GUATEMALAN PEACEKEEPERS DEPLOY TO KISANGANI

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000551 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2015 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MARR MOPS CG SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN PEACEKEEPERS DEPLOY TO KISANGANI REF: GUATEMALA 828 Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.4 B and D ¶1. (C) Summary. MONUC deployed a contingent of 105 Guatemalan special forces trained in counter-insurgency to Kisangani March 29 to serve as a highly mobile unit for crisis situations around the country. End Summary. ¶2. (C) A MONUC military source in Kisangani told poloff that a contingent of Guatemalan special forces had arrived at Divisional Headquarters in Kisangani March 29. According to the source, this unit consists of 105 elite soldiers trained in counter-insurgency in the tropical jungles of Guatemala. They have sophisticated weapons and communications equipment and will function as a highly mobile asset ready to be deployed to any part of the Congo for crisis situations. ¶3. (C) The MONUC source said this unit could be very effective if used in appropriate situations, such as capturing militia leaders and freeing hostages, adding that "MONUC should not let politics get in the way of effective use of this force." According to him, MONUC's military staff in Kisangani were quite impressed by the unit's credentials, motivation, and equipment, and felt this asset gives MONUC much-needed operational flexibility. ¶4. (C) A Guatemalan milob who traveled with his special forces colleagues told poloff March 29 Guatemalan soldiers were looking forward to service in the DRC and that all of them had received substantial orientation on non-fraternization and sexual conduct issues. He said the Guatemalan contingent was highly disciplined, and did not expect any problems during their deployment in the Congo. MEECE