VZCZCXRO3679
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #0658 1701559
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191559Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1481
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1370
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0318

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000658 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2016 
TAGS: PGOV KPKO PREL IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: DISARMAMENT OF WESTERN MILITIAS 
DELAYED AGAIN 
 
REF: ABIDJAN 647 
 
Classified By: A.Lewis Econ. Chief for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Despite assurances we were given June 16 by Director 
of Operations for Disarmament Jean-Paul Malan that there were 
just a few obstacles left to mediate and that disarmament of 
the western militias would likely begin on June 17 (reftel), 
the militias continue to refuse to begin even the first step 
(pre-regroupment phase) of disarmament.  Malan told us June 
19 that the leaders of the western militias - FLGO (Front for 
the Liberation of the Great West), UPRGO (Patriotic Union of 
the Great Western Region), MILOCI (Movement for the 
Liberation of Western Cote d'Ivoire), and APWe, (Alliance of 
the We People -- one of the ethnic groups in the West) - 
would arrive in Abidjan later that day for June 20 talks with 
the Ministries of Defense and Internal Security, FANCI Chief 
of Staff, General Phillipe Mangou, and the ONUCI Force 
Commander.  Press reports indicate that the reason for the 
delay in starting disarmament is the poor condition of the 
disarmament sites.  However, Malan told us that the press has 
it wrong, that the militia leaders have balked at disarming 
for two key reasons:  one, the ex-rebel New Forces (NF) have 
not disarmed (Note: on June 16, during the four-way military 
talks between the NF, FANCI, UN, and French Licorne forces, 
it was agreed to allow the NF an additional two weeks to 
complete pre-regroupment); and two, the western militia 
leaders want security assurances that once they disarm they 
will be protected by someone other than UN forces. 
 
¶2. (C) Comment: It is not surprising that the western 
militias, who chased away the UN forces in January 2006 with 
little effort, would want to have security provided by 
another force.  At the conclusion of the June 20 meeting 
between western militia leaders and the Ivoirian government, 
it is likely that a new date for the commencement of 
disarmament will be announced.  However, regardless of the 
declared calendar, we expect the militias will refuse to 
disarm until the New Forces start to do so.  End Comment. 
Hooks