DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION OF EX-COMBATANTS

UNCLAS KIGALI 001013 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP PREL MONUC CG RW SUBJECT: DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION OF EX-COMBATANTS IN RWANDA REF: KIGALI 984 ¶1. (U) A Joint Partner Implementation Support Mission of the partners of the Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Program (MDRP) for the Great Lakes regions held a three day conference in Kigali 4-6 October to review and assess the progress made in implementing the program and key complimentary activities in Rwanda. Efforts to reintegrate ex-combatants in Rwanda are generally proceeding well, the relatively low number of 575 returnees in 2006 is attributed to the difficulty the prospective returnees have separating from their armed group leadership not the willingness and capability of Rwanda to accept them. End summary. ¶2. (U) Background. The MDRP funds disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programs in seven central African countries including Rwanda and the DRC. In Rwanda, the focus of its effort is the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Program (RDRC). The USG does not directly fund the MDRP. End background. ¶3. (U) The principle objectives of the mission were to assess progress in the implementation of demobilization and reintegration activities under the RDRC; asses the effectiveness of the RDRC in facilitating the demobilization and reintegration of members of armed groups of Rwandan origin from the DRC; review the MDRP's assistance for special target groups (women, children and disabled); and provide guidance for the ongoing mid-term review of the MDRP and the upcoming review of the MDRP. The conference also included briefs by German Development Cooperation GTZ and an independent analyst's presentation on the Democratic Forces of the Liberation of Rwanda (reftel). ¶4. (U) Since 1997, the RDRC has been the lead GOR agency in the efforts to demobilize an estimated 45,000 ex-combatants from the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF),an estimated 22,500 members of Armed Groups (AGs) and support their transition into civilian society. (Note. The initial estimate of 22,500 has since been changed to an estimated 8,000 to 10,000. End note.) The RDCR works with other GOR ministries- Immigration, Health, Defense and Local Government- in a joint committee to oversee and support the integration of ex-combatants and dependents into society. According to the RDRC, the total program numbers: -- Ex-RDF 1997-2005: 18,805 2006: 1,234 -- Ex-FAR 1997-2005: 12,290 2006: 679 -- Ex-AGs 1997-2005: 5,087 2006: 439 -- Ex-AGs (Children) 1997-2005: 570 2006: 30 (Note. The Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) statistics reflect soldiers of the former government who did not flee to DRC and join the FDLR. End note.) ¶5. (U) The RDRC's communication plan, with the assistance of MDRP consultants, has several broad objectives. In order to communicate the demobilization/reintegration message to combatants, dependents, and families, the plan calls for the use of a combination of radio, print (newsletters and leaflets),theater and video. Radio is the primary means to reach the target audience, and it was noted that Voice of America and BBC were more trusted by the target audience than the UN,s Radio Okapi or Radio Rwanda. Additional goals of the communication plan are to influence word of mouth from dependents, civil society, the international community and the government and communicate demobilization and reintegration successes to stakeholders such as donors, UN agencies, NGOs and the public. ¶6. (U) The German Development Cooperation GTZ has a vocational training program that prepares ex-combatants for reintegration. Since 2004, the project has trained 655 ex-combatants in general business and management skills and 290 in vocational skills such as house construction and plumbing. Program coordinator Wolfgang Ahrens reported that the program was very successful noting, however, that it was relatively expensive and did not benefit the majority of the ex-combatants. ¶7. (SBU) Comment. The conference reinforced the fact that the GOR, with significant assistance from the MDRP, continues to run a relatively efficient demobilization and reintegration program. Some familiar accusations were made regarding MONUC's ineffectiveness at accepting and processing combatants willing to return to Rwanda and its failure to militarily pursue the FDLR effectively. As usual, the general consensus among the GOR officials, UN and Bank representatives and the diplomats in attendance was that the key to the process is separating the vast majority of those FDLR combatants who are willing to return to Rwanda from the small, hard core leadership. Said leadership, while possibly recognizing that its political objectives in Rwanda are unobtainable, has no motivation to return and so will continue to exercise tight control over the general FDLR ranks. End comment. THURSTON