COTE D'IVOIRE: START OF DISARMAMENT MAY BE DELAYED

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000647 SIPDIS SIPDIS KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2016 TAGS: KPKO PGOV PREL IV SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: START OF DISARMAMENT MAY BE DELAYED BY 12 TO 24 HOURS Classified By: Econ. Chief A.Lewis for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) (C) On June 16, we spoke with Jean-Paul Malan, Head of Operations for the Disarmament Commission (PNDDR),on location in Guiglo for the commencement of the disarmament of the western militia groups (Front for the Liberation of the Grand West, FLGO, Patriotic Union of the Western Region, UPRGO, Movement for the Liberation of Western Cote d'Ivoire, MILOCI, and Alliance of the We, APWe). Malan confirmed RFI radio reports, which indicated that there was a delay in the start of DDR for those groups. According to Malan, the 2000 militiamen were ready to go to their assembly sites and the PNDDR staff on-site has the moneys necessary for them. The holdup is due to objections by the militia leaders, who have protested that the ex-rebel New Forces are not also disarming and demanded individual financial compensation as well as security guarantees from the UN for themselves and their men. The PNDDR can neither guarantee payment to the militia leaders nor influence the UN, which has thus far refused to guarantee security for disarmed combatants in the government-controlled south, to provide protection. The PNDDR has asked political leaders in Abidjan to mediate. Malan was confident that a solution would be found and that the disarmament would begin during the afternoon of June 16 or the morning of June 17 at the latest. We shall see. Hooks