US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1055

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 001055 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPKO, CG, UG 
SUBJECT: UGANDA PRESIDENT MUSEVENI THREATENS PROBLEMS 
 
Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1. (C)  Ugandan President Museveni sent a letter June 22 to 
DRC President Kabila in which he condemns both the 
transitional government and MONUC for not taking more 
proactive measures against remaining ADF elements in Province 
Oriental (bordering Uganda).  The letter follows a similar 
missive sent to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan condemning 
MONUC for not being more proactive in Ituri against either 
Congolese militias or the ADF, and demanding that the ADF be 
relocated deeper into the DRC.  Although the UN letter 
acknowledges some of the efforts currently underway (the 
DRC's recent establishment of the so-called Amnesty Office in 
Beni for processing ADF elements for return to Uganda, a 
long-standing Ugandan demand) and progress on establishing 
the fusion cell envisioned under the Tripartite Agreement 
(which could be operational as early as August), Museveni 
brushes both aside as essentially irrelevent.  Instead, he 
cautions that if attacked by any of the negative forces, 
Uganda will retaliate with force, and suggests a multilateral 
consulation to address the ADF issue. 
 
2. (C)  Comment:  This letter, as well as the one to the UN, 
comes at a very stange time, not only because of the 
above-mentioned initiatives (and others), but also because 
the UN arms embargo group is actively working to pinpoint 
ongoing -- and possibly increased -- Ugandan support for 
Ituri-based militia groups such as the UPC, which is 
responsible for killing several MONUC peacekeepers.  In a 
similar vein, it comes as MONUC is making great strides 
against the Congolese militia groups, while noting that the 
remaining militia elements seem to be benefitting from 
instruction in new combat techniques as well as new, and more 
deadly, weapons.  Likewise, the letter should be seen against 
the backdrop of the DRC's legal action against Uganda seeking 
several hundreds of millions of dollars in war reparations. 
Finally, the letter comes just days after the Congolese and 
Ugandans signed a new bilateral security agreement augmenting 
cross-border cooperation.  Congolese officials take seriously 
the threat of Ugandan military invasion, and are working on a 
Kabila-Museveni letter expressing their concern.  End Comment. 
 
3. (U)  Text of letter follows below. 
 
Begin Text: 
 
Your Excellency President Kabila, 
 
Greetings from the people of Uganda.  I have sent Lt. General 
Nyakairima Aronda, Commander of Uganda Army, to inform you of 
my concern and deep disappointment in connection with what is 
happening in our region.  These events will adversely affect 
our region and could nullify all the efforts we made towards 
peace in the past. 
 
There are two factors that are at the core of the problem: 
 
(i)  The continued presence in Congo territory of terrorists 
from Uganda (ADF, PRA, NALU) and from Rwanda (Interahamwe); 
 
(ii)  The failure or refusal by the Transitional Government 
and MONUC to absorb (integrate) the militias in Eastern Congo 
or peacefully demobilize and resettle them; 
 
As a consequence of the two factors above, I have recently 
got intelligence to the effect that the militia groups in 
Eastern Congo are planning a new rebellion in Eastern Congo. 
I have also got information that certain adventurists want to 
use the anticipated chaos in Eastern Congo to launch 
terrorist attacks on Uganda.  Uganda will react vigorously 
against any attack from any quarter. 
 
Your Excellency surely remembers that ridding the territory 
of Congo of these terrorists formed 50% of the Great Lakes 
Problem.  The other 50% were the internal problems of the 
respective countries including Congo.  The distinguishing 
factor for Congo, however, is the fact that ever since 1994 
(and even before in respect of Uganda,s terrorist groups 
such as NALU), the successive Governments of that Country 
have allowed her territory to be a permanent base of these 
demonic killers.  By preserving these terrorists, therefore, 
the Congo Government and MONUC are preserving and allowing to 
grow the Great Lakes Problem.  Yet we had almost resolved 
these issues. 
 
I am therefore writing to Your Excellency to act on these two 
factors:  the presence of terrorist groups from Congo,s 
neighbours on Congo,s territory and the refusal to absorb 
the militia groups of your country who, then, become 
ever-ready cannon fodder for trouble-makers in our region. 
Maybe an urgent summit involving Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, USA, 
the UN and South Africa could be most appropriate so as to 
take decisive action. 
 
I am awaiting your response. 
 
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA 
 
22 nd June 2005 
 
PO / 11 
 
H.E. Joseph Kabila, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO 
 
Copy to: 
 
1. H.E. George Bush, PRESIDENT OF USA 
 
2. H.E. Mwai Kibaki, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA 
 
3. H.E. Thabo Mbeki, PRESIDENT FO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 
 
4. H.E. Benjamin Mkapa, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA 
 
5. H.E. Paul Kagame, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA 
 
6. H.E. Kofi Annan, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UN 
 
7. Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL 
 
Your Excellency 
 
I am writing to Your Excellency in connection with the 
continued presence of anti-Uganda terrorist groups in Eastern 
Congo.  These are: ADF and PRA.  The former was formerly 
sponsored by Sudan, and Mobutu. 
 
On account of our intervention in Congo (DRC) between 1998 
and 2003, we defeated both of these groups.  Before we 
defeated them, they had committed indescribable atrocities: 
killings, maiming, raping, burning people alive, kidnapping, 
etc. 
 
When MONUC entered Congo, we handed over to them all the 
territory we had been operating in.  Even before MONUC 
expanded their presence in Congo, we had handed over most of 
the territories, in which we had operated in, to Mr. Bemba's 
group in the presence of UN observers. 
 
It, therefore, became the responsibility of MONUC to deal 
with these terrorists.  It is now more than two years.  These 
terrorists are regrouping in total peace in DRC territory, 
completely undisturbed by any law enforcement authority. 
Neither MONUC nor the Transitional Government of Congo is 
bothered with this threat to our security, permanently based 
in Congolese territory. 
 
This is not acceptable.  I now, again, request Your 
Excellency to order MONUC or get the Congolese Government to 
remove these criminals from places near our border as the 
international law requires or allow us to operate against 
them. 
 
The recent meeting in Lubumbashi allowed our Amnesty 
Commission to base themselves in Beni.  This is only good in 
the medium term.  We would like, in the short run, to remove 
these terrorists from near our border to about 200 kilometers 
away where they can wait for the Amnesty Commission. 
 
MONUC and the Congolese Government will be held solely 
responsible if these terrorists, again, attack our villages 
from Congo.  The indifference of MONUC to the presence of 
terrorists on the territory under their control, will not 
contribute to peace in this region but, regrettably, to the 
preservation of instability.  We expect action.  We had 
already resolved this threat.  It is now being revived under 
the auspices of MONUC.  This is most unfortunate and not 
acceptable. 
 
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA 
 
Copy to: 
 
His Excellency Joseph Kabila, PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC 
REPUBLIC OF CONGO 
His Excellency Paul Kagama, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF 
RWANDA 
 
Her Excellency Condelezza Rice, SECRETARY OF STATE ) USA 
 
His Excellency Stig Barlyng, PRESIDENT OF THE UN SECURITY 
COUNCIL 
 
His Excellency Kofi Annan, The Secretary ) General of the 
United Nations, NEW YORK 
 
17 th May 2005 
 
End Text. 
MEECE