Cablegate: Monuc at Un: Give Us Clear Directions for Drc-And

VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1129/01 3380002
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030002Z DEC 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5460
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 0299
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 1667

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001129

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO UNSC XA BY CG
SUBJECT: MONUC AT UN: GIVE US CLEAR DIRECTIONS FOR DRC-AND
AN MNF

REF: USUN 1096

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: SRSG Alan Doss asked the Security Council
on November 26 for clear operational guidelines for MONUC,
especially regarding use of force. He also said a temporary
stabilization force is sorely needed as we await the
additional MONUC troops the Council recently authorized. He
said the DRC army's unreliability in the east greatly
complicates MONUC's dealings with the DRC government.
Council members agreed protection of civilians is MONUC's
priority and supported Special Envoy Obasanjo, who did not
participate in the session. The PermReps from the DRC and
Rwanda exchanged accusations in the chamber as to who was at
fault. Obasanjo briefed the P3 Belgium and South Africa on
November 25 on his diplomatic efforts, and said Rwanda was
willing to supply troops to fight the FDLR in the DRC. The
Belgian Foreign Minister held an Arria meeting November 25 to
highlight the humanitarian crisis and the role natural
resource exploitation plays in supporting armed groups. The
December mandate renewal process, deciding whether MONUC
should become an offensive force, is expected to be
contentious. END SUMMARY.

DOSS WANTS CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS FOR MONUC...

2. (SBU) MONUC's SRSG Alan Doss briefed the Security Council
on November 26 in the chamber and in consultations. Doss
called for a clearly defined mandate when MONUC is renewed
next month, especially regarding rules for MONUC engagement
of belligerents. He said the current mandate has become
confused in that it directs MONUC to support the DRC army
(FARDC), whereas FARDC has become "non-existent" in the east.
He asked the Council to delineate whether MONUC should
become an offensive force. Doss also asked for guidance on
how MONUC should respond when it witnesses the FARDC
committing atrocities.

...AND AN MNF (OR RAPID REACTION FORCE)

3. (SBU) Doss asked the Council to help identify a
multinational force to bridge the time it takes for the 3,000
newly authorized troops (see reftel) to deploy, protect
civilians, and enforce humanitarian corridors. He said (in
closed consultations following the open session) it would
take two months or longer for troops to be identified and get
to the DRC. (NOTE: In a private discussion with Ambassador
DiCarlo on November 25, Doss said it could take four to six
months for the troops to arrive. END NOTE). Doss worried the
current configuration of MONUC would not let it address any
additional crisis.

DRC THINKS MONUC IS THERE TO TAKE OUT CNDP; LRA A THREAT

4. (SBU) Doss said the DRC government believed MONUC's role
was to eliminate the CNDP and the DRC was frustrated MONUC's
troops had not completed that task. Doss did not want MONUC
to take the place of the DRC's security forces. He also
called for a complete review of MONUC's rules of engagement.
He said the DRC needed to reform its army, police force, and
judiciary to be able to assume responsibility for internal
matters, as the DRC currently lacked capacity in all these
areas. He warned the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) was still
a serious threat in the north, and was concerned MONUC's
redeployment to the Kivus could create a power vacuum in
places MONUC departs.

MINERALS - CORRUPTION GOES HIGH UP

5. (SBU) Doss warned the level of corruption regarding
mineral extraction was very high in both the DRC military and
political ranks. He thought a system similar to the
Kimberley Process' way to track diamonds might be helpful in
verifying legal trade in DRC minerals.

U.S.- DEPLOY FORCES QUICKLY; POLITICAL SOLUTION ONLY WAY

6. (SBU) In the open session, Ambassador DiCarlo urged Member
States to ensure rapid deployment of the authorized
additional forces. She stressed the training and equipment
the U.S. is giving all African units deployed to MONUC to
enhance the current force structure. DiCarlo said there was
no military solution to this conflict, called for all parties
to honor previous agreements, and welcomed the appointment of
former Nigerian President Obasanjo as an envoy to the region.

U.S. ASKS HOW TO TACKLE FDLR AND CNDP WITH NO FARDC

7. (SBU) In the closed session, DiCarlo asked how MONUC could

address both the FDLR and the CNDP simultaneously, as Doss
has suggested, when there was no effective FARDC with which
to partner. Doss replied that MONUC's mandate, which calls
for "voluntary" disarmament of the FDLR, needed to be updated
and clarified. He said a massive military operation against
the FDLR was not practicable but added that "force may be
part of the answer". Rather, he said sanctions should be
wide-ranging, and the economic assets of the FDLR should be
targeted. He also wanted to offer incentives to the "rank
and file" FDLR to draw them into disarming and reintegrating.

UK OFFERS DEPLOYMENT HELP, FRANCE WANTS MONUC DEFENSIVE OPS

8. (SBU) UK Deputy PermRep said two months for deploying the
additional forces was "too leisurely," and said London would
offer equipment, command and intelligence assistance, and
help in deploying troops. France's PermRep said the mandate
must be clarified and said MONUC should be able to conduct
defensive operations.

DRC PERMREP SPARS WITH RWANDAN PERMREP IN SC CHAMBER

9. (SBU) Invited to participate in the Council discussion,
the DRC PermRep said efforts to improve relations with Rwanda
had yet to yield results. He said, apparently referring to
Nkunda, a "warlord" had defied "with impunity for six years"
calls for peace and was now proceeding as an occupying force.
The Rwandan PermRep warned of "fallacious assertions" and
advised the Council the only cause for this conflict was the
ex-interahamwe Tutus.

OBASANJO: KABILA OK TO TALK TO NKUNDA; RWANDA OFFERED TROOPS
VS. FDLR

10. (SBU) Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Olusegun Obasanjo
told representatives of France, the UK, South Africa,
Belgium, and the U.S. on November 25 what Nkunda wanted:
dialogue with the DRC government; security for all ethnic
groups; and integration of CNDP into the FARDC. Obasanjo in
meeting with DRC President Kabila, said Kabila expected
Obasango to meet with Nkunda and that Kabila himself was not
opposed to speaking with Nkunda. Obasanjo did not
participate in the November 26 session.

11. (SBU) Obasanjo said Rwandan President Kagame told him
that Rwanda was willing to supply troops to the DRC to
address the FDLR. Obasanjo said he shared this information
with one of Kabila's advisors, intending to then share it
with Kabila. The advisor told him "don't go that way," so
Obasanjo said he decided to not share that offer with Kabila.

BELGIAN FM: STOP ILLEGAL MINERAL TRADE-IT FUNDS THE BAD GUYS

12. (SBU) Belgian FM Karel De Gucht chaired an Arria-formula
meeting on November 25 for Council members, other nations,
and relief agencies concerned with the situation in the Great
Lakes. De Gucht called for MONUC to play a more active role
in controlling the illegal exploitation of natural resources.
He said MONUC should broadly interpret its mandate to
inspect air, land, and sea cargo to stop illicit trade. De
Gucht lobbied for a comprehensive plan to prohibit armed
groups from funding themselves through illegal mineral sales.
All Arria participants called for MONUC to prioritize
humanitarian protection.

13. (SBU) COMMENT: MONUC's mandate renewal most likely will
be contentious. While all support protecting civilians,
South Africa, Costa Rica, and other voices for
troop-contributing countries are expected to lobby for a
continuation of a defensive mandate, in the belief that MONUC
cannot effect a military victory any more than can any of the
parties. While most acknowledge FDLR is a root cause of the
conflict and must be addressed, there is no consensus on how
best to respond or remove the FDLR. Neither is there
agreement on how to deal with the CNDP. Belgium will push
for stronger action against illegal mineral trade. MONUC
needs clear directions, but Member States have shown little
capacity to provide them. END COMMENT.
Wolff

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