Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KINSHASA1433
2005-09-07 13:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

MUSEVENI LETTER TO AU ON DRC

Tags:  PREL MARR PGOV CG UG 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001433 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV CG UG
SUBJECT: MUSEVENI LETTER TO AU ON DRC

REF: KAMPALA 1622

Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001433

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV CG UG
SUBJECT: MUSEVENI LETTER TO AU ON DRC

REF: KAMPALA 1622

Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (C) Ugandan President Museveni has written several
letters in recent months (to DRC President Joseph Kabila, the
UNSC and President Bush) complaining about the alleged threat
to Uganda's security posed by the continuing presence of some
ADF elements in Orientale Province in eastern Congo. In his
letters he accuses MONUC of either not taking any action
against the ADF, or passively permitting their rearming and
concentration.


2. (C) During a September 6 meeting with Jean-Marie Emungu,
chief of staff to Vice-President Azarias Ruberwa (who is
responsible for security issues),Emungu told PolCouns that
President Kabila had shown Ruberwa a copy of yet another
Museveni letter, this one written to President Obasanjo in
his capacity as current rotational president of the African
Union. Museveni reiterated many of the same points from
previous letters, but reportedly also went on to say that
Uganda is preparing soon to invade the DRC and the AU should
remain silent on the question and not attempt to intervene
politically or militarily. Emungu said that both Kabila and
Ruberwa take seriously the perceived threat in the letter;
Kabila reportedly has been in touch several times with
Obasanjo.


3. (C) Comment: The accuracy of Emungu's report is open to
question. The Ambassador met with President Kabila September

2. While Kabila certainly expressed concerns about
Museveni's intentions, he said nothing about an overt
Museveni threat to invade the DRC. Nor does it seem to us
likely that Museveni would be so brazen as to openly threaten
in writing an invasion that he knows would most certainly be
subject to widespread international condemnation. It is
nonetheless clear that Museveni has adopted a belligerent
line. Whether that is in reaction to the DRC's ongoing case
against Uganda in the International Court of Justice,
positioning relative to increased western pressure to put a
stop to Ugandan support to Ituri militias, or other factors,
Museveni's actions are creating major concerns among many in
Kinshasa and are clearly disruptive to the DRC's
always-fragile transition process. MONUC and the FARDC are
looking at options targeting Ugandan rebels who are in the
DRC which can be implemented soon. USAID is heavily involved
along with the World Bank in programs for reintegrating
roughly 11,000 Ituri former militia combatants now being
demobilized. We believe it also very important to maintain
as well strong MONUC/FARDC military pressure targeting
remaining Ituri militias, as well as a continuing strong and
consistent message to Kampala that meddling in Ituri is not
acceptable.
MEECE