UGANDA/DRC: OPERATION LIGHTENING THUNDER MOVES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KAMPALA 000311 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/19 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF MOPS MASS UG CG SU SUBJECT: UGANDA/DRC: OPERATION LIGHTENING THUNDER MOVES INTO PHASE II REF: A. KAMPALA 279 ¶B. KAMPALA IIR 6 913 0093 09 Classified By: Ambassador Steven A. Browning for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Ugandan officials told the diplomatic corps in a briefing on March 24 that Operation Lightening Thunder (OLT) had moved from Phase I to Phase II. OLT's Phase I had reduced the Lord's Resistance Army's (LRA) core strength and demonstrated that regional partners could cooperate to combat negative forces. Presidents Museveni and Kabila agreed to continue OLT under Congolese command, with Ugandan intelligence and reconnaissance assistance and UN Mission in Congo (MONUC) support. The peace process would not be resurrected unless LRA leader Joseph Kony assembled his forces at Rikwangba. The briefing was the first public explanation of the agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda for Ugandan forces to operate in DRC. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Uganda's Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa and Chief of Defense Forces General Aronda Nyakairima briefed the diplomatic corps and media on March 24 on the accomplishments to date of OLT and the planned way forward. General Aronda said that Phase I of OLT lasted from December 14, 2008 to March 15, 2009. OLT,s accomplishments included: a) 195 abductees rescued, mainly Congolese, b) 14 LRA fighters captured, including the fourth-in-command; c) 98 LRA fighters killed; and, d) the capture of significant planning and intelligence documents and equipment. Aronda added that OLT disrupted LRA command, control and communication capabilities resulting in an LRA that is no longer cohesive; crippled the LRA logistics capability; destroyed fifteen square miles of cultivated food gardens; degraded LRA morale; reduced atrocities by LRA; and, increased regional cooperation to combat negative forces. General Aronda stressed that LRA leader Joseph Kony,s "core strength, center of gravity" had been the sanctuary he had created for himself in Garamba National Park and OLT had denied Kony this safe haven, much as Operation Iron Fist (2002-2004) had denied the LRA sanctuary in southern Sudan. ¶3. (SBU) UPDF losses in Phase I of OLT included 12 killed, 19 wounded and one MIG 21 crashed. (Note: Figures in paragraphs 1 and 3 above concerning LRA and UPDF losses update those found in ref A. Aronda's stated figure of 195 rescued is lower than other UPDF statistics. The UPDF tally as of March 15 was 385 because it also includes escapees. End Note.) ¶4. (SBU) Aronda reported that Presidents Museveni and Kabila agreed at their Mpondwe Summit on the border on March 4 that the UPDF would withdraw its fighting forces from DRC and the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) would assume the lead combat role in OLT for sequencing of the UPDF drawdown (ref B). Aronda stressed that both presidents agreed that the UPDF would provide an "intelligence support and sharing" role. In response to a question, Aronda stated that UPDF intelligence units remained in DRC territory with Kabila's knowledge and permission but he would not divulge the locations or size of the units. The two presidents further agreed that their military staffs would conduct monthly reviews to assess the threat of LRA remnants. ¶5. (SBU) OLT Phase II began on March 21, according to Aronda, with the transition from joint operations to FARDC-led and staffed operations. Phase II assumes the UPDF will support the FARDC with intelligence; the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC) will intensify logistical support (particularly rapid response capability); the tempo of operations will be maintained; and protection of civilians will be enhanced (Note: No concept or plans for how the protection of civilians piece would be done were shared with the audience. End Note.) The Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) and Central African Armed Forces (FACA) would continue in their current roles; and, regional states hoped the international community would continue to support their military cooperation until Kony presents himself at Rikwangba to sign the Final Peace Agreement, surrenders, is captured or is killed. ¶6. (SBU) In reply to questions from the assembled diplomats, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kutesa said that there were no plans to resurrect the peace talks. The Government of Uganda (GOU) agreed with UN Special Envoy for LRA-Affected Areas Joachim Chissano that there is nothing more to talk about and nothing more to negotiate. All that is needed is for Kony to call Chissano to say that he is ready to sign. Slobadan Kotevski Didi, the head of the MONUC's Kampala KAMPALA 00000311 002 OF 002 office, said that MONUC hoped to accelerate deployment of its forces into the area and that MONUC,s primary objective is protection of civilians and its secondary objective is supporting FARDC. ¶7. (C) Comment: The briefing signaled the GOU,s clear intent to continue OLT until its objectives have been met. Aronda,s statement on tape and in front of the media that Kabila is supportive of UPDF intelligence units remaining behind should help deflect those who argue that Kabila intended for all UPDF forces to leave DRC. In an aside at the briefing, the French Ambassador said that there was growing pressure from some quarters in Paris for the French to stop their intelligence sharing with the FARDC. Aronda,s presentation may alleviate some of that pressure. BROWNING