REFUTING UGANDAN CLAIMS OF ADF REGROUPMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001094 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL UG CG SUBJECT: REFUTING UGANDAN CLAIMS OF ADF REGROUPMENT REF: KINSHASA 01055 Classified By: Polcouns Mel Sanderson for Reasons 1.4 B and D ¶1. (C) Recent Ugandan allegations that 1,000 Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) soldiers are regrouping in Ituri along the Ugandan border are unfounded, according to MONUC. Although Ugandan press reported that a joint aerial surveillance mission conducted with the UN in December 2004 identified ADF bases, a MONUC political officer told poloff July 6 that there is no evidence of heightened activity by the ADF in Ituri and that Uganda was trying to create a justification for continued intervention in the DRC. (Comment: MONUC's activities in Ituri threaten Uganda's access to lucrative natural resources in the DRC. End comment.) The allegation of ADF regroupment comes on the heels of President Museveni's letters to President Kabila and Secretary General Kofi Annan condemning both the DRC and SIPDIS MONUC for their inaction against the ADF (reftel). MEECE