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