SENIOR ADVISOR SHORTLEY'S MEETINGS WITH FARDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001251 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR BLEO E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO PHUM CG SUBJECT: SENIOR ADVISOR SHORTLEY'S MEETINGS WITH FARDC COMMANDERS IN NORTH KIVU Classified By: CDA Samuel Brock. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In a November 2 courtesy call on the 8th Military Region Commander, Senior Advisor for Conflict Resolution Tim Shortley briefed Brigadier General Mayala Kiama on his findings from a four-day visit in North Kivu. Both the Commander and his deputy vehemently denied collaborating with Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) against renegade General Nkunda,s National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP). The Congolese officers also alleged that Rwanda is aiding and abetting Nkunda,s force and indicated that it was only because of their obligation to confront the CNDP force that the Congolese Army cannot tackle the FDLR. Mayala asked for USG assistance in finding a solution to the Nkunda problem. End summary. It,s all about Nkunda -------------- ¶2. (U) In a November 2 courtesy call on the 8th Military Region Commander, Special Representative for Conflict Resolution Tim Shortley briefed Brigadier General Mayala Kiama on his findings from a four-day visit in North Kivu. General Mayala was accompanied by his Deputy for Operations and Intelligence, Colonel Delphin Kahimi. ¶3. (C) Following Mr. Shortley,s summary, Mayala launched into a tirade that may have been more for his deputy,s consumption than it was heartfelt. Mayala claimed to be a professional officer who is apolitical and executing GDRC policy in the troubled North Kivu Province. The commander vociferously reminded Shortley that DRC is a sovereign country with a legally elected government and mature political institutions. Referring to renegade General Nkunda,s Tutsi-dominated militia, Mayala stated that the GDRC cannot accept a parallel army operating within its territory. General Mayala claimed that out of Congo,s 245 territories, there are only problems in Masisi and Rutshuru, where Nkunda is in control. The Deputy Commander characterized Nkunda and his senior leaders as criminals, suggesting that they were using the local population as a human shield to avoid arrest. ¶4. (C) General Mayala accused the international community of being overly focused on Nkunda and claimed that the priority should rather be creating a national army which is capable of tracking the FDLR. Why, Mayala asked rhetorically, is the international community opposed to us combating Nkunda,s force but it doesn,t mind us going after the other armed groups in Eastern Congo? Mayala asked for USG assistance in finding a solution to the Nkunda problem but preemptively refused to entertain the idea of negotiating with the renegade general. Double-dealing Rwanda -------------- ¶5. (C) Colonel Kahimbi, well-known for his dislike for Tutsis, and whom the NGO community considers a gross human rights violator, continued his commander,s diatribe accusing the Government of Rwanda of supporting General Nkunda,s rebellion. Kahimbi stated that there are 1,300 demobilized Rwanda Defense Force troops in Nkunda,s ranks, charging that Rwanda is allowing men and materiel to cross from Rwanda in the vicinity of Runyoni. Kahimbi also claimed that Nkunda is allowed to recruit both men and children from among the 40,000 Tutsis in Rwanda,s refugee camps. Nkunda,s keeping us from dealing with the FDLR -------------- - ¶6. (C) Colonel Kahimbi adamantly denied any involvement with the FDLR or any other armed group, and offered as proof the relief of General Mayenga Buatishuba who was removed for collaborating with the FDLR in late 2006. Even MONUC, said Kahimbi, has never found evidence of FARDC complicity with the FDLR. ¶7. (C) Kahimbi ended his rant saying that the FDLR is a "false problem." He further claimed that the Congolese Army could dispense with the FDLR in a month, characterizing the Hutu extremist force as weak and unprofessional. Colonel Kahimbi stated that the only reason the FARDC is not engaging KINSHASA 00001251 002 OF 002 the FDLR is because it does not have the capacity to fight two enemies at once. General Mayala claimed that given the terrain and disposition of Negative Forces surrounding Nkunda, the FARDC would be obliged to attack the CNDP before it could engage the FDLR, Mai-Mai, and PARECO forces in the vicinity of Nkunda,s stronghold at Kitchanga. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) While the discussion was very intense, Shortley clearly expressed that coordination of FDLR crossed U.S. red lines. Shortley also convinced North Kivu commanders of the importance of seconding staff to the Joint Verification Mechanism. Shortley also stressed the need to adjust Congolese military strategy from sequential to simultaneous operations to achieve maximum effect on both Nkunda and FDLR forces. MONUC interlocutors told Shortley privately that there is overwhelming anecdotal evidence of FARDC complicity with not only FDLR, but also PARECO and some Mai-Mai groups. ¶9. (U) Mr. Shortley has cleared this message. BROCK