Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABIDJAN839
2006-07-28 17:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abidjan
Cable title:  

MODEST START TO DISARMAMENT OF WESTERN MILITIAS;

Tags:  PGOV PREL ASEC KPKO IV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2617
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #0839 2091702
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 281702Z JUL 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1675
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000839 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KPKO IV
SUBJECT: MODEST START TO DISARMAMENT OF WESTERN MILITIAS;
NEW FORCES FACE DIFFICULTIES IN PRE-REGROUPMENT SITES


Classified By: Poloff Phaedra Gwyn for reasons 1.4 b&d

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000839

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KPKO IV
SUBJECT: MODEST START TO DISARMAMENT OF WESTERN MILITIAS;
NEW FORCES FACE DIFFICULTIES IN PRE-REGROUPMENT SITES


Classified By: Poloff Phaedra Gwyn for reasons 1.4 b&d


1. (U) On July 26, the disarmament/dismantling of
ex-combatant, pro-Gbagbo militias got underway in the western
town of Guiglo in the presence of Prime Minister Banny, DDR
Commission (PNDDR) chief Ouassenan Kone, and UN officials.
Approximately 150 militias reported to the demobilization
site together with a pickup truck with a modest quantity of
arms and ammunition. (According to press reports, these
included 72 Kalachnikov rifles, some 9000 rounds of
ammunition, a mortar and three RPG launchers.) The chief of
the ONUCI DDR division was quoted as saying that 109 militia
members belonging to Denis Maho Glofiehi's Front for the
Liberation of the Greater West (FLGO) had been registered for
disarmament on the first day. Demobilized militias are
supposed to receive a total of CFA 499,500 (about USD 950),
payable in three tranches of which the first will be CFA
125,000 (USD 240).


2. (SBU) Approximately 2,000 militias are scheduled to be
disarmed between now and August 6, with up to about 150
ex-combatants processed per day. However, it is not clear
how many will actually show up to be processed. On July 27,
the second day of disarmament, only a few militias showed up.
If the militias are serious about being demobilized, the
process will likely have to be extended beyond August 6.


3. (SBU) In the rebel-controlled north, it appears that the
New Forces (NF) have completed the pre-regroupment of their
forces but problems remain. The sites are in poor condition
with unreliable water and power sources. The NF are calling
on the UN to assist in rehabilitating the sites but this is
the responsibility of the PNDDR. Troublingly, since
pre-regroupment started, crime in the NF zone appears to have
risen. The NF soldiers used to man roadblocks, collecting
"taxes" from passersby that largely functioned as their
salary. One of our contacts has received several reports
that, since losing their regular source of income, NF
soldiers are committing more crimes to compensate.


4. (C) COMMENT: The modest start to the dismantling of the
western militias is unlikely to persuade the New Forces to
begin disarmament. Nonetheless, it is a positive
development, one which Banny can point to as he tries to keep
the peace process moving forward. END COMMENT
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