NUGANDAN GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH ALLIED

C O N F I D E N T I A L KAMPALA 000660

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV UG
SUBJECT: NUGANDAN GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH ALLIED
DEMOCRATIC FORCES

REF: KAMPALA 000540

Classified By: P/E Chief Kathleen FitzGibbon for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).


1. (C) Summary: The Government of Uganda held a second
meeting with the leadership of the Allied Democratic Forces
(ADF) on May 5-6 in Nairobi, Kenya to begin discussions on
the way forward with negotiations. Both parties want to
avoid the development of full blown peace talks. The
discussions will be developing the terms on which the ADF
returns to Uganda. The International Organization for
Migration (IOM) continues to play a strong role in support of
the Government's efforts. End Summary.


2. (C) P/E Chief met with IOM's office director Jeremy
Halsam on May 8 to discuss the recent meeting between the ADF
and the Government of Uganda. On May 5 and 6, a GOU
delegation which included Amnesty Commissioner Justice Peter
Onega and several members of the security services met the
ADF leadership in Nairobi. The ADF's lead negotiator Col.
Panga participated in the face-to-face discussions, while ADF
faction leader Jamil did not, but was in the hotel.


3. (C) The purpose of the meeting was to plan formal talks
for the ADF's return to Uganda. Neither party wants
full-blown peace talks, like the Juba process with the Lord's
Resistance Army, according to Halsam. The discussions will
determine the terms of the ADF's surrender. The terms of
reference for their meeting focused on the nomination of
negotiating teams. The ADF will have a ten-member team
headed by Col. Panga for now. The repatriation of 350
dependents is the first agenda item on talks. It will be the
central topic of discussion in the next meeting at the end of
May in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Congolese
officials have been very supportive of the process, according
to Halsam.


4. (C) The ADF is highly fragmented, according to Halsam.
IOM's strategy is to prevent multiple "exit" negotiations.
IOM wants to bring temporary cohesion to the ADF leadership,
which is spread through the DRC, Kenya, Sudan, and Central
African Republic. Halsam hopes the cohesion could hold long
enough to get the modalities of the ADF's entire repatriation
finished. The ADF's repatriation of dependents would be a
demonstration that the group intends on surrendering. IOM
has requested the repatriation begin with a tranche of 120
sick, injured, and disabled, as well as women and children.


5. (C) IOM has written the UN's Office of the Humanitarian
Affairs Coordinator, John Holmes, for support for its role in
the process. The UN Mission in Congo (MONUC) believes it
should play a lead role, despite its combative history with
the ADF. IOM wants the UN to sanction its lead role. Halsam
said IOM would use MONUC as a partner.


6. (C) Comment: Halsam remains optimistic that the process
will continue to move forward if the ADF leaders can
negotiate as a cohesive group. We remain concerned that
internal wrangling between Ugandan Government entities could
slow progress.
BROWNING