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