Cablegate: Lra Leader Kony Contacts Chissano

VZCZCXRO7725
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1213 2241048
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111048Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1573
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001213

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON
NSC FOR BPITTMAN AND CHUDSON
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: LRA LEADER KONY CONTACTS CHISSANO

1. (SBU) According to United Nations Mission In Sudan (UNMIS), a
representative of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony
has been in telephone contact with United Nations Special Envoy
Joaquim Chissano and allegedly communicated that Kony will sign a
peace agreement on August 15, 2008 at Rikwamgba in the Democratic
Republic of Congo. Chissano was also told that LRA members were in
dire need of food and medicine. UN sources do not believe, however,
that the signing of the peace agreement is contingent on receiving
these items. UN officials are skeptical that the peace agreement
will be signed (or that the meeting will even occur,) yet are still
treating this communication as a legitimate effort.

2. (SBU) Comment: Kony has been in communication with UNMIS and GOSS
Vice President Machar by phone for the last several weeks, and this
is the latest in a series of proposed meetings. While we hope that
Kony will finally show, we will believe it when we see it. There
are consistent reports, however, that the LRA is desperately short
of food and supplies, which gives some little hope that maybe this
time Kony will come out of the woods.

FERNANDEZ

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