US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1433

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001433 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, PGOV, CG, UG 
SUBJECT: MUSEVENI LETTER TO AU ON DRC 
 
REF: KAMPALA 1622 
 
Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (C)  Ugandan President Museveni has written several 
letters in recent months (to DRC President Joseph Kabila, the 
UNSC and President Bush) complaining about the alleged threat 
to Uganda's security posed by the continuing presence of some 
ADF elements in Orientale Province in eastern Congo.  In his 
letters he accuses MONUC of either not taking any action 
against the ADF, or passively permitting their rearming and 
concentration. 
 
2. (C)  During a September 6 meeting with Jean-Marie Emungu, 
chief of staff to Vice-President Azarias Ruberwa (who is 
responsible for security issues), Emungu told PolCouns that 
President Kabila had shown Ruberwa a copy of yet another 
Museveni letter, this one written to President Obasanjo in 
his capacity as current rotational president of the African 
Union.  Museveni reiterated many of the same points from 
previous letters, but reportedly also went on to say that 
Uganda is preparing soon to invade the DRC and the AU should 
remain silent on the question and not attempt to intervene 
politically or militarily.  Emungu said that both Kabila and 
Ruberwa take seriously the perceived threat in the letter; 
Kabila reportedly has been in touch several times with 
Obasanjo. 
 
3. (C)  Comment:  The accuracy of Emungu's report is open to 
question.  The Ambassador met with President Kabila September 
2.  While Kabila certainly expressed concerns about 
Museveni's intentions, he said nothing about an overt 
Museveni threat to invade the DRC.  Nor does it seem to us 
likely that Museveni would be so brazen as to openly threaten 
in writing an invasion that he knows would most certainly be 
subject to widespread international condemnation.  It is 
nonetheless clear that Museveni has adopted a belligerent 
line.  Whether that is in reaction to the DRC's ongoing case 
against Uganda in the International Court of Justice, 
positioning relative to increased western pressure to put a 
stop to Ugandan support to Ituri militias, or other factors, 
Museveni's actions are creating major concerns among many in 
Kinshasa and are clearly disruptive to the DRC's 
always-fragile transition process.  MONUC and the FARDC are 
looking at options targeting Ugandan rebels who are in the 
DRC which can be implemented soon.  USAID is heavily involved 
along with the World Bank in programs for reintegrating 
roughly 11,000 Ituri former militia combatants now being 
demobilized.  We believe it also very important to maintain 
as well strong MONUC/FARDC military pressure targeting 
remaining Ituri militias, as well as a continuing strong and 
consistent message to Kampala that meddling in Ituri is not 
acceptable. 
MEECE