DRC-UGANDA DISCUSS CROSS BORDER TENSIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001302 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL CG SUBJECT: DRC-UGANDA DISCUSS CROSS BORDER TENSIONS Classified By: A/DCM MSanderson, reasons 1.4. b/d. ¶1. (C) Congolese Vice-President Azarias Ruberwa flew to Kampala August 9 to meet with Ugandan President Museveni and discuss the recent spike in cross-border security concerns, particularly in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. Ruberwa was accompanied by Presidential Advisor Serufin Wej and Minister for Regional Cooperation Mbusa Nyamwisi. Ruberwa's Chief of Staff Jean-Marie Emungu told A/DCM August 11 that during the August 10 meeting Museveni reiterated security concerns raised in the letter he sent in July to President Kabila, i.e., a supposed increase in the presence of ADF elements near the Ugandan border. Museveni reportedly told Ruberwa that if the DRC or Monuc did not take action against these "terrorist" elements that Uganda would have to defend itself. (Note: The Ugandan President made the same point in his letter. End Note.) Emungu said that Nyamwisi, whose base is in the Beni-Butembu axis of North Kivu province, told Museveni that he had observed an increase in ADF elements in his area from about 500 to about 2,500, although he said he didn't know where the increased numbers came from. (Comment: Nyamwisi, who is prone to making unhelpful statements about the FDLR as well, is widely regarded by the Congolese as a mercenary politician whose loyalties are for sale to anyone, including Uganda or Rwanda. We therefore take his statement with a large grain of salt, particularly as Monuc has not reported observing an increase in ADF presence in that area. End Comment.) ¶2. (C) Ruberwa countered by pointing to the unhindered presence of Ituri militia leaders in Kampala, at least some of whom (Bosco, Kakilewe) have arrest orders against them in Congo, and noted allegations that these militia continue to receive arms and/or training by some Ugandan elements. Ruberwa also raised Congolese concerns that these Ituri militia are developing new links with discontented elements in North Kivu province (such as some members of the ex-ANC), which could spread Ituri's instability to the neighboring province. ¶3. (C) As a result of these discussions, Ruberwa said that the GDRC will raise with MONUC a possible joint MONUC-FADRC military action against the ADF in Ituri, along the lines of current MONUC-FADRC activities against the FDLR in South Kivu. Museveni said that Uganda will declare the Ituri military leaders personas non grata, thereby enabling the GOU to arrest them even without an official demand from the GDRC. Museveni also expressed interest in visiting Kinshasa "before the end of the year," an offer heartily welcomed by Ruberwa. MEECE