VZCZCXRO8879
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0700 2391443
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261443Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8339
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000700 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT:    JOINT MONITORING GROUP TASK FORCE MEETING 
            OF AUGUST 22, 2008 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  MONUC/DDRRR reported that in July, it had 
transferred 97 FDLR members to Rwanda, although Rwanda classified 
fewer than half that number as ex-combatants.  The GDRC did not 
object, as long as those repatriated were properly accepted in 
Rwanda.  The Rwandan side stressed the importance of field trips to 
the DRC but expressed safety concerns.  End summary 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The 36th Joint Monitoring Group Task Force met in Goma 
August 22, focusing on continued repatriation of FDLR members in 
July, with a presentation by MONUC/DDRRR, and on future field 
visits.  There were minor disagreements about minutes from the 
previous meeting, but the mood was relaxed and convivial.  While the 
GDRC was represented by its usual head, Colonel Augustin Mamba, the 
Rwandans were represented at a lower level than usual. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Ndiaga Diagne of MONUC/DDRRR said that in July it had 
transferred 97 FDLR members (61 ex-combatants, 35 dependents, one 
undetermined) to Rwanda.  Rwanda, however, classified only 47 of 
these as ex-combatants, with 49 classified as civilians and one 
still to be determined.  MONUC, by contrast, characterized all FDLR 
who had disarmed as ex-combatants.  The 47 were transferred to the 
charge of the Rwandan demobilization and reintegration commission, 
the others to UNHCR. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Colonel Mamba said that the DRC did not care about 
combatant-civilian distinctions, but wanted to be sure that all were 
properly accepted in Rwanda.  The Rwandan delegation told Mamba that 
those who were declared civilians and who had been transferred to 
UNHCR were not being treated as refugees in Rwanda.  Rather, UNCHR 
was overseeing their reintegration into Rwanda.  Diagne said that 75 
of these 97 had been transferred from North Kivu, the remainder from 
South Kivu.  Diagne said that MONUC had greatly improved its ability 
to detect "recycled repatriates." 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Concerning field visits by the Task Force, the Rwandan 
delegation noted, on the one hand, its desire for more visits to DRC 
than to Rwanda.  On the other hand, the delegations raised concerns 
about security during such trips.  It recounted aspects of previous 
DRC trips that had caused concern.  Examples raised were those of an 
RUD member bearing a weapon on the visit to Kasiki, an FARDC 
commander at Rutshuru stating that he believed the FDLR was 
well-informed about the Task Force visit, and an FARDC commander at 
Mwenga stating that the FARDC believed that it was too dangerous to 
venture off the road on which they were traveling.  Colonel Mamba 
insisted that all visits had been fully safe, as would all future 
trips inside the DRC. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Regarding future travel, the Rwandan delegation said it 
would not be useful simply to continue visiting Rwanda's center at 
Mutobo.  The Rwandans suggested that trips need not alternate, but 
it was nonetheless contemplating arranging a visit to its center for 
child combatants and another to the UNHCR transit camp.  Colonel 
Mamba agreed that the DRC was the "main theater of operations" and 
that, therefore, it was not essential to keep to an alternating 
schedule.  However, the DRC was not ready for another visit.  Task 
Force Chairman Bernard Sexe noted that trips to Rwanda were 
important to demonstrate to the FDLR that the Task Force was working 
closely together and that former FDLR members were being properly 
reintegrated in Rwanda. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The GDRC reiterated its request to move the meeting from 
Friday to the middle of the week, because of difficult airline 
connections and because Friday was the most important day to be in 
Kinshasa for government meetings.  The Rwandan delegation said it 
could not contemplate breaking up its work week but might consider a 
Monday meeting.  The GDRC said Monday would be more difficult than 
Friday.  There was no consensus, so the meeting day remains Friday. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Finally, both sides agreed that, in the next meeting, they 
would draw up an evaluation for the upcoming Joint Monitoring Group 
meeting of the progress thus far in carrying out the Nairobi 
communique. 
 
GARVELINK