US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1596

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001596 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, PGOV, KPKO, CG, UG 
SUBJECT: LRA UPDATE: CONGOLESE TROOPS MOVE TOWARD ABA 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1584 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (C)  Congolese Air Force General John Numbi told PolCouns 
September 27 that the first 200 (of a total of 500) Congolese 
commando troops left Kinshasa en route for Kisangani.  Numbi 
said an additional 100 (again of a total of 500) commandos 
also were dispatched from Kamina training base where they had 
been sent to take part in brassage (the process which 
integrates the military forces of the forming combatants into 
coherent units). These troops are also en route to Kisangani. 
 Numbi said he believes that no later than Sunday October 2 
he should have successfully transported all 1,000 troops to 
Kisangani, barring unforeseen difficulties. (Comment: These 
troops are flying on Congolese Antonovs, so unforeseen 
difficulties unfortunately are possible. End Comment.) 
 
2. (C) MONUC also began September 27 moving elements of the 
Congolese First Integrated Brigade from Bunia (where most of 
them are based) to Aru, via a series of MONUC helicopter 
flights carrying about 50 troops on each run.  Numbi said the 
objective, as ordered by President Kabila, is to have 2,800 
Congolese troops situated near Aba by the beginning of next 
week.  (Comment:  This is a slight distortion of what 
President Kabila actually said, at least according to the 
readout of the meeting provided by Minister of Interior 
Mbemba, who said Kabila ordered the troops to be "ready for 
action" by the weekend.  Numbi's evaluation of the likely 
timing is, however, probably more accurate, given all the 
logistical complications involved. End Comment.)  MONUC also 
will transport two of Numbi's aviation specialists from Aru 
to Aba September 28 to survey the airfield at Aba to see if 
it can be made useable for landing Antonov transport 
aircraft, which would actually speed the Congolese troop 
deployment. 
 
3. (C)  There was no progress nor new initiatives reported in 
disarmament/surrender talks September 27. 
 
4. (C)  Comment: FARDC apparently is making its best efforts 
to comply with President Kabila's directive to deploy troops 
and, with MONUC assistance, could manage the full deployment 
of 2,800 men -- although probably not until late next week. 
We do not believe that the long-neglected airfield at Aba, 
which apparently once could receive Antonovs, can be made 
usable again quickly enough to matter in this crisis. 
MEECE