RWANDA WITHDRAWS FROM DRC IN COLORFUL JOINT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000124

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2018
TAGS: PREL PINR PINS MOPS RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA WITHDRAWS FROM DRC IN COLORFUL JOINT
CEREMONY

Classified By: DCM Cheryl Sim for reasons 1.4 (b) (d)


1. (U) On February 25, 1300 Rwanda combat troops joined
several hundred Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) soldiers in a
colorful departure ceremony in Goma, Democratic Republic of
the Congo (DRC),witnessed by the two nations respective
Foreign Ministers, Defense Ministers, Chiefs of Defense Staff
and senior military officers, as well as local dignitaries,
members of the diplomatic corps from Rwanda, MONUC officials,
and several thousand onlookers. Arrayed in a empty field in
the center of the town, the two nations's soldiers marched,
saluted, paraded the colors, and played stirring anthems. At
every turn, Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and FARDC officers and
men jointly took salutes, bellowed orders, and dipped the two
nations's colors, all commands on the field roared in the
common language of Swahili. At the end of the ceremony, the
Rwandan soldiers marched in a long column from the field,
along a densely crowded avenue, past stationary vehicles and
applauding Goma citizens, a quarter mile to the border where
they boarded RDF trucks for their home bases.


2. (U) The assembled soldiers also listened to speeches in
from the two Foreign Ministers, Defenses Ministers and
Defense Chiefs, as well as the commander of the joint
military operation, Congolese General John Numbi. Every
speech stirringly saluted the combined efforts of the two
nations's militaries, and pledged further cooperation.
General Numbi called the concluded joint operation "the first
phase against the FDLR." Speaker after speaker asserted the
FDLR had been left "sensibly reduced," and facing a very
uncertain future. Rwandan Defense Minister Marcel Gatsinzi
said the RDF "remained available for future operations."
Rwandan Foreign Minister Rosemary Museminali proclaimed a
"fundamental change in the security dynamics of the Kivus,"
adding the two nations' strength was "best achieved through
unity." She called upon the FDLR to "choose life" and
return to Rwanda.


3. (U) Congolese Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe spoke
twice, first praising the joint operations, and asserting a
"common future" could best be constructed through a "durable
security" established in both countries. When speaking for
the final time, he offered pointed remarks for internal
Congolese opponents of the joint operations. Noting
politicians make "easy decisions" every day, but rarely take
difficult ones, he said President Kabila had taken the very
difficult decision to undertake joint operations in North
Kivu with Rwanda, an undertaking which "many" had wished to
fail. The FDLR now faced a "hazardous future," and he called
upon MONUC to work closely with the FARDC as the Congolese
armed forces turned its operations toward South Kivu.
Thambwe also carefully noted for the crowd that the RDF would
need "several days" to complete its withdrawal from North
Kivu.


4. (C) On the margins of the event, a Rwandan major who had
served in the joint operations command in Goma told Embassy
Kigali officers that a detailed evaluation of the operations
would now be conducted by the two militaries, with a view
toward joint operations in South Kivu. In the interim, he
Qtoward joint operations in South Kivu. In the interim, he
said the departure of Rwandan troops need not adversely
affect the security situation in North Kivu, with Rwandan
advisors available to assist FARDC operations in the field.
Mission will offer septel on the results and future prospects
of the "Umoja Wetu" (our unity) operation.


5. (C) Comment. The departure ceremony celebrated at every
level -- from the lowest private to the most senior soldiers
and officials present -- the combined operations and esprit
de corps of Umoja Wetu. No one asserted a completed victory
against the FDLR; rather all saluted the first successful
stage of operations. Given the alternating levels of
distrust and cooperation, dialogue and suspicion the two
governments have shown each other over the last several
years, this new-found and proudly proclaimed unity of purpose
is remarkable. The two nations's armed forces, with vastly
differing skills and discipline, forged a common approach to
a now commonly-recognized FDLR danger. As Rwandan Foreign
Minister Museminali noted, this represents a fundamental
change in the security dynamics of the shared border regions

of the two countries. End comment.
SIM