FOREIGN MINISTER'S FEBRUARY 11 BRIEFING TO AMBASSADORS ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 000140

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG UN EUN
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER'S FEBRUARY 11 BRIEFING TO AMBASSADORS ON
JOINT RWANDAN-DRC OPERATIONS IN THE EAST


1. (SBU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted embassy late
February 9 to request ambassador's attendance at briefing next day
by Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwanke at MFA headquarters. Present at
the briefing were ambassadors of the United States, the United
Kingdom, France, Russia, China, South Africa, Belgium, the Czech
Republic (as EU chair),and the Holy See (as dean of the diplomatic
corps). Deputy Foreign Minister for relations with Congolese
communities' abroad Colette Tshomba also attended for GDRC, as did
senior ministry staff. The media were asked to leave the room when
the meeting began at 10:00 am.

Minister asks to meet with select ambassadors
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2. (SBU) Thambwe began by announcing he had convened the meeting to
provide an update on joint Congolese-Rwanda operations in the
eastern DRC. In background remarks he described the objective of
the operations, which began January 21, as "the destruction of the
FDLR as a military force" and noted that the operations had been
prompted in part by international criticism of the DRC for having
given sanctuary to the FDLR. The DRC's desire to get rid of the
CNDP was also a factor. He stated that the 4X4 working group (four
presidential representatives from the DRC and Rwanda) had planned
the operations in great secrecy in part to avoid negative domestic
political fallout and pointed out that if the operations had indeed
provoked criticism within the DRC's political elite, most average
Congolese supported the effort.

As of February 5, 60% of mission has been accomplished
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3. (SBU) The Minister stated that 60% of the joint operations'
objectives had been attained as of February 5. He elaborated:

-- The Governor of North Kivu, who prior to January 21 was unable to
travel more than 30 km from the capital Goma, could now move freely
throughout the province.

-- All major roads were open and the distribution of food and other
commodities proceeded without impediment.

-- All three major arteries in the province had been liberated,
i.e., the roadways known as the Rutshuru, Masisi, and Pinga axes.
Along all these corridors the FDLR had been defeated or had decided
to lay down arms and repatriate to Rwanda; other rebel groups had
agreed to become political movements and/or reintegrate into the
FARDRC; and CNDP commander Laurent Nkunda had been arrested. A
communications unit had been created to inform the population of the
status of the joint operations. (Note: Thambwe was probably
referring to the MIST team which has been in North Kivu for several
weeks. End note.)


4. (SBU) Thambwe stated that local leaders ("chefs coutumiers" or
traditional village chiefs) had asked that the operations continue.
The Governor of North Kivu had begun to restore administrative
services in areas formerly controlled by the CNDP. Governors of
both North and South Kivu, Thambwe said, had expressed interest in
extending the joint operations. Thambwe also noted that the number
of FDLR repatriations was up significantly. He referred to "strict
compliance" with the rules of war and stated that child soldiers had
been turned over to MONUC. The minister acknowledged, however, that
not many IDP's had returned home due to fear. On the political
front, "synergies" had been created between national deputies from
the Kivus, provincial deputies and other political figures.

MONUC gives seal of approval
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5. (SBU) The GDRC had asked MONUC Force Commander General Babacar
Gaye to evaluate the conduct of the joint operations. Per the
GDRC's request, MONUC carried out an investigation and found that
there were no anomalies and that there had been no collateral
victims. Later in the meeting UN SRSG Alan Doss confirmed that the
operations had not caused any humanitarian crises and had resulted
in few internal displacements. He also noted that all major
arteries had been opened. On the military side, Doss said that
2,500 Rwandans had signed up for repatriation and that some CNDP
elements had not yet come forward for reintegration into the FARDC.
Thambwe stated that UN Special Envoy Obasanjo was arriving in
Kinshasa later today and would discuss CNDP reintegration with
President Kabila.


6. (SBU) For the reasons he had given, Thambwe explained, the two
sides would decide today (February 10) on whether to continue the
operations for another 10 days, with the Rwandans leaving the Congo
no later than the end of February. The official end of the joint

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operations and the return of Rwandan forces would be commemorated at
a ceremony with media coverage. This would happen no later than the
end of February when 90% of the mission's objectives will have been
reached.


7. (SBU) In ending this part of his presentation, Thambwe stated
that the 4X4 plan had never called for the relocation of FDLR
elements within the DRC. He said there was no money for relocation.
He noted there would be a second anti-FDLR operation next month,
with DRC forces only. The target of the operation would be the RUD
faction, which had shown more willingness to return home than had
many other FDLR groups. In closing his remarks on joint operations
Thambwe said that "We are in a much better position now than we had
thought possible when we began." (Note: In discussing relocation,
Thambwe mentioned in passing that at some point there would be a
discussion on the return of tens of thousands of Congolese Tutsis
now in refugee camps in Rwanda. This is a very delicate issue in
the DRC given complicated land tenure disputes that will have to be
resolved before the return can take place. End note.)

Nkunda and extradition to the DRC
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8. (SBU) Thambwe referred to the debate over Rwanda's legal
obligations to extradite General Laurent Nkunda to the DRC,
mentioning two international instruments from 1966 and 1975. He
said Rwanda had initially favored a political solution with Nkunda
receiving asylum in a third country (South Africa was mentioned) but
that, in a "firm discussion" the DRC had refused, insisting that
Nkunda be extradited and brought to Kinshasa. The Rwandans agreed
to extradition and the only outstanding issue is agreement on the
modalities of his travel to Kinshasa from Goma. The minister noted
that a room for Nkunda is being prepared at the Makala prison adding
that the general's cell was getting a fresh coat of paint to ensure
that the prisoner's human rights were being observed. Thambwe
dismissed reports that Nkunda is in poor health or that he might
attempt suicide rather than be taken to Kinshasa.

Restoration of diplomatic relations with Kigali
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9. (SBU) The minister ended his presentation with a reaffirmation
of the GDRC's intention to reestablish full diplomatic relations
with Rwanda. He said agreements for the two countries' respective
ambassadors would be approved next month. He also noted that three
high-ranking Congolese officials would travel soon to Gisenyi to
talk about economic/mining cooperation.

Contacts with FDLR leaders overseas
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10. (SBU) Thambwe asked those attending if they had questions. The
South African ambassador asked if efforts had been undertaken to
contact FDLR leaders living overseas to solicit support in ending
the fighting. Thambwe replied that the GDRC had urged the
Government of Rwanda to use diplomacy in approaching governments of
countries where FDLR leaders live to seek leaders' cooperation in
asking FDLR soldiers to lay down their arms. (Note: Curiously,
Thambwe asserted several times that most FDLR leaders lived in
Germany and the United States. He did not mention France, where
most FDLR leaders reside, a country with which Rwanda does not have
diplomatic relations. End note.)

No elections soon; what happens next?
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11. (SBU) The papal nuncio expressed satisfaction that the
humanitarian situation had not worsened and asked for information on
programs to repatriate foreigners and displaced persons. The French
ambassador asked if persons reentering the mainstream of political
life in the DRC would be given a chance to enjoy fully their rights
as citizens of a democratic country by voting soon in local
elections. Thambwe stated that unfortunately this would not be
possible as there was no money for elections. He stated, however,
that efforts would be made to establish an elections calendar and to
give all citizens a voice in government. The UK ambassador
congratulated the minister for what had been accomplished but
wondered what was going to happen next, particularly with regard to
the management of mining operations previously in the hands of rebel
groups. The minister stated that the government was going to draw
up a plan with MONUC but did not offer details.

Operations against the LRA
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12. (SBU) The ambassador of the Czech Republic asked for a report
on joint operations with Uganda against the LRA. Thambwe replied
that the Ugandan Defense Minister was arriving in Kinshasa later
that day to agree on a date for the end of anti-LRA joint
operations. He praised MONUC for its "excellent cooperation."
Although the LRA had not been defeated, it had been broken as a
homogeneous force and was now split into many different groups over
a large, forested area. LRA forces were not heading towards Uganda,
however, but towards the south and the Central African Republic.


13. (SBU) Comment: Thambwe's intent was clearly to pre-empt
speculation and criticism within the international community and to
influence its understanding of the joint operations. Some of the
information he provided was overly glossy ("90% of our objectives
will soon be attained") and manifestly at variance with press
reports. Also, he almost certainly downplayed differences with
Rwanda and Uganda over withdrawal dates and other issues.
Nonetheless, Thambwe represents a distinct break with the DRC's
previous foreign minister in that he recognizes the need for
communication with the international community and because he is
highly articulate. Ambassadors will meet soon to review the Foreign
Minister's performance and to divine what is likely to happen in
coming days. End comment.