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121075
RELEASED IN PART
Bl, 1.4(D), 1.4(C)
062341Z
AMAD-01
HA-09
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E297
UNCLASSIFIED
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/042R
DRAFTED BY: AF/C: ASECRETARY
APPROVED BY: AF/C: AXRENDER
AF/C: KCAISTON
4441F3 062344Z 138
O 062340Z MAY 94
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMEASSY BUJUMBURA IMMEDIATE
USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIALSTATE 121075
FOR A/S SHATTUCK
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA SITREP MAY 6, INFORMATION FOR GENEVA PRESS REMARKS
REF: (A) 94 GENEVA 4318
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS CURRENT AS OF MAY 6 AND
MIGHT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR A/S SHATTUCK'S
BRIEFING OF GENEVA-BASED MEDIA CITED IN REFTEL
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STATE 121075 062341Z
(LOU) UNAMIR WILL REOPEN THE KIGALI AIRPORT ON SATURDAY.
(C)UNSYGSR BOOH BOOH WILL RETURN TO KIGALI ON SATURDAY.
(U) AUSTRALIA HAS OFFERED TO PROVIDE 1200 TO 1500 TROOPS
TO A UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE.
(C) CANADA HAS OFFERED A 200 MAN COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
AND EQUIPMENT TO A UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: ARCHIE M BOLSTER
CLASSIFICATION: CONFIDENTIAL REASON: 1.4(B), 1.4(D)
DECLASSIFY AFTER: 5 MAY 2019
DATE/CASE ID: 06 MAY 2011 201005065
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
THE RWANDA/BURUNDI MAY 6 SITREP FOLLOWS:
SITUATION ON THE GROUND
(LOU) UNAMIR REPORTS THAT KIGALI IS RELATIVELY QUIET
THIS AFTERNOON. (AF/C UNAMIR TELCON)
(U) ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, HEAVY MORTAR AND MACHINE
GUN FIRE CONTINUED IN KIGALI'S CITY CENTER THIS MORNING,
BUT THE RPF APPEARS TO HAVE GAINED GROUND AFTER
YESTERDAY'S HEAVY FIGHTING. SHELLS WERE FALLING IN THE
CITY CENTER AND NEAR THE MILLES COLLINES HOTEL WHERE 300
REFUGEES ARE AWAITING EVACUATION. AID WORKERS ALSO
REPORTED RPF FORCES HAVE ENCIRCLED RUHENGARI AND WERE
ATTEMPTING TO CAPTURE IT. THE AIRPORT REMAINS CLOSED
AFTER A CANADIAN C-130 WAS SHOT AT YESTERDAY WHILE
UNLOADING SUPPLIES. (REUTERS, API)
(U) HUNDREDS OF RWANDANS DAILY ARE SWIMMING THE KAGERA
RIVER TO REACH THE BENACO REFUGEE CAMP IN TANZANIA.
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(REUTERS)
STATE 121075 062341Z
BI
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS
(U) TANZANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RWEGASIRA TODAY ANNOUNCED
IN DAR ES SALAAM THAT RWANDA'S INTERIM GOVERNMENT HAD
SIGNED A DOCUMENT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE STARTING
TOMORROW. HE SAID THE RPF DID NOT SIGN, BUT HAD PROMISED
TO OBSERVE THE CEASEFIRE. PRESS ALSO REPORTS THAT A
CEASEFIRE WAS SIGNED IN GABADOLITE, BROKERED BY MOBUTU.
(REUTERS)
(LOU) BELGIAN OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE RPF THAT
THEY SIGNED A CEASEFIRE IN GABADOLITE, BUT IT WAS
CONDITIONED ON THE END OF MASSACRES AND GOR ACCEPTANCE OR
ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE KILLINGS. (AF/C
EMBASSY BRUSSELS TELCON)
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
(U) A/S SHATTUCK AND TANZANIAN PM MALACELA TODAY AGREED
ON A PRESS STATEMENT TO BE ISSUED IN DAR ES SALAAM.
TOMORROW: THE TWO FULLY AGREED ON THE NEED FOR A
CEASEFIRE, THAT THE UNAMIR COMMANDER SHOULD CONVENE A
MEETING IN KIGALI OF HIGH RANKING MILITARY COMMANDERS OF
BOTH SIDES TO DISCUSS A CEASEFIRE, THAT ONCE A CEASEFIRE
IS AGREED, AN EXPANDED INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE WOULD BE
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STATE 121075 082341Z
PAGE 04
IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED, AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION CREATED
TO INVESTIGATE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, AND THE ARUSHA
PROCESS RELAUNCHED. (BUJUMBURA 01578)
(C) EU OFFICIALS SEE RWANDA AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR U.S EU COOPERATION. THEY WANT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE
UNITED STATES TO JOINTLY ENCOURAGE AN OAU PEACEKEEPING
FORCE UNDER UN AUSPICES, FOLLOWED BY PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY
TO KEEP THE SITUATION FROM SPREADING - ESPECIALLY TO
BURUNDI. THE EU IS ALREADY PROVIDING SOME HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES, BUT IS GEARING UP TO PROVIDE MORE
AID ONCE THE SITUATION STABILIZES. (BRUSSELS 05050)
(C) OAU/SSG SALIM AND UN/SYG BOUTROS GHALI DISAGREE
ABOUT WHO SHOULD LEAD THE EFFORT TO PROVIDE TROOPS FOR AN
EXPANDED FORCE IN RWANDA. IN AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS
DATED MAY 2 AND 5, BOUTROS GALI SUGGESTED THE UN MIGHT BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ANY REGIONAL EFFORTS THAT
MIGHT BE MADE, WHILE SALIM INSISTED THE UN SHOULD RETAIN
THE LEAD AND BUILD ON THE EXISTING UN FORCE. (ADD=S
ABABA 03325)
(C) OAU SYG SALIM, MET ON MAY 5 WITH A/S SHATTUCK IN DAR
ES SALAAM. SALIM FULLY SUPPORTS RECONSTITUTING UNAMIR TO
PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, PROTECT REFUGEES AND
CIVILIANS, AND MONITOR A CEASEFIRE WHEN ONE IS ACHIEVED.
HE STRONGLY BELIEVES UN INTERVENTION SHOULD INCLUDE A
HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING COMPONENT, INCLUDING AN
INVESTIGATION INTO THE KILLING AND MASSACRES. SALIM IS
NOT ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT JOINT OAU/UN LEADERSHIP, SAYING
THAT WHERE THE OAU CAN "MAKE A DIFFERENCE" IS IN SECURING
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PAGE 05
STATE 121075 062 SPINCIA S SIRED
FIRM AND CONCRETE COMMITMENTS FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO
PROVIDE TROOPS. (DAR ES SALAAM 02806)
(C) THE UNSC YESTERDAY AGAIN DISCUSSED RWANDA, HOPING TO
MOVE AWAY FROM SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE COUNCIL
TO SYG BOUTROS GHALI AND BACK AGAIN. IN AN EFFORT TO
MOVE TOWARDS DECISIVE ACTION, THE SC IS TODAY CIRCULATING
A DRAFT LETTER ASKING THE SYG TO PROVIDE AN INFORMAL
NON-PAPER PRESENTING A POSSIBLE CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO WHATEVER DECISION THE SC MIGHT
TAKE. MANY DELEGATIONS EMPHASIZED THAT HUMANITARIAN
QUESTIONS SHOULD BE THE CURRENT PRIORITY. THE
NON-ALIGNED APE ALSO WORKING ON A DRAFT RESOLUTION TO BE
TABLED TODAY OR MONDAY.
(USUN 01926)
(U) NIGERIA IS CONSIDERING A UN REQUEST TO SEND TROOPS
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN
RWANDA, ACCORDING TO KADUNA RADIO NIGERIA.
(C) MONIQUE MUJAWAMIRA AND ALISON DES FORGES YESTERDAY
CALLED ON AMBASSADOR INDERFURTH TO ARGUE FOR GREATER US
INVOLVEMENT IN RWANDA. THEY URGE A US INITIATIVE TO
ORGANIZE DONORS TO PROCLAIM THEY WILL NEVER SUPPORT THE
CURRENT MILITARY LEADERSHIP AND CALLING FOR BRINGING THE
KILLERS TO JUSTICE, RESUMPTION OF THE ARUSHA TALKS EXCEPT
FOR SOME MILITARY LEADERS AND AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE
KILLINGS. USUN WAS PARTICULARILY STRUCK BY THEIR
INSISTANCE THAT ENOUGH MODERATES HAVE SURVIVED TO FORM A
VIABLE NEGOTIATING PRESENCE AND EVENTUALLY TAKE PART IN A
COALITION GOVERNMENT. (USUN 01922)
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STATE 121075 062341Z
HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS
(U) THE UN YESTERDAY APPEALED FOR 38.8 MILLION IN AID
TO COMBAT THE CRISIS. UN SOURCES SAID MILITARY TRANSPORT
PLANES WOULD START FERRYING SUPPLIES INTO TANZANIA TODAY
FOR RWANDAN REFUGEES, ALTHOUGH HEAVY RAIN WOULD DELAY
ROAD TRANSPORT. (REUTERS)
CHRISTOPHER
CONFIDENTIAL
UNCLASSIFIED
