US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA735

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000735 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPKO, CG 
SUBJECT: FDLR PRESIDENT MURWANASHYAKA IN CONGO 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 356 
     B. KINSHASA 701 
 
Classified By: CDA TDougherty, reasons 1/4 b/d. 
 
1. (SBU) FDLR President Dr. Ignace Murwanashyaka arrived in 
Kinshasa from Europe the evening of April 28 with the 
apparent objective of setting into motion steps that will 
lead to the repatriation of FDLR members and their families 
to Rwanda.  Murwanashyaka met with GDRC officials on April 
29, and at the working level with MONUC the following day. 
 
2. (SBU) Murwanashyaka is likely to remain in Kinshasa until 
May 4-5 before traveling to Bukavu.  He is considering 
meeting with the press this week to announce next steps in 
the San Egidio-brokered plan for the return of FDLR members 
and their families to Rwanda (reftel A). 
 
3. (U) MONUC has initiated preparations for a major 
repatriation of Rwandan combatants and their dependents from 
North and South Kivu.  Six temporary assembly area sites are 
being established (in Lubero, Sake, Hombo, Walungu, Sange, 
and Kanyabayonga), and a military warning order has been 
issued to ensure the security of the operations.  MONUC 
envisages the possibility that about 10,000 Congolese 
dependents may enter the temporary assembly areas but not 
wish to proceed into Rwanda, and has taken steps to alert 
humanitarian agencies.  MONUC will request the FDLR to 
organize combatants and their dependents to come in according 
to pre-established waves so that about 300 persons a day can 
be processed.   The combatants will be disarmed, registered, 
fed, and pass one night in the camp before being repatriated 
the following day. 
 
4. (C) Murwanashyaka has said nothing to MONUC or to any GDRC 
officials with whom we have talked about international 
monitors, whether through the formal structure of a "Comite 
de Suivi" as proposed in Rome (reftel A) and rejected by 
Rwanda, or more informally through the Tripartite as agreed 
to by the DRC and Rwanda at the Lubumbashi Tripartite 
ministerial on April 21 (reftel B).  That said, we should be 
prepared to respond expeditiously in the event repatriations 
actually begin and the Tripartite is asked to supply 
observers. 
 
5. (C) After weeks of no movement whatsoever since the March 
31 FDLR declaration in Rome, Murwanashyaka's visit can only 
be viewed as an encouraging step.  The real question is 
whether he can actually deliver FDLR combatants in the field, 
and that is the reason for his trip to the Kivus later this 
week.  From what we have heard about Murwanashyaka's meetings 
(and we do not intend to meet with him ourselves), it is by 
no means clear at this point that the rank and file are 
necessarily prepared to line up behind him. 
DOUGHERTY