US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1072

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001072 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KPKO, PHUM, PREL, MOPS, UG, CG 
SUBJECT: ITURI MILITIAS REPORTEDLY OBTAINING ARMS AND 
TRAINING FROM UGANDA 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1. (C) Summary. Monuc and NGO officials in Ituri have 
received credible reports of increased support for Ituri 
militias from Ugandan businessmen and military officers in 
the form of arms shipments, training, and efforts to build a 
coalition of militias. Monuc officials point to recent 
meetings in Kampala between militia leaders and Ugandan 
elements, the apparent presence of Ugandan trainers in Ituri, 
and the recent use of heavier weapons by militia as evidence 
of this renewed support. End Summary. 
 
2. (C) MONUC and NGO officials in Ituri have received reports 
from multiple sources over the past several weeks pointing to 
an alleged effort by Ugandan elements to form an alliance 
among the remaining Ituri armed groups, particularly the 
Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), the Front for National 
Integration (FNI), the Front for Patriotic Resistance in 
Ituri (FRPI), and the Party for Unity and Safeguarding of the 
Integrity of the Congo. Meetings between Ugandans and FNI 
leaders have been alleged in Kampala on May 10, and among 
PUSIC, FNI, and UPC leaders on June 12 and June 22. 
 
3. (C) The Director of German Agro Action (AAA) (a German NGO 
present in various parts of Ituri) said June 28 he had 
received reports indicating the FRPI and PUSIC militias were 
participating in a joint training in the use of heavy arms in 
the area of Bavi, 40 kms SE of Bunia. According to him, the 
militias are training with about 50 mortars brought from 
Uganda via the Semliki River, next to the village of Tshabi. 
The reports assert that Ugandan officers are conducting the 
training.  According to AAA's director, the use of a 
significant number of mortars and rocket-propelled grenades 
by FRPI militia against peacekeepers near Medu June 27 gives 
credence to reports that this militia has received new arms 
shipments from Uganda.  (Note:  Monuc notes that these 
weaopns are definitely new to these militias, representing an 
evolutionary, albeit negative, new element.  End Note.) 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
4. (C) Monuc's robust actions in Ituri have reduced the 
number of armed militia from an estimated 15,000 in 2003 to 
as few as 1,000 now. Unfortunately, a smaller but 
better-armed and trained element still poses a significant 
security threat, as shown by recent military engagements 
between MONUC forces and militias lasting several hours. 
MEECE