PREPARED CABLES: Former US Ambassador Steven Browning.
In Summary
Major revelations
- President Museveni said the DRC has not actively attempted to end the LRA threat to the region despite numerous diplomatic agreements and regional meetings.
- He said Libyan President Gaddafi “is a problem” for the continent and is pushing for the creation of a “United States of Africa” to be governed by one president.
- Gaddafi continues to “intimidate” small African countries through bribes and other pressure.
- Museveni thought Zimbabwe’s faltering economy and Mugabe’s poor understanding of the private sector were at the root of Zimbabwe’s political problems.
June 18, 2008
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 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, Frazer, and the State Department Country Officer for Uganda were present.
End summary.
End summary.
DRC Action against the LRA
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2. 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. 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.
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. 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 because the FARDC needed combat personnel, not technical support.
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 because the FARDC needed combat personnel, not technical support.
5. 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.
Frazer 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.
Frazer 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. President Museveni said Libyan President Gaddafi “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 Gaddafi’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 Gaddafi and other African leaders to develop regional political federations and markets that support common objectives.
Museveni indicated to Frazer that Gaddafi 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.
Rather than the development of a unitary African state, Museveni said he is pushing Gaddafi and other African leaders to develop regional political federations and markets that support common objectives.
Museveni indicated to Frazer that Gaddafi 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. Museveni noted that tensions with Gaddafi are growing and as a result, and he worries that Gaddafi 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.
Museveni requested that the USG and GOU coordinate to provide additional air radar information when he flies over international waters.
Zimbabwe
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8. Museveni told 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.
Frazer thought thousands of monitors were necessary, especially in rural areas, to encourage people to vote. Frazer advised Museveni that she would ask the US Ambassador in Zimbabwe how many elections monitors he believes are needed.
Mugabe told Museveni he did not want election monitors from countries that were “hostile” to Zimbabwe, but wouldn’t mind observers from other countries.
Frazer thought thousands of monitors were necessary, especially in rural areas, to encourage people to vote. Frazer advised Museveni that she would ask the US Ambassador in Zimbabwe how many elections monitors he believes are needed.
9. 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.
Source: Daily Monitor, Posted Thursday, December 9 2010 at 00:00
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.
Source: Daily Monitor, Posted Thursday, December 9 2010 at 00:00
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