MONUC AT UN: GIVE US CLEAR DIRECTIONS FOR DRC-AND

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001129 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO UNSC XA BY CG SUBJECT: MONUC AT UN: GIVE US CLEAR DIRECTIONS FOR DRC-AND AN MNF REF: USUN 1096 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: SRSG Alan Doss asked the Security Council on November 26 for clear operational guidelines for MONUC, especially regarding use of force. He also said a temporary stabilization force is sorely needed as we await the additional MONUC troops the Council recently authorized. He said the DRC army's unreliability in the east greatly complicates MONUC's dealings with the DRC government. Council members agreed protection of civilians is MONUC's priority and supported Special Envoy Obasanjo, who did not participate in the session. The PermReps from the DRC and Rwanda exchanged accusations in the chamber as to who was at fault. Obasanjo briefed the P3 Belgium and South Africa on November 25 on his diplomatic efforts, and said Rwanda was willing to supply troops to fight the FDLR in the DRC. The Belgian Foreign Minister held an Arria meeting November 25 to highlight the humanitarian crisis and the role natural resource exploitation plays in supporting armed groups. The December mandate renewal process, deciding whether MONUC should become an offensive force, is expected to be contentious. END SUMMARY. DOSS WANTS CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS FOR MONUC... ¶2. (SBU) MONUC's SRSG Alan Doss briefed the Security Council on November 26 in the chamber and in consultations. Doss called for a clearly defined mandate when MONUC is renewed next month, especially regarding rules for MONUC engagement of belligerents. He said the current mandate has become confused in that it directs MONUC to support the DRC army (FARDC),whereas FARDC has become "non-existent" in the east. He asked the Council to delineate whether MONUC should become an offensive force. Doss also asked for guidance on how MONUC should respond when it witnesses the FARDC committing atrocities. ...AND AN MNF (OR RAPID REACTION FORCE) ¶3. (SBU) Doss asked the Council to help identify a multinational force to bridge the time it takes for the 3,000 newly authorized troops (see reftel) to deploy, protect civilians, and enforce humanitarian corridors. He said (in closed consultations following the open session) it would take two months or longer for troops to be identified and get to the DRC. (NOTE: In a private discussion with Ambassador DiCarlo on November 25, Doss said it could take four to six months for the troops to arrive. END NOTE). Doss worried the current configuration of MONUC would not let it address any additional crisis. DRC THINKS MONUC IS THERE TO TAKE OUT CNDP; LRA A THREAT ¶4. (SBU) Doss said the DRC government believed MONUC's role was to eliminate the CNDP and the DRC was frustrated MONUC's troops had not completed that task. Doss did not want MONUC to take the place of the DRC's security forces. He also called for a complete review of MONUC's rules of engagement. He said the DRC needed to reform its army, police force, and judiciary to be able to assume responsibility for internal matters, as the DRC currently lacked capacity in all these areas. He warned the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) was still a serious threat in the north, and was concerned MONUC's redeployment to the Kivus could create a power vacuum in places MONUC departs. MINERALS - CORRUPTION GOES HIGH UP ¶5. (SBU) Doss warned the level of corruption regarding mineral extraction was very high in both the DRC military and political ranks. He thought a system similar to the Kimberley Process' way to track diamonds might be helpful in verifying legal trade in DRC minerals. U.S.- DEPLOY FORCES QUICKLY; POLITICAL SOLUTION ONLY WAY ¶6. (SBU) In the open session, Ambassador DiCarlo urged Member States to ensure rapid deployment of the authorized additional forces. She stressed the training and equipment the U.S. is giving all African units deployed to MONUC to enhance the current force structure. DiCarlo said there was no military solution to this conflict, called for all parties to honor previous agreements, and welcomed the appointment of former Nigerian President Obasanjo as an envoy to the region. U.S. ASKS HOW TO TACKLE FDLR AND CNDP WITH NO FARDC ¶7. (SBU) In the closed session, DiCarlo asked how MONUC could address both the FDLR and the CNDP simultaneously, as Doss has suggested, when there was no effective FARDC with which to partner. Doss replied that MONUC's mandate, which calls for "voluntary" disarmament of the FDLR, needed to be updated and clarified. He said a massive military operation against the FDLR was not practicable but added that "force may be part of the answer". Rather, he said sanctions should be wide-ranging, and the economic assets of the FDLR should be targeted. He also wanted to offer incentives to the "rank and file" FDLR to draw them into disarming and reintegrating. UK OFFERS DEPLOYMENT HELP, FRANCE WANTS MONUC DEFENSIVE OPS ¶8. (SBU) UK Deputy PermRep said two months for deploying the additional forces was "too leisurely," and said London would offer equipment, command and intelligence assistance, and help in deploying troops. France's PermRep said the mandate must be clarified and said MONUC should be able to conduct defensive operations. DRC PERMREP SPARS WITH RWANDAN PERMREP IN SC CHAMBER ¶9. (SBU) Invited to participate in the Council discussion, the DRC PermRep said efforts to improve relations with Rwanda had yet to yield results. He said, apparently referring to Nkunda, a "warlord" had defied "with impunity for six years" calls for peace and was now proceeding as an occupying force. The Rwandan PermRep warned of "fallacious assertions" and advised the Council the only cause for this conflict was the ex-interahamwe Tutus. OBASANJO: KABILA OK TO TALK TO NKUNDA; RWANDA OFFERED TROOPS VS. FDLR ¶10. (SBU) Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Olusegun Obasanjo told representatives of France, the UK, South Africa, Belgium, and the U.S. on November 25 what Nkunda wanted: dialogue with the DRC government; security for all ethnic groups; and integration of CNDP into the FARDC. Obasanjo in meeting with DRC President Kabila, said Kabila expected Obasango to meet with Nkunda and that Kabila himself was not opposed to speaking with Nkunda. Obasanjo did not participate in the November 26 session. ¶11. (SBU) Obasanjo said Rwandan President Kagame told him that Rwanda was willing to supply troops to the DRC to address the FDLR. Obasanjo said he shared this information with one of Kabila's advisors, intending to then share it with Kabila. The advisor told him "don't go that way," so Obasanjo said he decided to not share that offer with Kabila. BELGIAN FM: STOP ILLEGAL MINERAL TRADE-IT FUNDS THE BAD GUYS ¶12. (SBU) Belgian FM Karel De Gucht chaired an Arria-formula meeting on November 25 for Council members, other nations, and relief agencies concerned with the situation in the Great Lakes. De Gucht called for MONUC to play a more active role in controlling the illegal exploitation of natural resources. He said MONUC should broadly interpret its mandate to inspect air, land, and sea cargo to stop illicit trade. De Gucht lobbied for a comprehensive plan to prohibit armed groups from funding themselves through illegal mineral sales. All Arria participants called for MONUC to prioritize humanitarian protection. ¶13. (SBU) COMMENT: MONUC's mandate renewal most likely will be contentious. While all support protecting civilians, South Africa, Costa Rica, and other voices for troop-contributing countries are expected to lobby for a continuation of a defensive mandate, in the belief that MONUC cannot effect a military victory any more than can any of the parties. While most acknowledge FDLR is a root cause of the conflict and must be addressed, there is no consensus on how best to respond or remove the FDLR. Neither is there agreement on how to deal with the CNDP. Belgium will push for stronger action against illegal mineral trade. MONUC needs clear directions, but Member States have shown little capacity to provide them. END COMMENT. Wolff