LRA INCURSION INTO DRC CONFIRMED; MONUC AND GDRC

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001532

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR KPKO CG UG
SUBJECT: LRA INCURSION INTO DRC CONFIRMED; MONUC AND GDRC
RESPONDING

REF: KINSHASA 1519

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


1. (C) PolCouns followed up evening of September 20 with
MONUC on the question of a possible incursion into the DRC by
elements of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). MONUC confirmed
that about 320 armed LRA elements, accompanied by about 50
family members, had entered the DRC through Sudan the evening
of September 19, and are now in the forest about six
kilometers inside DRC territory (near the border with Sudan),
close to the village of Aba. The group, who is armed with
about 300 AK-47s, several RPGs, and at least one mortar, has
not yet caused any widespread IDP movement as they have not
troubled the village. Congolese regional military commander
General Padiri has been in touch by cell phone with the LRA
group leader, who has indicated that the group wishes to
surrender. According to MONUC, Padiri will continue
negotiations with the LRA group leader today, keeping UNHCR
and MONUC briefed on the possible surrender terms.


2. (C) Padiri also has dispatched a company from the First
Integrated Brigade of FARDC from Isiro, and MONUC is
attempting to pre-position fuel in Aru to enable it to
provide air cover, if necessary. General Camaert has ordered
that another two helicopters (in addition to the original two
from September 20) be diverted from delivering elections
registration kits. Minister of Interior told PolCouns
evening of September 20 that President Kabila has been fully
briefed on the situation and the presidency is considering
trying to contact Ugandan President Museveni to brief him on
the Congolese and MONUC responses.


3. (C) Comment: MONUC commented favorably on the quick and
appropriate FARDC response. Camaert's Chief of Staff said
that much of the initial information came from General
Padiri, who had stationed a platoon in Aba to monitor the
border with Sudan. The platoon leader notified Padiri of the
LRA crossing a little after midnight on September 19, and
Padiri shared that information with MONUC early in the
morning of September 20. UNHCR is prepared to assist in
caring for LRA family members and also any unarmed LRA
elements who choose to surrender, and MONUC would transport
them to Kinshasa, should that be the agreed destination. It
will be important, however, to keep President Museveni well
informed of developments and Congolese and MONUC response, to
defuse the possibility that he would send Ugandan troops into
the DRC, as he has recently been threatening to do.
MEECE