MONUC OPERATION SENDS SIGNAL TO FDLR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001099

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2014
TAGS: PGOV KPKO PREL MOPS CG
SUBJECT: MONUC OPERATION SENDS SIGNAL TO FDLR


Classified By: Polcouns Mel Sanderson for Reasons 1.4 B and D


1. (C) On July 4 MONUC launched operation "Falcon Sweep" in
the territories of Walungu and Karambe (located about 10km
east and 50 km south east of Bukavu, South Kivu). The small
(about 80-man) mission is designed primarily to determine the
locations of FDLR elements, particularly concentrations of
so-called Rastas, and to provide information on the strengths
and weaknesses of the FDLR in the area. This intelligence
could serve as the basis for future, more extensive
operations. While not the beginning of a MONUC military
action against the FDLR, the presence of Pakistani
peacekeepers in one of the zones with heavy FDLR presence is
designed to send a clear signal to the negative forces that
they should actively consider utilizing the voluntary return
option. MONUC also hopes that, as has been the case with
militias in Ituri, by moving into areas with significant
negative force presence that it will begin to reduce the
FDLR's effective freedom of operations, and in turn ratchet
up the pressure on the FDLR to depart or risk conflict.


2. (C) Comment: MONUC's progressive strategy of increasing
pressure against the FDLR comes in the wake of the apparent
failure of the Sant' Egidio diplomatic effort, and it
represents a first step to put pressure on the FDLR to disarm
and repatriate. Similar tactics in Ituri have greatly
diminished the numbers of active militia in Province
Oriental, but it is far from clear that these relatively
limited tactics will be as effective against the entrenched
FDLR. End Comment.
MEECE