DRC-ANGOLAN EXPULSIONS: CALMER BUT TENSION UNDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000957 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2019 TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV PREL CG AO SUBJECT: DRC-ANGOLAN EXPULSIONS: CALMER BUT TENSION UNDER THE SURFACE REF: A) LUANDA 645 B) LUANDA 633 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Samuel V. Brock for reasons 1.4 ( b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: UNHCR estimates that the GDRC has expelled nearly 40,000 Angolans, mostly refugees with status, in the past two weeks in retaliation for the GOA's expulsion of 18,000 illegal DRC aliens. UNHCR noted that, according to a recent survey, as many as 42,000 Angolan refugees had expressed a desire to repatriate, although in a much more orderly fashion. UNHCR told us that, in comparison to the "rough treatment to which the Angolan authorities subjected expelled DRC residents, most of the Angolans had been treated relatively well by DRC authorities. Although Presidents Kabila and Dos Santos apparently agreed to defuse the situation, UNHCR remains concerned that tensions could erupt again. A Ministry of Interior official denied to us that the GDRC had carried out a refoulement of any Angolan refugees. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) UNHCR Deputy Resrep for Protection Mohamed Toure told polcouns and poloff on October 19 that, in retaliation for the GOA expulsion of more than 18,000 DRC residents from Angola during the last two weeks of September, the GDRC expelled approximately 40,000 Angolans living in the DRC province of Bas-Congo (Note: Toure said between July-September 2009, Angola had expelled 30,000 DRC residents and approximately 100,000 in 2008. End note). A GDRC Council of Ministers reportedly made the decision to expel the Angolans on September 28. An October 3 expulsion order, signed by the mayor of Boma and the head of immigration (DGM) in the area, stipulated that any Angolan without a passport and legal residence needed to leave DRC territory within 72 hours. ¶3. (C) Toure noted that the great majority of the expelled Angolans were registered refugees. Toure said that the UNHCR had registered more than 65,000 refugees in Bas-Congo Province between July-September 2009; more than 42,000 of these had expressed a desire to return to Angola, albeit, as Toure added, in a much more dignified manner. In Toure's view, the GDRC made a "PR mistake" by retaliating, because the majority of the Angolans had refugee status, whereas the majority of the expelled DRC residents were illegal aliens. Toure said that, according to information UNHCR had received, the expelled Angolans had been treated relatively humanely, except for some petty extortion by DGM officials at the border. This, Toure continued, contrasted with the "very rough treatment" that the Angolan authorities had dished out to the DRC residents. ¶4. (C) In Toure's view, there was still some resistance from Angola to accept all refugees back. After all, most of this group had been aligned with Jonas Savimbi's or Roberto Holden's rebel movements, so their political views were suspect. Angola would certainly be extremely sensitive about any refugees exiting the DRC towards Cabinda. ¶5. (C) A contact in the Communications Ministry told us that Presidents Kabila and Dos Santos agreed to try to calm the situation, with both sides agreeing to halt expulsions. A delegation from the Angolan Ministries of Defense, Interior, and Foreign Affairs also visited Kinshasa to meet with DRC officials. Although the tension has momentarily eased, there are still unresolved issues that could precipitate further Qare still unresolved issues that could precipitate further expulsions and abuses, according to Toure. There are approximately 4-5,000 Angolan refugees in a no-man's land at the border awaiting entry into Angola. The UNHCR is concerned that the GOA may turn this group back to the DRC. On the DRC side, Toure predicted growing xenophobia against Angolan residents, especially in Kinshasa. ¶6. (SBU) Asked what the next steps would be, Toure said that UNHCR High Commissioner Guterres, who is traveling in the region, would call Dos Santos to urge a tripartite meeting soon. At the working level, the UNHCR was poised to deliver both food and NFI assistance to refugees. UNHCR would also make an evaluation visit to Bas-Congo this week. ¶7. (C) Xavier Mirindi, the Ministry of Interior's Secretary General, told polcouns on October 16 that the DRC "had not carried out refoulements of any legitimate Angolan refugees." He acknowledged that virtually all of the expelled DRC KINSHASA 00000957 002 OF 002 residents were "economic refugees" He said that both sides had used foreigners as scapegoats in a period of slow economic growth. Mirindi complained that the international community "closed its eyes" to the mistreatment of the expelled DRC citizens because Luanda was a regional economic and political power. ¶8. (C) Comment: From Kinshasa, it is difficult to judge exactly what motivated the GOA to expel illegal DRC aliens at this moment. Many have speculated that Angola is unhappy with DRC attempts to have the maritime boundaries redrawn, which would apparently involve a significant transfer of off-shore oil fields to the DRC. Some have speculated that Luanda is unhappy with the on-going rapprochement between the DRC and Rwanda, and therefore wanted "to remind" the DRC where its real interests lie. Some diplomats have speculated that Dos Santos is somehow displeased with Kabila, pointing to Dos Santos' no-show at the September SADC summit in Kinshasa and rumors that he will not attend the upcoming CEEAC summit in Kinshasa. What is clear is that the international community should condemn any abuses committed against DRC or Angolan citizens, whether refugees or simple economic migrants. End comment. BROCK