RWANDAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONVOKES DIP CORPS ON DRC

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000710 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018 TAGS: PREL PINR MOPS KPKO PHUM RW CG SUBJECT: RWANDAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONVOKES DIP CORPS ON DRC REF: KINSHASA 844 Classified By: CDA Cheryl Sim for Reason 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. In remarks to the local diplomatic corps on October 7, Foreign Minister Museminali and Great Lakes Envoy Richard Sezibera condemned the continuing "co-location" and joint operations of the FDLR and FARDC, called for renewed application of the various peace agreements and Security Council resolutions and pledged Rwanda's adherence to them, and expressed frustration at the continuing international failure to deal with the FDLR. Both asserted that MONUC was not neutral and was supporting the FDLR given its co-location with the FARDC. Special EU Envoy Van de Geer called the situation "extremely serious," and called for Nkunda's and the CNDP's return to the Goma Process. He said he hoped to meet with Nkunda "soon." He also indicated that the FARDC and FDLR were collaborating. The Rwanda officials were clearly exasperated at charges coming from the Congolese government, and the lack of action against the Interahamwe/Ex-FAR/FDLR and specifically asked that the international community issue statements condemning the ongoing FARDC/FDLR collaboration. Separately, Embassy has confirmed that the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) have reinforced the border in the Virungas/Volcano National Park area. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Foreign Minister Rosemary Museminali convoked the local diplomatic corps on October 7 to express Government of Rwanda (GOR) concerns on recent events in the eastern Congo. In the strongest terms, Museminali condemned Congolese armed forces (FARDC) "co-location" and cooperation with Ex-Far/Interahamwe/FDLR units, expressed alarm at the harassment and beating of Rwandan citizens in Goma and other locations in North Kivu, and called for concerted action against the Ex-Far/Interahamwe/FDLR "genocidaires." She reiterated Rwanda's commitment to the various international agreements/engagements governing the search for peace in the Congo, but said Rwanda "demanded" implementation of them. The continuing failure to deal decisively with the FDLR was the "root cause" of the continuing instability in the eastern Congo, she said. Insisting that Rwanda's interests were in building its economy and protecting its essential infrastructure in western Rwanda along the Congolese border (including multi-million dollar methane towers and tourist sites),Museminali forcefully stated Rwanda wanted peace with the Congo, not conflict. ¶3. (C) In supplemental remarks, Great Lakes Envoy Richard Sezibera urged the international community to issue "unequivocal condemnation" of FDLR/FARDC collaboration, called for the full application of US Security Council Resolution 1804, particularly sanctions against members of armed groups in the Congo, and asked that all assistance by MONUC or other bodies to the FARDC be halted until FDLR/FARDC collaboration ceased. He presented a detailed briefing of what he termed "incessant co-location" of FDLR battalions and FARDC brigades, which he said involved coordinated attacks on the CNDP and replenishment of FDLR formations from FARDC stores. On MONUC's support for the FDLR, Sezibera stated it was "worrying" and "unacceptable." He specified that MONUC Qwas "worrying" and "unacceptable." He specified that MONUC had supported the FDLR's second battalion and the FARDC had left areas to FDLR to maintain once the FARDC had pulled out. While he stated MONUC helicopters had evacuated wounded FDLR cadre, he noted it was hard to know who was who on the battle field. Upon conclusion of the meeting, he privately asked that the US issue a statement on FARDC/FDLR similar to the one issued on October 6 relating to Congolese renegade General Nkunda's recent statements. Sezibera and Museminali both asserted that MONUC was not a neutral player and had in fact been supporting the FDLR. ¶4. (SBU) Invited to make remarks, visiting EU Special Envoy Roeland Van de Geer called the situation extremely sensitive, with a potential for "serious conflict and perhaps civil war." He called for the full implementation of the "emergency disengagement plan" MONUC was attempting to implement, the recommencement of operations by FARDC and MONUC against the FDLR, an end to the "co-location" of FDLR and FARDC units, the return of Nkunda and the CNDP to the Goma process and a concomitant "giving up" of any liberation rhetoric. He asserted that the FARDC is supported by the FDLR, PARECO, and Mai Mai forces and at times, these groups have held FARDC positions against the CNDP. He expressed concern for local populations in the Kivus, and said he hoped to meet with Nkunda to discuss his "political position." Regarding allegations by the GDRC and the GOR about one another's actions, he called for the reinvigoration of the Joint Verification Mechanism and full investigation of alleged incidents. ¶5. (C) Local MONUC representative Joe Felli asserted MONUC's "neutral" position as it sought to protect civilian populations, including IDPs and refugees, and exercise its peacekeeping mandate, including effecting the peaceful return of disarmed FDLR troops to Rwanda. Peace can be expensive, but war more so, he concluded. ¶6. (C) Neither Sezibera or Museminali discussed the CNDP and Nkunda's recent statements, nor did they address reports that Rwanda is building up its border defenses. Separately, Embassy confirmed that the RDF has in fact moved some troops to the border area stretching from Lake Kivu and Gisenyi to the Volcano National Park. According to our sources, the RDF has done so to strengthen and "fill in holes" in its defenses given the presence of FDLR combatants near by. Additionally, Rwanda has a large training and inspection effort underway at Camp Gako in the south, including the 3200 soldiers scheduled to deploy to Darfur (who will be reviewed by UN officers this week),a total of approximately 4000 troops now moving along main roads south out of the capital -- perhaps another source of Congolese fears of some sort of large mobilization occurring in Rwanda. ¶7. (C) Comment. Museminali and Sezibera spoke in measured -- but assertive -- tones; they were clearly exasperated at the various charges emanating from the Congo, and what the GOR perceived to be a continuing lack of action against the FDLR. Museminali's remarks on the important and growing investments along Rwanda's western border area underscored the very real security concerns of the Rwandan government. With regard to the build-up in the Lake Kivu/park region, we note that the Nairobi Agreement calls for Rwanda to "take all necessary measures to seal its border to prevent the entry into or exit from its territory of any armed group." Given the heightened tensions and fighting in the Kivus, with reports of the FDLR along the border, the GOR has little option but to be prudent. SIM