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