Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KINSHASA220
2009-03-06 12:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
ANGOLAN TROOP INCURSIONS INTO BAS-CONGO
how-toVZCZCXRO2000 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #0220 0651203 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 061203Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9283 INFO RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 1972 RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000220
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS AO CG
SUBJECT: ANGOLAN TROOP INCURSIONS INTO BAS-CONGO
REF: (A) LUANDA 132
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000220
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS AO CG
SUBJECT: ANGOLAN TROOP INCURSIONS INTO BAS-CONGO
REF: (A) LUANDA 132
1. (SBU) Summary: According to local press reports, groups of
Angolan soldiers crossed the DRC border and occupied the villages of
Sava Ina and Kuzi in Bas-Congo on February 27 and 28 respectively.
A Belgian diplomat told us that a Congolese delegation from
Bas-Congo province met with Angolan counterparts of Do Zaire
province to defuse the situation on March 3. On March 4, Angolan
troops reportedly vacated the respective villages and moved south of
the border. The lack of a formal border demarcation agreement
between Angola and the DRC is partly to blame for this incident,
which is apparently unrelated to broader bilateral disputes. End
summary.
2. (U) According to local press dispatches, a group of Angolan
soldiers crossed the DRC border on February 27 and occupied the
village of Sava Ina in the Mbanza Ngungu territory of Bas-Congo
province. These troops allegedly arrested a Congolese policeman,
chased away villagers, burned houses, and looted the village. In
addition, a different group of Angolan soldiers occupied the village
of Kuzi beginning on February 28. The Bas-Congo Vice-Governor, Deo
Nkusu confirmed the presence of Angolan troops with Radio Okapi.
3. (SBU) A Belgian diplomat, Nico Van Dijck (please protect),told
us a delegation comprised of Vice-Governor Nkusu, officials from the
Directorate General of Migration (DGM),and officials from the
Congolese military (FARDC) met with their Angolan counterparts of Do
Zaire province on March 3 in an effort to defuse the situation. The
Angolan representatives agreed to remove their troops from the
respective villages and relocate them seven kilometers to the south
on March 4.
4. (SBU) Van Dijck said that after similar incursions by Angolan
troops in 2004 the two countries created commissions to investigate
and discuss border demarcation. (Note: other incursions, or
allegations of incursions in separate areas, occurred in 2007 and
2008 as well. End note.) Belgium and Portugal, as the former
colonial powers, have agreed to assist the commission. The
commissions have met several times and have made trips to Belgium to
consult colonial era maps, but have not yet come to an agreement on
the formal demarcation of the border.
5. (SBU) Comment: Border disputes have been an area of sensitivity
between Angola and the DRC, despite relations that are, at the
present time, generally excellent. Other bilateral disputes have
been related to mineral exploitation issues or the sensitive subject
of the large number of Congolese nationals living in Angola, many
under illegal status. Post, however, has no information that this
latest dispute is related to such broader, national issues, and
believes that it is localized in nature. Finally, it is interesting
to note that per reftel Angolan authorities are not commenting on
this incident. The GDRC is unable to suppress information about the
incident, in part because of an energetic press. End comment.
GARVELINK
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS AO CG
SUBJECT: ANGOLAN TROOP INCURSIONS INTO BAS-CONGO
REF: (A) LUANDA 132
1. (SBU) Summary: According to local press reports, groups of
Angolan soldiers crossed the DRC border and occupied the villages of
Sava Ina and Kuzi in Bas-Congo on February 27 and 28 respectively.
A Belgian diplomat told us that a Congolese delegation from
Bas-Congo province met with Angolan counterparts of Do Zaire
province to defuse the situation on March 3. On March 4, Angolan
troops reportedly vacated the respective villages and moved south of
the border. The lack of a formal border demarcation agreement
between Angola and the DRC is partly to blame for this incident,
which is apparently unrelated to broader bilateral disputes. End
summary.
2. (U) According to local press dispatches, a group of Angolan
soldiers crossed the DRC border on February 27 and occupied the
village of Sava Ina in the Mbanza Ngungu territory of Bas-Congo
province. These troops allegedly arrested a Congolese policeman,
chased away villagers, burned houses, and looted the village. In
addition, a different group of Angolan soldiers occupied the village
of Kuzi beginning on February 28. The Bas-Congo Vice-Governor, Deo
Nkusu confirmed the presence of Angolan troops with Radio Okapi.
3. (SBU) A Belgian diplomat, Nico Van Dijck (please protect),told
us a delegation comprised of Vice-Governor Nkusu, officials from the
Directorate General of Migration (DGM),and officials from the
Congolese military (FARDC) met with their Angolan counterparts of Do
Zaire province on March 3 in an effort to defuse the situation. The
Angolan representatives agreed to remove their troops from the
respective villages and relocate them seven kilometers to the south
on March 4.
4. (SBU) Van Dijck said that after similar incursions by Angolan
troops in 2004 the two countries created commissions to investigate
and discuss border demarcation. (Note: other incursions, or
allegations of incursions in separate areas, occurred in 2007 and
2008 as well. End note.) Belgium and Portugal, as the former
colonial powers, have agreed to assist the commission. The
commissions have met several times and have made trips to Belgium to
consult colonial era maps, but have not yet come to an agreement on
the formal demarcation of the border.
5. (SBU) Comment: Border disputes have been an area of sensitivity
between Angola and the DRC, despite relations that are, at the
present time, generally excellent. Other bilateral disputes have
been related to mineral exploitation issues or the sensitive subject
of the large number of Congolese nationals living in Angola, many
under illegal status. Post, however, has no information that this
latest dispute is related to such broader, national issues, and
believes that it is localized in nature. Finally, it is interesting
to note that per reftel Angolan authorities are not commenting on
this incident. The GDRC is unable to suppress information about the
incident, in part because of an energetic press. End comment.
GARVELINK