RWANDA HOSTS SIXTH CHOD MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000425

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA HOSTS SIXTH CHOD MEETING

Classified By: CDA Dennis Weller for Reason 1.4 (b) (d)


1. (C) Participants at a June 19-20 Chiefs of Defense Staff
meeting in Kigali agreed upon the following proposals:

-- Operationalize the existing FARDC/MONUC plan against
negative forces
-- Share timely information and intelligence during those
operations
-- FARDC/MONUC to establish a mobiliization campaign to
disengage local populations from negative forces
-- Present progress report on FARDC operations against LRA at
next CHOD meeting
-- CHODS to receive a LRA operations plan at next meeting
-- FNL to be prevented from reorganizing in DRC should peace
process fail
-- Next CHOD meeting to evaluate phase one of FARDC/MONUC
operational plan
-- Next CHOD meeting to be held in DRC September 10-15.


2. (C) In addition to a Joint Communique and Report of the
sixth CHOD meeting (scanned and sent to AF and
Tripartite-Plus embassies),the assembled delegations also
approved a Joint FARDC/MONUC operations plan which consists
of four phases, including the following activities:

Phase One: Preliminary Operations
Reconnaissance, force buildup, securing and preparation of
bases

Phase Two: Joint Reassurance Activity
Concentration on population centers, intelligence
preparation, joint reassurance operations, close proximity
mission rehearsals to FDLR strongholds, information
operations, surge operations

Phase Three: Domination Activities
Robust patrols, denial of choke points, removal of barriers,
mission rehearsals

Phase Four: Consolidation
Operations to secure mining sites and choke economic
interests, operations to remove FDLR from "triangles,"
mission rehearsals.


3. (C) Mission Defense Attache Major Ron Miller attended
the two day meeting, which ran late into the evening each
day. The first day, marred by the late arrival of the DRC
delegation, was characterized by limited discussion of
operational details. The second day, which included a
four-hour closed door session among Rwandan Chief of Defense
Staff General James Kabarebe, Ugandan CHOD General Aronda
Nyakairima, DRC CHOD General Staff General Dieudonne Kayembe,
Burundi's CHOD General Samuel Gahiro and MONUC Force
Commander General Gaye, was characterized by a greater level
of cooperation and good will. The four delegations adopted a
detailed operations plan for the eastern Congo after its
adjustment by the CHODs (with reference made several times in
the discussions to the bilateral Rwanda - DRC CHOD meeting
earlier in the week). Participants were also very upbeat
about the peace process in Burundi. In comments to our DATT,
Kabarebe and other senior Rwandan officers termed the two-day
meeting "very positive," noting that the DRC delegation
exhibited a greater comprehension of its responsibilities and
the magnitude of efforts required for success. However, as
the Rwandans also noted, the capacity of any joint
MONUC/FARDC effort is always a concern.
WELLER