Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LIBREVILLE489
2006-07-25 15:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:
EUROPEAN FORCE FOR DRC ELECTIONS DEPLOYING, BUT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLC #0489 2061540 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251540Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9238 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0669 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0027 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0816 RUFGNOA/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000489
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR GB CG
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN FORCE FOR DRC ELECTIONS DEPLOYING, BUT
EFFECTIVENESS QUESTIONABLE
REF: LIBREVILLE 257
Classified By: DCM Katherine Dhanani. Reason: 1.4 (b) & (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000489
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR GB CG
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN FORCE FOR DRC ELECTIONS DEPLOYING, BUT
EFFECTIVENESS QUESTIONABLE
REF: LIBREVILLE 257
Classified By: DCM Katherine Dhanani. Reason: 1.4 (b) & (d).
1. (C) Colonel (retired) Ernst Elbers, military advisor at
the German Embassy in Libreville, provided a July 19 briefing
on EUFOR deployment to EUCOM Deputy Commander General Ward.
He explained that the force's political direction will be set
by the EU Political and Security Committee in Brussels, its
Operational Headquarters will be in Potsdam under Lieutenant
General Viereck (German) and its Force Headquarters will be
in Kinshasa under Major General Damay (French). About 750
troops will be stationed in Kinshasa, with another 1250 on
standby in Libreville, Gabon and a special forces element
based in Port Gentil, Gabon. Germany's bundestag has
authorized 780 German soldiers, but has restricted their
movement in Congo to the city limits of inshasa. France
will deploy a similar number offorces, with other EU members
contributing smalle, often specialized, units. Even
EU-hopeful Turey is participating, with a transport plane
and rew stationed in Libreville. Elbers said that
deployment to Libreville is on track, but that Kinshasa is
not ready to receive its full contingent of troops. He
indicated that European politics dictate that all appear to
be proceeding smoothly, so troops destined for Kinshasa are
being sent to Libreville to sit around until Kinshasa is
ready to receive them. (Note: EUFOR has strained
Libreville's hotels beyond capacity; General Ward's plane
crew overnighted in Cameroon because there were no beds
available in Libreville.)
2. (C) Elbers expressed strong skepticism about EUFOR's
mission. From a military point of view, he said, a force of
2000 is too small to have any practical impact, even within
the confines of Kinshasa. He compared EUFOR to Nazi
Germany's deployment of half a million soldiers to
Stalingrad. Elbers views EUFOR as a political gesture that
will fail to serve its symbolic purpose the instant it is
called upon to act. It could be useful, however, for
evacuating Europeans from Kinshasa. Although training for
noncombatant evacuations will be carried out in Libreville,
EUFOR will keep this quiet, since any public discussion of
this possible mission could undermine the confidence EUFOR is
being sent out to bolster.
WALKLEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR GB CG
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN FORCE FOR DRC ELECTIONS DEPLOYING, BUT
EFFECTIVENESS QUESTIONABLE
REF: LIBREVILLE 257
Classified By: DCM Katherine Dhanani. Reason: 1.4 (b) & (d).
1. (C) Colonel (retired) Ernst Elbers, military advisor at
the German Embassy in Libreville, provided a July 19 briefing
on EUFOR deployment to EUCOM Deputy Commander General Ward.
He explained that the force's political direction will be set
by the EU Political and Security Committee in Brussels, its
Operational Headquarters will be in Potsdam under Lieutenant
General Viereck (German) and its Force Headquarters will be
in Kinshasa under Major General Damay (French). About 750
troops will be stationed in Kinshasa, with another 1250 on
standby in Libreville, Gabon and a special forces element
based in Port Gentil, Gabon. Germany's bundestag has
authorized 780 German soldiers, but has restricted their
movement in Congo to the city limits of inshasa. France
will deploy a similar number offorces, with other EU members
contributing smalle, often specialized, units. Even
EU-hopeful Turey is participating, with a transport plane
and rew stationed in Libreville. Elbers said that
deployment to Libreville is on track, but that Kinshasa is
not ready to receive its full contingent of troops. He
indicated that European politics dictate that all appear to
be proceeding smoothly, so troops destined for Kinshasa are
being sent to Libreville to sit around until Kinshasa is
ready to receive them. (Note: EUFOR has strained
Libreville's hotels beyond capacity; General Ward's plane
crew overnighted in Cameroon because there were no beds
available in Libreville.)
2. (C) Elbers expressed strong skepticism about EUFOR's
mission. From a military point of view, he said, a force of
2000 is too small to have any practical impact, even within
the confines of Kinshasa. He compared EUFOR to Nazi
Germany's deployment of half a million soldiers to
Stalingrad. Elbers views EUFOR as a political gesture that
will fail to serve its symbolic purpose the instant it is
called upon to act. It could be useful, however, for
evacuating Europeans from Kinshasa. Although training for
noncombatant evacuations will be carried out in Libreville,
EUFOR will keep this quiet, since any public discussion of
this possible mission could undermine the confidence EUFOR is
being sent out to bolster.
WALKLEY