VZCZCXRO7184
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN RUEHROV
DE RUEHSA #3965 2651243
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221243Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5862
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 3381
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0281
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0065
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 003965 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: (C) SOUTH AFRICA OFFERS TO ASSIST LRA MEDIATION 
 
REF: A. PRETORIA 3952 
      B. PRETORIA 3584 
      C. KAMPALA 3584 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum.  Reasons 1.4( 
b) and (d) 
 
 1. (C) South Africa has offered to serve as a "friend of the 
mediator" in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)-Government of 
Uganda peace process, according to Department of Foreign 
Affairs (DFA) Horn of Africa Director Graham Maitland and 
East Africa Director Rasheeda Adam.  Maitland and Adam 
seperately told PolOff September 20 and 21 that DFA Chief 
Director Kingsley Makhubela met with Vice President of the 
Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) Dr. Riek Machar in Juba 
the week of September 11 and offered to assist in the LRA 
mediation.  Maitland, who accompanied Makhubela, said that 
Machar responded positively.  Makhubela also met with LRA 
officials in southern Sudan.  (NOTE: Makhubela was visiting 
Juba to review DFA's training programs for GOSS/SPLM 
officials (Ref A).  It is not clear whether the SAG has 
coordinated its "friend of the mediation" offer with the 
Government of Uganda.  END NOTE.) 
 
 2. (C) Makhubela told Machar that the GOSS should send a 
formal, written letter to the Government of South Africa 
requesting that it serve as a "friend" of the mediation.  As 
of September 22, South Africa has not received the request. 
Maitland did not know whether the delay reflected a change of 
heart among GOSS officials or simply bureaucratic hangups in 
drafting and sending the letter. 
 
 3. (C) It is not clear to Maitland what role South Africa, as 
"friend" to the mediator, would play in the LRA peace 
process.  Maitland speculated that perhaps South Africa could 
provide technical expertise in security sector reform or 
other areas as requested by the mediator.  He noted that the 
Swiss Government was already assisting with the technical 
aspects of the negotiations. 
 
 4. (U) The LRA sent a letter in early August to the SAG 
requesting that they mediate the conflict (Ref B).  Deputy FM 
Aziz Pahad told a press conference August 28 that South 
Africa would not mediate the LRA peace process, but rather 
fully supported GOSS Vice President Riek Machar's efforts. 
 
 5. (C) COMMENT:  We are somewhat surprised that South Africa 
has offered to play a role in the LRA mediation, particularly 
after Deputy FM Pahad clearly stated only a few weeks ago 
that South Africa would not mediate.  As noted in reftel, 
senior SAG officials are already occupied with the Burundi, 
DRC and Cote d'Ivoire peace processes.  However, South Africa 
believes that its experience in negotiating the peaceful 
transition from apartheid to democracy makes it uniquely 
capable of assisting in other transitions, particularly in 
areas like security sector reform and reconciliation.  If 
asked to play a peacemaking role in Africa, it is difficult 
for the SAG to resist.  END COMMENT. 
Bost