US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1532

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001532 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MARR, KPKO, CG, UG 
SUBJECT: LRA INCURSION INTO DRC CONFIRMED; MONUC AND GDRC 
RESPONDING 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1519 
 
Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (C) PolCouns followed up evening of September 20 with 
MONUC on the question of a possible incursion into the DRC by 
elements of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA).  MONUC confirmed 
that about 320 armed LRA elements, accompanied by about 50 
family members, had entered the DRC through Sudan the evening 
of September 19, and are now in the forest about six 
kilometers inside DRC territory (near the border with Sudan), 
close to the village of Aba.  The group, who is armed with 
about 300 AK-47s, several RPGs, and at least one mortar, has 
not yet caused any widespread IDP movement as they have not 
troubled the village.  Congolese regional military commander 
General Padiri has been in touch by cell phone with the LRA 
group leader, who has indicated that the group wishes to 
surrender.  According to MONUC, Padiri will continue 
negotiations with the LRA group leader today, keeping UNHCR 
and MONUC briefed on the possible surrender terms. 
 
2. (C) Padiri also has dispatched a company from the First 
Integrated Brigade of FARDC from Isiro, and MONUC is 
attempting to pre-position fuel in Aru to enable it to 
provide air cover, if necessary.  General Camaert has ordered 
that another two helicopters (in addition to the original two 
from September 20) be diverted from delivering elections 
registration kits.  Minister of Interior told PolCouns 
evening of September 20 that President Kabila has been fully 
briefed on the situation and the presidency is considering 
trying to contact Ugandan President Museveni to brief him on 
the Congolese and MONUC responses. 
 
3. (C) Comment:  MONUC commented favorably on the quick and 
appropriate FARDC response.  Camaert's Chief of Staff said 
that much of the initial information came from General 
Padiri, who had stationed a platoon in Aba to monitor the 
border with Sudan.  The platoon leader notified Padiri of the 
LRA crossing a little after midnight on September 19, and 
Padiri shared that information with MONUC early in the 
morning of September 20.  UNHCR is prepared to assist in 
caring for LRA family members and also any unarmed LRA 
elements who choose to surrender, and MONUC would transport 
them to Kinshasa, should that be the agreed destination.  It 
will be important, however, to keep President Museveni well 
informed of developments and Congolese and MONUC response, to 
defuse the possibility that he would send Ugandan troops into 
the DRC, as he has recently been threatening to do. 
MEECE