US embassy cable - 00KINSHASA8622

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 008622 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2010 
TAGS: CG, PGOV, PHUM, PREL 
SUBJECT: MONUC FORCE COMMANDER ON CURRENT SITUATION 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING FOR REASONS 1.5 
(C) (D) 
 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY 
     On December 28, Ambassador Swing met with MONUC Force 
Commander Mountaga Diallo, acting in absence of SRSG Kamel 
Morjane, and SRSG Chief of Staff Sow, to review developments 
in the Congo war in general and his visit to Zambia from 
which he had just returned the evening before. Diallo is 
appealing to New York to assist Zambia handle the large 
numbers of Congolese soldiers and civilians who have fled to 
northern Zambia in the wake of Pweto's fall to Rwandan and 
RCD forces.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
2. (C) FAC Soldiers in Zambia 
     General Diallo confirmed that there are 3374 "declared" 
FAC (Congolese government) soldiers presently at two 
locations in Zambia after fleeing the Rwandan RCD attack on 
Pweto.  Although all are "declared" as FAC, there are 
undoubtedly some Interahamwe, ex-FAR and Burundian FDD 
elements among them, but their numbers are not presently 
known. 
     The immediate issue facing Zambian authorities is how to 
lodge and feed the FAC soldiers.  To support them is quite 
costly, Diallo said.  In addition, the soldiers are being 
accommodated in school buildings, and schools in Zambia are 
scheduled to begin in a few days.  The ICRC is reviewing this 
situation to determine its ability to assist but has not yet 
responded officially.  There are also, reportedly, large 
numbers of other FAC soldiers possibly taking refuge in the 
extreme northwestern corner of Zambia on Lake Tanganyika, but 
no one has seen them as yet. 
     In addition to the FAC soldiers, there are an additional 
34,000 Congolese civilians registered in two camps near the 
DRC border in northern Zambia, and many others not 
registered--all of whom arrived in the days following the 
fall of Pweto at the beginning of the month. 
 
 
3. (C) SADC Force Concern Re Zambia/Rwanda Talks 
     SADC Force Commander Chingombwe (Zimbabwe) had expressed 
concern to him earlier in the day, Diallo said, about 
discussions taking place between Zambia and Rwanda. 
Chingombwe claimed that these concerned a desire by Rwanda to 
use Zambian territory from which to launch an attack on 
Lubumbashi. (Diallo discounted this allegation, saying that 
he had just spoken with a senior Zambian official (Silambwa) 
who told him that the discussions related to Rwanda's concern 
about the FDD's having been able to cross back into the DRC 
after having fled to Zambia.)  Nonetheless, Diallo said that 
Chingombwe may go public with an expression of concern about 
the talks. 
 
 
4. (C) An Appeal to Help Zambia 
     Diallo said "Zambia needs help."  The UNHCR, he said, 
cannot help unless the FAC soldiers renounce their military 
status and accept refugee status.  To date, only some 200 had 
been willing to do so. 
     Zambia needs international support to keep the FAC 
soldiers in Zambia.  Diallo expressed concern that Rwanda 
would cause problems should the FAC (and negative force 
elements) be allowed to return to the DRC. 
     General Diallo viewed positively Kabila's request to see 
Zambian President Chiluba (according to word Diallo had from 
his talk with Silambwa).  The meeting would likely take place 
at Lubumbashi or Lusaka. 
 
 
5. (C) Sub-Plans and National Dialogue 
     The MLC continues to insist that it will not sign the 
disengagement sub-plans unless the issue of the national 
dialogue is effectively addressed.  Diallo said that MLC 
leader Bemba is not opposed to co-facilitation by Masire and 
Gabonese president Bongo. 
     The RCD now appears to be backtracking on its commitment 
to the disengagement sub-plans, saying that its earlier 
signing is suspended until (a) there is renewed commitment to 
the national dialogue; (b) MONUC deploys; and (c) disarmament 
of the "negative forces" has begun. 
     In these regards, Diallo was somewhat pessimistic that 
the earlier postponed Kampala meeting of belligerent chiefs 
of staff would in fact take place on the new date of January 
10. 
 
 
6. (C) Urgent JPC Requested 
     Force Commander Diallo has asked the Zambians to urge 
the chairman to convene an urgent meeting of the Joint 
Political Commission (JPC).  Given the upcoming New Year's 
holiday, this meeting might not be possible until the second 
week of January. 
 
 
7. (C) UN Deployment Technical Team 
     Asked about the status of the UN technical assessment 
mission due to arrive January 3 as a precursor to MONUC 
deployment, General Diallo said he feared that New York may 
be having second thoughts about sending the team just now in 
the light of military developments in Katanga and Equateur. 
     Diallo is urging the UN to send the team, on the date 
scheduled, arguing that positive efforts are being made to 
move the Lusaka process forward (the January 10 Kampala 
meeting of Chiefs of Staff; the proposed JPC meetings; and 
Libreville II in the second half of January). 
SWING