MONUC FORCE COMMANDER ON CURRENT SITUATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 008622

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2010
TAGS: CG PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: MONUC FORCE COMMANDER ON CURRENT SITUATION

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING FOR REASONS 1.5
(C) (D)



1. (C) SUMMARY
On December 28, Ambassador Swing met with MONUC Force
Commander Mountaga Diallo, acting in absence of SRSG Kamel
Morjane, and SRSG Chief of Staff Sow, to review developments
in the Congo war in general and his visit to Zambia from
which he had just returned the evening before. Diallo is
appealing to New York to assist Zambia handle the large
numbers of Congolese soldiers and civilians who have fled to
northern Zambia in the wake of Pweto's fall to Rwandan and
RCD forces. END SUMMARY.



2. (C) FAC Soldiers in Zambia
General Diallo confirmed that there are 3374 "declared"
FAC (Congolese government) soldiers presently at two
locations in Zambia after fleeing the Rwandan RCD attack on
Pweto. Although all are "declared" as FAC, there are
undoubtedly some Interahamwe, ex-FAR and Burundian FDD
elements among them, but their numbers are not presently
known.
The immediate issue facing Zambian authorities is how to
lodge and feed the FAC soldiers. To support them is quite
costly, Diallo said. In addition, the soldiers are being
accommodated in school buildings, and schools in Zambia are
scheduled to begin in a few days. The ICRC is reviewing this
situation to determine its ability to assist but has not yet
responded officially. There are also, reportedly, large
numbers of other FAC soldiers possibly taking refuge in the
extreme northwestern corner of Zambia on Lake Tanganyika, but
no one has seen them as yet.
In addition to the FAC soldiers, there are an additional
34,000 Congolese civilians registered in two camps near the
DRC border in northern Zambia, and many others not
registered--all of whom arrived in the days following the
fall of Pweto at the beginning of the month.



3. (C) SADC Force Concern Re Zambia/Rwanda Talks
SADC Force Commander Chingombwe (Zimbabwe) had expressed
concern to him earlier in the day, Diallo said, about
discussions taking place between Zambia and Rwanda.
Chingombwe claimed that these concerned a desire by Rwanda to
use Zambian territory from which to launch an attack on
Lubumbashi. (Diallo discounted this allegation, saying that
he had just spoken with a senior Zambian official (Silambwa)
who told him that the discussions related to Rwanda's concern
about the FDD's having been able to cross back into the DRC
after having fled to Zambia.) Nonetheless, Diallo said that
Chingombwe may go public with an expression of concern about
the talks.



4. (C) An Appeal to Help Zambia
Diallo said "Zambia needs help." The UNHCR, he said,
cannot help unless the FAC soldiers renounce their military
status and accept refugee status. To date, only some 200 had
been willing to do so.
Zambia needs international support to keep the FAC
soldiers in Zambia. Diallo expressed concern that Rwanda
would cause problems should the FAC (and negative force
elements) be allowed to return to the DRC.
General Diallo viewed positively Kabila's request to see
Zambian President Chiluba (according to word Diallo had from
his talk with Silambwa). The meeting would likely take place
at Lubumbashi or Lusaka.



5. (C) Sub-Plans and National Dialogue
The MLC continues to insist that it will not sign the
disengagement sub-plans unless the issue of the national
dialogue is effectively addressed. Diallo said that MLC
leader Bemba is not opposed to co-facilitation by Masire and
Gabonese president Bongo.
The RCD now appears to be backtracking on its commitment
to the disengagement sub-plans, saying that its earlier
signing is suspended until (a) there is renewed commitment to
the national dialogue; (b) MONUC deploys; and (c) disarmament
of the "negative forces" has begun.
In these regards, Diallo was somewhat pessimistic that
the earlier postponed Kampala meeting of belligerent chiefs
of staff would in fact take place on the new date of January

10.



6. (C) Urgent JPC Requested
Force Commander Diallo has asked the Zambians to urge
the chairman to convene an urgent meeting of the Joint
Political Commission (JPC). Given the upcoming New Year's
holiday, this meeting might not be possible until the second
week of January.



7. (C) UN Deployment Technical Team
Asked about the status of the UN technical assessment
mission due to arrive January 3 as a precursor to MONUC
deployment, General Diallo said he feared that New York may
be having second thoughts about sending the team just now in
the light of military developments in Katanga and Equateur.
Diallo is urging the UN to send the team, on the date
scheduled, arguing that positive efforts are being made to
move the Lusaka process forward (the January 10 Kampala
meeting of Chiefs of Staff; the proposed JPC meetings; and
Libreville II in the second half of January).
SWING