FARDC GENERAL DISMISSIVE OF CONCESSIONS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000117 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2017 TAGS: PGOV KPKO MOPS CG SUBJECT: FARDC GENERAL DISMISSIVE OF CONCESSIONS FOR NKUNDA'S TROOPS, WANTS PRESIDENTIAL GUARD INTEGRATED REF: KINSHASA 65 Classified By: Poloff KRBel for reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) Summary. Major General Bulenda Padiri, Commander of the DRC's Ninth Military Region, does not agree with the GDRC's negotiated concessions to Laurent Nkunda's troops in North Kivu. He believes that real integration and eventual redeployment outside of the Kivus are necessary for these forces. Padiri also wants complete integration of the Republican Guard. End summary. ¶2. (C) Padiri met DATT and Poloff on January 23. Padiri, a Mai Mai leader from South Kivu, is based in Kisangani and commands the Ninth Military Region, including Ituri District. He was dismissive of the concept of "mixage," which will blend insurgent troops loyal to dissident general Laurent Nkunda into non-integrated FARDC brigades in North Kivu (reftel). FARDC integration (called "brassage") was designed to combine former belligerents into a single army, to break up pre-existing chains of command and pre-war loyalties, and to redeploy forces outside of their traditional areas of operations. Padiri acknowledged the necessity for nudging Nkunda's troops into the formal military structure, but he stated that allowing them to remain together in their home territory is unworkable in the long term from a military management perspective. He predicted that their inclusion in a wider integration and redeployment process would eventually be required in order for them to remain in the armed forces. ¶3. (C) Padiri was critical of the relative independence and impunity of the Republican Guard, which he likened to a private militia within the military forces. Padiri claimed that there are approximately 15,000 members, of which the vast majority -- "up to 95 percent" -- are from the President's home province of Katanga. Padiri complained that the Guard creates security concerns and fear in Kisangani, where its members are the only troops still openly carrying rifles and automatic weapons and are apparently impervious to regular military discipline. Padiri stated that complete integration of the Guard into the regular army was necessary to remove the threat of an "independent army" and to professionalize the armed forces. ¶4. (C) Comment. It is no surprise that ex-Mai Mai Padiri opposes concessions to Nkunda and the non-integration of the Republican Guard. That said, his points are valid. "Mixage" should be considered a short-term solution as a first step to return Nkunda's renegade troops to formal military control. Padiri is also right that the bulk of the Republican Guard should be integrated and brought under unified FARDC control. End comment. MEECE