VZCZCXRO2000
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0220 0651203
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061203Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9283
INFO RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 1972
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 000220 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS AO CG
SUBJECT:  ANGOLAN TROOP INCURSIONS INTO BAS-CONGO 
 
REF:  (A) LUANDA 132 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  According to local press reports, groups of 
Angolan soldiers crossed the DRC border and occupied the villages of 
Sava Ina and Kuzi in Bas-Congo on February 27 and 28 respectively. 
A Belgian diplomat told us that a Congolese delegation from 
Bas-Congo province met with Angolan counterparts of Do Zaire 
province to defuse the situation on March 3.  On March 4, Angolan 
troops reportedly vacated the respective villages and moved south of 
the border.  The lack of a formal border demarcation agreement 
between Angola and the DRC is partly to blame for this incident, 
which is apparently unrelated to broader bilateral disputes.  End 
summary. 
¶2.  (U) According to local press dispatches, a group of Angolan 
soldiers crossed the DRC border on February 27 and occupied the 
village of Sava Ina in the Mbanza Ngungu territory of Bas-Congo 
province.  These troops allegedly arrested a Congolese policeman, 
chased away villagers, burned houses, and looted the village.  In 
addition, a different group of Angolan soldiers occupied the village 
of Kuzi beginning on February 28.  The Bas-Congo Vice-Governor, Deo 
Nkusu confirmed the presence of Angolan troops with Radio Okapi. 
¶3.  (SBU) A Belgian diplomat, Nico Van Dijck (please protect), told 
us a delegation comprised of Vice-Governor Nkusu, officials from the 
Directorate General of Migration (DGM), and officials from the 
Congolese military (FARDC) met with their Angolan counterparts of Do 
Zaire province on March 3 in an effort to defuse the situation.  The 
Angolan representatives agreed to remove their troops from the 
respective villages and relocate them seven kilometers to the south 
on March 4. 
¶4.  (SBU) Van Dijck said that after similar incursions by Angolan 
troops in 2004 the two countries created commissions to investigate 
and discuss border demarcation.  (Note:  other incursions, or 
allegations of incursions in separate areas, occurred in 2007 and 
2008 as well.  End note.)  Belgium and Portugal, as the former 
colonial powers, have agreed to assist the commission.  The 
commissions have met several times and have made trips to Belgium to 
consult colonial era maps, but have not yet come to an agreement on 
the formal demarcation of the border. 
¶5.  (SBU) Comment:  Border disputes have been an area of sensitivity 
between Angola and the DRC, despite relations that are, at the 
present time, generally excellent.  Other bilateral disputes have 
been related to mineral exploitation issues or the sensitive subject 
of the large number of Congolese nationals living in Angola, many 
under illegal status.  Post, however, has no information that this 
latest dispute is related to such broader, national issues, and 
believes that it is localized in nature.  Finally, it is interesting 
to note that per reftel Angolan authorities are not commenting on 
this incident.  The GDRC is unable to suppress information about the 
incident, in part because of an energetic press.  End comment. 
 
GARVELINK