R 182226Z JUN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
INFO AMEMBASSY HARARE
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
S E C R E T STATE 065820
EO 12958 DECL: 06/20/2018
TAGS PREL, MARR, MOPS, UG, CG, LY, ZI
SUBJECT: A/S FRAZER’S JUNE 13 MEETING WITH UGANDAN
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI
Classified By: Assistant Secretary Frazer for Reasons 1.4 (a) and (d)
1) (SBU) SUMMARY. On June 13, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer met with Ugandan President Museveni
in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where Museveni was attending his son’s graduation from the U.S. Army Command and General
Staff College. President Museveni and A/S Frazer discussed military action against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in
eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Libyan involvement in sub-Saharan African politics, and the political
stalemate in Zimbabwe. President Museveni, A/S Frazer, and the State Department Country Officer for Uganda were present.
END SUMMARY.
DRC ACTION AGAINST THE LRA
---------------------------
2) (S) President Museveni said the DRC has not actively attempted to end the LRA threat to the region despite numerous
diplomatic agreements and regional meetings. Museveni noted that Kabila has agreed on many occasions to remove the LRA
from eastern DRC, but “nothing happens” after an agreement is reached. Museveni said regional Defense Attaches recently
agreed to military action against the LRA but could not develop a joint plan of action to deploy. He also noted that
“there was a lack of seriousness” among some of the regional players.
3) (S) Museveni did not believe the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) had the capacity or the will to carry out a
successful mission against the LRA. A/S Frazer told Museveni that Kabila believed in FARDC,s capabilities, and Kabila’s
continued engagement has shown the DRC’s will to conduct a successful operation. Kabila’s main fear, A/S Frazer noted,
is that Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) action on DRC soil would create political problems for Kabila in
Kinshasa. Museveni acknowledged Kabila’s reservations, but noted that Kabila’s logic “didn’t make sense” since LRA, not
the UPDF, is killing Congolese and destabilizing the region.
4) (C) A/S Frazer suggested the UPDF provide technical advisors to the FARDC, possibly embedding one to two UPDF
soldiers in appropriate FARDC units. Museveni did not believe Kabila would accept technical or logistical assistance
from the UPDF or other regional militaries. The Government of Uganda (GOU) offered the DRC a UPDF C-130 aircraft for the
proposed FARDC operation but Kabila rejected it, Museveni said. Museveni did not believe technical advisors would be
helpful beaaaaacause the FARDC needed combat personnel, not technical support.
5) (C) A/S Frazer said Kabila informed her that he plans to send two FARDC battalions to deploy against the LRA by the
end of the month. Museveni indicated he is open to a joint UPDF/FARDC operation if Kabila agrees. A/S affirmed that
President Bush remains very interested in ending the LRA threat and would welcome Museveni,s thoughts on the LRA threat
to the region.
LIBYA
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6) (S) President Museveni said Libyan President Qadhafi “is a problem” for the continent and is pushing for the creation
of a “United States of Africa” to be governed by one president. Museveni thought Qadhafi’s plan is neither feasible nor
desirable, given cultural and linguistic differences across the continent. Rather than the development of a unitary
African state, Museveni said he is pushing Qadhafi and other African leaders to develop regional political federations
and markets that support common objectives. Museveni indicated to A/S Frazer that Qadhafi continues to “intimidate”
small African countries through bribes and other pressure. As a result of Libya’s actions, small West African countries
have been afraid to participate fully or speak out during international meetings at the United Nations, African Union,
and other forums.
7) (S) Museveni noted that tensions with Qadhafi are growing and as a result, and he worries that Qadhafi will attack
his plane while flying over international airspace. Museveni requested that the USG and GOU coordinate to provide
additional air radar information when he flies over international waters.
ZIMBABWE
--------
8) (C) Museveni told A/S Frazer that he spoke to Zimbabwean President Mugabe by telephone after the first round of
elections. During his call, Mugabe told Museveni he was confident he would win in the second round of elections. Mugabe
told Museveni he did not want election monitors from countries that were “hostile” to Zimbabwe, but wouldn’t mind
observers from other countries. A/S Frazer thought thousands of monitors were necessary, especially in rural areas, to
encourage people to vote. A/S Frazer advised Museveni that she would ask the U.S. Ambassador in Zimbabwe how many
elections monitors he believes are needed.
9) (C) Museveni thought Zimbabwe’s faltering economy and Mugabe’s poor understanding of the private sector were at the
root of Zimbabwe’s political problems. He said a discussion of the economy would provide an entry point to tell Mugabe
that he has failed and is embarrassing liberation leaders. He noted that Mugabe is unwilling to take calls from most
African leaders saying they are not his age-mates.
10. (U) Tripoli minimize considered.
RICE