US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1519

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Identifier:	05KINSHASA1519
Wikileaks:	View 05KINSHASA1519 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Kinshasa
Created:	2005-09-20 13:59:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PREL PGOV MARR CG UG UPUO
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001519 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MARR, CG, UG, UPUO 
SUBJECT: ALLEGATIONS OF LRA ENTRY INTO DRC 
 
Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (C)  Some press reports indicated September 20 that the 
GOU alleges that elements of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) 
have fled into the northeastern part of Orientale province in 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  In response to these 
articles, PolCouns spoke September 20 to MONUC's military 
headquarters in Kisangani.  General Camaert's Chief of Staff 
told PolCouns that Camaert had already authorized two 
helicopters to be diverted from delivering elections 
registration kits to overfly the areas of the supposed 
penetration.  MONUC hopes to have an initial report no later 
than September 21, confirming or denying the alleged LRA 
presence.  MONUC also is dispatching ground troops from its 
contingent based at Aru (the closest city in Orientale 
province to the possible penetration site). This mission will 
include a FARDC component. 
 
2. (C)  PolCouns also spoke to Congolese Minister of Defense 
Adolphe Onusumba (currently in Western Kasai province where 
he is registering to vote).  Onusumba had not yet been 
informed of the possible presence of LRA elements but said he 
would be in touch with his headquarters, and confirmed that 
he supports FARDC participation in the proposed MONUC 
mission.  He also told PolCouns that he believes that the LRA 
leader might have been trying to get in touch by phone, but 
he, Onusumba, did not take the calls. 
 
3. (C) Comment:  Given recent saber-rattling by Ugandan 
President Museveni, both MONUC and the Congolese are taking 
seriously anything which might serve as a pretext for the 
entry of Ugandan military forces into eastern Congo. Museveni 
has been threatening to send troops in search of ADF elements 
in Orientale province, but has been discouraged from doing 
so.  We will follow up with both MONUC and the Congolese to 
find out what the air and ground missions discover. 
MEECE