COTE D'IVOIRE: DISARMAMENT OF WESTERN MILITIAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000658 SIPDIS SIPDIS KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2016 TAGS: PGOV KPKO PREL IV SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: DISARMAMENT OF WESTERN MILITIAS DELAYED AGAIN REF: ABIDJAN 647 Classified By: A.Lewis Econ. Chief for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) Despite assurances we were given June 16 by Director of Operations for Disarmament Jean-Paul Malan that there were just a few obstacles left to mediate and that disarmament of the western militias would likely begin on June 17 (reftel), the militias continue to refuse to begin even the first step (pre-regroupment phase) of disarmament. Malan told us June 19 that the leaders of the western militias - FLGO (Front for the Liberation of the Great West),UPRGO (Patriotic Union of the Great Western Region),MILOCI (Movement for the Liberation of Western Cote d'Ivoire),and APWe, (Alliance of the We People -- one of the ethnic groups in the West) - would arrive in Abidjan later that day for June 20 talks with the Ministries of Defense and Internal Security, FANCI Chief of Staff, General Phillipe Mangou, and the ONUCI Force Commander. Press reports indicate that the reason for the delay in starting disarmament is the poor condition of the disarmament sites. However, Malan told us that the press has it wrong, that the militia leaders have balked at disarming for two key reasons: one, the ex-rebel New Forces (NF) have not disarmed (Note: on June 16, during the four-way military talks between the NF, FANCI, UN, and French Licorne forces, it was agreed to allow the NF an additional two weeks to complete pre-regroupment); and two, the western militia leaders want security assurances that once they disarm they will be protected by someone other than UN forces. ¶2. (C) Comment: It is not surprising that the western militias, who chased away the UN forces in January 2006 with little effort, would want to have security provided by another force. At the conclusion of the June 20 meeting between western militia leaders and the Ivoirian government, it is likely that a new date for the commencement of disarmament will be announced. However, regardless of the declared calendar, we expect the militias will refuse to disarm until the New Forces start to do so. End Comment. Hooks