUDENGE
SAID THAT THE VIC FALLS GATHERING WAS THE OUTGROWTH
OF CONVERSATIONS THAT HAD OCCURRED ON THE MARGINS OF
THE CAIRO MEETING BETWEEN CHISSANO, DOS SANTOS,
MUSEVENI, AND MUGABE. ALL AGREED IT WAS TIME FOR THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02200 02 OF 05 221924Z
EXTERNAL PARTIES TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS WAYS OF
ENDING THE WAR AND GETTING OUT OF THE DRC. ALL OF
THE EXTERNAL LUSAKA SIGNATORIES — BUT NO CONGOLESE –
– WERE INVITED TO VICTORIA FALLS. UNFORTUNATELY, AT
THE LAST MINUTE DOS SANTOS COULD NOT COME. KAGAME,
WHO WAS DEALING WITH HIS INAUGURAL PREPARATIONS,
APOLOGIZED FOR HIS ABSENCE, AND HAD SENT BOTH HIS
FOREIGN MINISTER AND EMMANUEL GASANA. KAGAME HAD IN
FACT INDICATED HIS AVAILABILITY FOR AN EXTERNAL HEADS
OF STATE MEETING IF IT WERE HELD ON A DIFFERENT DAY,
BUT IT WAS DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AS SCHEDULED. IT WAS
MOZAMBICAN PRESIDENT CHISSANO (CURRENTLY THE HEAD OF
SADC) WHO FACILITATED THE VIC FALLS DISCUSSION.
¶4. (C) MUDENGE SAID THE MEETING HAD NO AGENDA OTHER
THAN A DISCUSSION OF WHAT WAS REQUIRED FOR ALL OF THE
EXTERNAL PARTIES TO GET OUT OF THE CONGO. HE
DESCRIBED THE MEETING AS EXCEPTIONALLY FRANK AND
FRIENDLY — THE FRIENDLIEST SUCH GATHERING HE HAD
EVER OBSERVED. HE REGRETTED KAGAME’S ABSENCE —
WHICH HE EMPHASIZED WAS FOR “VERY UNDERSTANDABLE
REASONS” — BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE LIKED THE RWANDAN
PRESIDENT TO PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE THE REMARKABLE
CANDOR AND POSITIVE ATMOSPHERICS OF THE SESSION.
ACCORDING TO MUDENGE, ALL APPEARED INTENT ON BEING AS
HONEST AS POSSIBLE, ON LAYING OUT THEIR BOTTOM LINES,
ON FINDING A WAY OUT OF THE CONGO.
——————————————— —-
THE FIRST BOTTOM LINE: THE DISARMAMENT OF THE EX-
FAR/INTERHAMWE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02200 02 OF 05 221924Z
——————————————— —-
¶5. (C) MUDENGE SAID THAT THE DISCUSSION AMONG THE
VIC FALLS PARTICIPANTS QUICKLY ZEROED IN ON WHAT WERE
UNDERSTOOD TO BE THE TWO CENTRAL CONCERNS REQUIRING
RESOLUTION: THE DISARMAMENT OF THE EX-
FAR/INTERAHAMWE, AND THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE.
VARIOUS IDEAS WERE PUT ON THE TABLE, AND THE
CONVERSATION GRADUALLY MOVED FROM A DISCUSSION OF
MAXIMAL OBJECTIVES TO WHAT WAS IN FACT ACHIEVABLE.
MUSEVENI AND THE RWANDANS, FOR EXAMPLE, INITIALLY
FOCUSED ON THE NEED TO TRACK DOWN ALL EX-
FAR/INTERAHAMWE FIGHTERS. OTHERS, HOWEVER, ARGUED
THIS WAS UNREALISTIC. “NO ONE HAS THE CAPACITY TO
HUNT DOWN THESE PEOPLE,” MUDENGE ASSERTED. HOWEVER,
THREE OTHER PROPOSITIONS WERE DISCUSSED:
— THE NEED TO INDIVIDUALIZE THE CULPABILITY OF
GENOCIDAIRES, AND TO END THE BLANKET LABELLING OF THE
ENTIRE GROUP OF EX-FAR/INTERAHAMWE STILL IN THE DRC
AS GENOCIDAIRES. AS MUDENGE PUT IT, “IF WE KNOW THAT
A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL STANDS ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE,
THEN WE CAN COOPERATE TO INSURE THAT HE IS BROUGHT TO
JUSTICE.” MUDENGE SAID THERE WAS NO ACTUAL
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4190
PAGE 01 HARARE 02200 03 OF 05 221924Z
ACTION AF-00
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/010W
——————4EE92B 221925Z /38
P 221927Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5817
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUANDA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY KIGALI
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 05 HARARE 002200
SIPDIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02200 03 OF 05 221924Z
STATE FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE, DAS POWELL
USUN FOR AMBASSADORS HOLBROOKE AND SODERBERG
USUN/W FOR ORR
STATE PASS DOD FOR OSD/PKHA/JSCHEAR
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH AND ERIC SCHWARTZ
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/10
SUBJECT: S/E WOLPE DISCUSSES DRC DISENGAGEMENT AND
DISARMAMENT WITH ZIMBABWEAN FOREIGN MINISTER
DISCUSSION OF THE CONCRETE MEANS OF SUCH COOPERATION.
NOR WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OF THE KIVUS
SPECIFICALLY OR OF SUCH NEAR-TERM ISSUES AS THE NEED
TO END THE TRAINING AND SUPPLY OF NON-SIGNATORY
FORCES. THESE SPECIFIC ISSUES WOULD HAVE TO BE
DISCUSSED WITH KAGAME PRESENT.
— THE NEED FOR CONDITIONS TO BE CREATED INSIDE
UGANDA, RWANDA AND BURUNDI THAT WOULD ALLOW THE
LARGEST NUMBER OF THESE HUTU FIGHTERS TO RETURN HOME
SAFELY.
— THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BROADER CLIMATE OF PEACE
AND CONFIDENCE IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION WOULD
ULTIMATELY MAKE IT EASIER TO DEAL WITH THE EX-
FAR/INTERAHAMWE PROBLEM.
¶6. (C) ASKED HOW THE RWANDANS HAD RESPONDED TO THESE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02200 03 OF 05 221924Z
POINTS, MUDENGE SAID THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER TOOK
CAREFUL NOTES BUT DID NOT COMMENT DIRECTLY. MUDENGE
AGAIN EXPRESSED HIS REGRET AT KAGAME’S ABSENCE,
NOTING THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE THE
RWANDAN PRESIDENT’S PERSONAL REACTION. (MUDENGE ALSO
EXPRESSED UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHO HIS PRIMARY RWANDAN
INTERLOCUTOR WOULD BE IN THE AFTERMATH OF PATRICK
MAZIMHAKA’S DEPARTURE FROM THE CABINET. THE GOR MUST
GROW ON ITS OWN, ACCORDING TO MUDENGE, AND INTERACT
WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN ITS OWN WAY; THIS CAN BE
FRUSTRATING TO OTHERS, INCLUDING THE UGANDANS.)
¶7. (C) AT ONE POINT, MUDENGE SAID, NAMIBIAN
PRESIDENT NUJOMA HALF JOKINGLY (“BUT ALSO HALF
SERIOUSLY”) PROPOSED THAT EX-FAR/INTERHAMWE COULD BE
RESETTLED IN LAND-ABUNDANT NAMIBIA. MUDENGE SAID
THAT IN HIS VIEW THE RESETTLEMENT OF THESE ELEMENTS
INSIDE THE DRC ITSELF WAS A NON-STARTER BECAUSE OF
THE NEED TO DENY THE EX-FAR/INTERAHAMWE ACCESS TO THE
RWANDAN BORDER; HOWEVER, LOCATIONS MORE DISTANT FROM
RWANDA SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. THE KEY, HE SAID, WAS
THE NEED TO “SMASH THE SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURES” OF THE
EX-FAR/INTERAHAMWE, SOMETHING WITH WHICH HE AND
PATRICK MAZIMHAKA HAD AGREED AT THE TIME OF THE
SIGNING OF THE LUSAKA AGREEMENT.
——————————————— ——-
THE SECOND BOTTOM LINE: THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE
——————————————— ——-
¶8. (C) THE SECOND CENTRAL ISSUE UPON WHICH THE VIC
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02200 03 OF 05 221924Z
FALLS PARTICIPANTS FOCUSSED WAS THE NEED TO HAVE A
SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL DIALOGUE THAT WOULD NOT BE
OBSTRUCTED BY KABILA. MUDENGE SAID THAT EVERYONE
WOULD HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT A DEEPLY
SUSPICIOUS AND MISTRUSTFUL KABILA WOULD CONTINUE TO
TRY TO DO HIS THING. KABILA WAS ONE WHO INSISTED ON
“TRUST AND VERIFY” AS HIS MODUS OPERANDI. MUDENGE
SAID IT WAS CASTRO THAT HAD ONCE OBSERVED THAT KABILA
MAY NOT TRUST ANYONE, BUT THAT WAS VERY LIKELY WHY HE
HAD SURVIVED ALL OF THOSE YEARS IN THE BUSH. IN
RESPONSE TO WOLPE’S QUERY AS TO HOW THE ALLIES WOULD
DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF NON-COMPLIANCE PRESENTED BY
KABILA, MUDENGE INSISTED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A BIG
PROBLEM.
¶9. (C) IT WAS ALSO AGREED BY THE VIC FALLS
PARTICIPANTS THAT NATIONAL DIALOGUE FACILITATOR
MASIRE HAD BEEN SENT INTO THE DRC “UNARMED” WITH
REGARD TO DEALING WITH KABILA. THE REGIONAL LEADERS
RECOGNIZED THAT HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING TO HELP PREPARE
FORMER BOTSWANA PRESIDENT MASIRE FOR HIS TASK, AND
THEY INTENDED TO CORRECT THAT OVERSIGHT.
————————————-
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4191
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/010W
——————4EE92E 221925Z /38
P 221927Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5818
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUANDA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY KIGALI
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 05 HARARE 002200
SIPDIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02200 04 OF 05 221925Z
STATE FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE, DAS POWELL
USUN FOR AMBASSADORS HOLBROOKE AND SODERBERG
USUN/W FOR ORR
STATE PASS DOD FOR OSD/PKHA/JSCHEAR
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH AND ERIC SCHWARTZ
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/10
SUBJECT: S/E WOLPE DISCUSSES DRC DISENGAGEMENT AND
DISARMAMENT WITH ZIMBABWEAN FOREIGN MINISTER
MANAGING THE CEASE-FIRE WITHOUT MONUC
————————————-
¶10. (C) THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THAT MUCH
CONVERSATION CENTERED ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE KAMPALA
DECISION THAT THE COMBATANTS WOULD PULL BACK FIFTEEN
KILOMETERS ON EITHER SIDE, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A
THIRTY KILOMETER DEMILITARIZED ZONE. IT WAS AGREED
THAT THIS ZONE HAD TO BE TOTALLY FREE NOT ONLY OF
STATE MILITARY FORCES BUT ALSO OF THE EX-
FAR/INTERAHAMWE AND OTHER SUCH ELEMENTS.. EVERY
PARTY HAD TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH MECHANISMS
SUCH AS THE RJMC’S OR JOINT PATROLS, FOR WHICH
RESOURCES ARE NEEDED — PARTICULARLY IF MONUC PHASE
TWO DEPLOYMENT SHOULD BE FURTHER DELAYED. MUDENGE
NOTED THAT IT WAS STILL NECESSARY TO SECURE KABILA’S
COOPERATION WITH THIS SELF-POLICING EFFORT.
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PAGE 03 HARARE 02200 04 OF 05 221925Z
¶11. (C) MUDENGE OBSERVED THAT THIS TASK OF SELF-
POLICING WAS MADE MORE DIFFICULT BY THE CONTINUING
REFUSAL OF RWANDA AND RCD-GOMA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
REGIONAL JMC’S. ACCORDING TO MUDENGE, RWANDA AND THE
RCD-GOMA HAVE BLAMED A LACK OF RESOURCES FOR THEIR
NON-PARTICIPATION, AS WELL AS THEIR LACK OF FAITH IN
SELF-MONITORING MECHANISMS. BUT, WHATEVER THE
REASON, IT WAS CAUSING DIFFICULTIES ON THE GROUND.
PRENDERGAST AND WOLPE UNDERTOOK TO DISCUSS THIS
SUBJECT IN KIGALI.
¶12. (C) MUDENGE SAID THAT ALL OF THE LEADERS AT
VICTORIA FALLS PROFESSED CURRENT SATISFACTION WITH
THE CEASE-FIRE OBSERVANCE. ACCORDING TO MUDENGE, THE
ONLY NEGATIVE NOTE WAS SOUNDED BY ZIMBABWEAN DEFENSE
MINISTER MAHACHI WHO CLAIMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN
ATTACK ON IKELA AFTER THE APRIL 14 CEASE-FIRE
IMPLEMENTATION DATE. MUSEVENI SAID HE THOUGHT
MAHACHI MAY HAVE BEEN REFERRING TO AN ATTACK THAT HAD
OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE CEASE-FIRE DEADLINE. MAHACHI,
HOWEVER, INSISTED THAT THERE WAS A LATER ATTACK THAT
WAS A VIOLATION OF THE CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT.
—————————–
IT’S THE ATMOSPHERICS, STUPID
—————————–
¶13. (C) THE VICTORIA FALLS PARTICIPANTS DID NOT
REACH ANY FORMAL DECISIONS, THE FOREIGN MINISTER
SAID. BUT THAT WAS NOT THE PURPOSE OF THE GATHERING.
RATHER, IT WAS DESIGNED TO BUILD THE CONFIDENCE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02200 04 OF 05 221925Z
NECESSARY AMONG THE EXTERNAL PARTIES TO MOVE FORWARD
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LUSAKA AGREEMENT. IF
THERE IS RAPPORT AMONG THE EXTERNAL PARTIES, MUDENGE
SAID, KABILA WILL HAVE TO GO ALONG. “I BELIEVE WE
(THE EXTERNAL PARTIES) CAN BE CONSTRUCTIVE FOR THE
DRC.” STRESSING THE EXCELLENT ATMOSHPERICS OF THE
VIC FALLS MEETING, MUDENGE ADDED THAT THOSE WHO HAD
TURNED UP HAPPENED TO BE PARTICULARLY COMFORTABLE
WITH ONE ANOTHER. THE VICTORIA FALLS PARTICIPANTS
AGREED THAT CHISSANO WOULD REPORT ON THEIR MEETING TO
ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT CHILUBA WHO WILL THEN BE ASKED TO
CONVENE A LARGER MEETING OF ALL OF THE LUSAKA
PARTIES.
——-
COMMENT
——-
¶14. (C) FROM MUDENGE’S READ-OUT, IT WOULD APPEAR
THAT THE EXTERNAL STATE ACTORS IN THE DRC CONFLICT
ARE, AT LAST, BEGINNING TO TAKE COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIP
FOR ADDRESSING THE TWO CORE ISSUES UNDERLYING THE
GREAT LAKES CRISIS: THE SECURITY THREAT POSED TO
RWANDA AND UGANDA BY CONGOLESE-BASED EX-
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/010W
——————4EE931 221925Z /38
P 221927Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5819
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUANDA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY KIGALI
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 05 HARARE 002200
SIPDIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02200 05 OF 05 221925Z
STATE FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE, DAS POWELL
USUN FOR AMBASSADORS HOLBROOKE AND SODERBERG
USUN/W FOR ORR
STATE PASS DOD FOR OSD/PKHA/JSCHEAR
NSC FOR GAYLE SMITH AND ERIC SCHWARTZ
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/10
SUBJECT: S/E WOLPE DISCUSSES DRC DISENGAGEMENT AND
DISARMAMENT WITH ZIMBABWEAN FOREIGN MINISTER
FAR/INTERAHAMWE INSURGENTS AND OTHER ARMED GROUPS,
AND THE ABSENCE OF A FUNCTIONING CONGOLESE STATE. IT
IS ENCOURAGING THAT THE ISSUES OF DISARMAMENT OF THE
NON-SIGNATORY ARMED GROUPS AND THE MASIRE-FACILITATED
INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE WERE AT THE CENTER OF THE
VICTORIA FALLS DISCUSSION. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD NOW
BE MADE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EMERGENT CONSENSUS
BY ASSISTING THE PARTIES IN IDENTIFYING AND GAINING
AGREEMENT AROUND CONCRETE MEASURES THAT WOULD
ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LUSAKA
AGREEMENT. END COMMENT.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
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