LRA UPDATE: MONUC-FARDC PLAN SEARCH-AND-CORDON OPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001876

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015
TAGS: PGOV KPKO CG UG SU
SUBJECT: LRA UPDATE: MONUC-FARDC PLAN SEARCH-AND-CORDON OPS

REF: A. KAMPALA 2342


B. KINSHASA 1770

C. KINSHASA 1784

Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (C) Summary. According to MONUC sources, Operation Eastern
Endeavour is to begin in the vicinity of Aba on November 10,
encompassing forces from MONUC and the Armed Forces of the
Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in an effort to identify
and capture any elements of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)
within DRC territory. The operation is expected to last two
weeks. However, MONUC military sources have no solid
confirmation of any LRA presence in the DRC, despite civilian
sightings of military personnel near the DRC-Sudan border.
End Summary.

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OPERATION EASTERN ENDEAVOUR
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2. (C) All following information comes directly from a
November 7 internal MONUC restricted memorandum from the
Eastern Division Commanding Officer to MONUC Force Commander
Lt. Gen. Babacar Gaye, in addition to conversations with
military sources at MONUC's Eastern Military Division
headquarters. Operation Eastern Endeavour, a joint operation
between MONUC and the FARDC, is scheduled to begin November

10. The operation has been in development for several weeks
following the reported infiltration of LRA leader Vincent
Otti and other LRA troops into DRC in September. During the
past month, MONUC and FARDC forces have conducted several
patrols in the Aba region along the DRC-Sudan border near
Garamba Park. Eastern Endeavour will be the next step in a
continuing series of operations aimed at locating and
capturing any LRA elements in the DRC.


3. (C) The FARDC and MONUC have been moving their respective
forces into position in northeastern DRC for the past two
weeks. On November 2, a MONUC military observer team from
Bunia was deployed to Aba, as was one platoon from the MONUC
Nepalese battalion. From November 7-9, two companies from the
Nepalese battalion will establish a base of operations in the
area. These two companies will work jointly with
approximately 1,200 FARDC troops during a two-week period.


4. (C) Eastern Endeavour's operations will consist of three
stages. Stage One is to include information gathering, area
domination through military show of force, reconnaissance of
objective areas, and further planning of potential military
operations. Stage Two will be the conduct of
search-and-cordon operations in the previously identified
areas. Stage Three intends the domination up to the
international border with Sudan through aerial and ground
reconnaissance. Operations are expected to conclude November
24, contingent on the outcome of the mission.

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LRA SIGHTINGS IN DRC?
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5. (C) MONUC military sources have received reports from the
Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) that the main group
of the LRA were still present in Sudan, at Razol and Ture,
and that two platoons of LRA crossed over from Sudan to
Uganda at Senema on November 4. MONUC itself reports they
received information that an "infiltration group" of military
(approximately 50 persons armed with light and heavy weapons)
had been moving in the Kakwa collectivity. MONUC reports the
FARDC sent units November 5 to make contact with the supposed
infiltrators, but no sightings occurred. MONUC reports
civilian sightings of the soldiers as exhausted and dirty,
suggesting they may be on the run. MONUC says all evidence
collected points to these being LRA elements, but no solid
confirmation is available. MONUC adds that no incursions from
the UPDF have been reported either.


6. (C) Comment: Operation Eastern Endeavour, which has been
in the planning stages for weeks, is a demonstration of both
the FARDC's and MONUC's commitment to take seriously the
threat of LRA incursions into the DRC. Since the LRA
incursions into the DRC in September, MONUC and the FARDC
have conducted several patrols to locate any suspected LRA
elements. Given continuing reports of possible LRA presence
in the DRC in the vicinity of Aba and Garamba National Park,
the FARDC and MONUC will endeavor to determine whether a
small group of LRA militia are hiding out in a large, remote,
and heavily forested, corner of the country. End Comment.
MEECE