Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KINSHASA1662
2005-10-05 10:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

LRA UPDATE: OVER 300 FARDC IN ABA BUT NO MISSION

Tags:  PREL MARR PGOV KPKO CG UG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001662 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV KPKO CG UG
SUBJECT: LRA UPDATE: OVER 300 FARDC IN ABA BUT NO MISSION
BEFORE WEEKEND

REF: KINSHASA 1584 AND PREVIOUS

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001662

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV KPKO CG UG
SUBJECT: LRA UPDATE: OVER 300 FARDC IN ABA BUT NO MISSION
BEFORE WEEKEND

REF: KINSHASA 1584 AND PREVIOUS

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


1. (C) As a result of MONUC's efforts in transporting FARDC
troops from Aru to Aba, there are now about 350 FARDC troops
in Aba. About 300 are in Aru, awaiting transfer via
helicopter (25 troops per load) to Aba. FARDC likely will
have to ask MONUC for transport assistance for another 500
troops from Kisangani to Aru, in the wake of the October 3
crash in Aru of the FARDC Antonov aircraft which had been
ferrying FARDC troops from various sites in the DRC to
Kisangani and Aru. Both pilots were killed in the crash and
about a dozen soldiers injured, according to Congolese Air
Force General John Numbi.


2. (C) Presidential National Security Advisor Samba Kaputo
told PolCouns October 3 that, if all goes well (i.e., the
weather holds up, the MONUC helicopters don't break down,
etc),the FARDC could have what he called a "critical mass"
of about 800 troops in the Aba area by Friday evening or
Saturday morning, which could enable the Congolese to begin a
military operation against the LRA. Kaputo reiterated
concerns shared by all, that the LRA will begin slipping away
from the Aba area as it becomes clear that FARDC is massing
troops (and there is no way to hide the arrival and departure
of the MONUC helicopters). He insisted, however, that even
if the LRA do get into Garumba Park the Angolan-trained
Congolese commandos are capable not only of tracking the LRA
but can operate effectively against them even in that
terrain. Kaputo confirmed that Sixth Regional Military
Commander General Padiri is in overall operational control of
the planned mission, and said that Padiri is coordinating
closely with both the Ugandan elements on the Sudanese side
of the border and with MONUC.


3. (C) PolCouns spoke October 4 with Padiri, who said that he
is maintaining sporadic contact with Tabu, Otti and Kony in
an effort to try to keep the LRA from leaving the Aba area.
Likewise, he said, the supply trucks arriving in Aba are
sharing rations with the LRA, again to try to encourage them
to remain in place, but also to try to discourage any
predation against Aba itself. The military vision, he said,
is for the FARDC to push the LRA to the Sudanese border where
the combined SPLA and UPDF forces will capture/disarm or kill
them. MONUC will provide air cover for the mission with
attack helicopters. (PolCouns confirmed this in a subsequent
conversation with MONUC.)


4. (C) The degree of coordination reportedly taking place is
encouraging. We caution, however, that, particularly in the
rough terrain in which the forces will be operating, there
are many variables which could keep even the best planned
mission executed by well-trained and armed troops (which is
not the FARDC) from being fully successful. Nonetheless, it
is clear that the DRC is responding to this incursion, and
political elements in Kinshasa are following developments
closely.
MEECE