DRC: UN SANCTIONS EXPERTS CONFIDE FRUSTRATIONS

SECRET S E C R E T USUN NEW YORK 001160 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2018 TAGS: PREL, UNSC, PGOV, EFIN, ETTC SUBJECT: DRC: UN SANCTIONS EXPERTS CONFIDE FRUSTRATIONS Classified By: DEPUTY POLITICAL COUNSELOR ELLEN GERMAIN, FOR REASONS 1. 4 (B) AND (D). Private GOE Meeting -------------------------- 1. (C) SUMMARY: The UN Group of Experts (GOE) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) expressed privately to USUN their frustrations in carrying out their mandate to monitor compliance with UN sanctions and the arms embargo in the DRC. The Group particularly discussed concerns about insufficient support from MONUC, the deplorable state of cooperation from regional governments, the possible negative effect on sanctions of Uganda's upcoming membership on the Security Council, and the delay in Committee designation of FDLR rebels for targeted sanctions. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) On December 6, USUN met with the UN Group of Experts (GOE) on the Democratic Republic of Congo in a confidential meeting to discuss their recent report on the implementation of UN sanctions in the DRC (reportedseptel). The GOE is a team of UN contractors mandated by the Security Council to monitor the targeted sanctions and arms embargo imposed on the DRC. MONUC Isn't Being Helpful ----------------------------------- 2. (C) The GOE expressed frustration due to the lack of cooperation and support they had received from the MONUC peacekeeping mission in DRC. They felt that MONUC was taking a "minimalist approach" (with both quantity and quality) to sharing information with the GOE and performing sanctions monitoring tasks. MONUC, the GOE asserted, justified its stance by arguing that it was not MONUC's responsibility to carry out such tasks and also citing confidentiality concerns. The Group asked that both the GOE and MONUC mandate renewals include tougher language strengthening their cooperation with the GOE. (NOTE: The UN Secretariat reports a broader problem with peacekeeping operations providing inadequate support to such expert panels. END NOTE). DRC Sanctions "Completely Ineffective" --------------------------------------------- -- 3. (C) The Group confided to USUN that Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda are noncompliant with aiding the GOE's work and implementing the sanctions as a whole. The Group said these countries repeatedly denied it access to information (even that in the public domain). The Group suggested that the Sanctions Committee invite these states (Burundi in particular) to speak to the Committee to "shame" them into compliance. The Group complained about the overall poor state of sanctions implementation or even awareness that the measures existed. It lamented the fact that it had found many individuals and institutions to be largely unaware of the sanctions regime. One expert related a particularly troubling instance in which they had met with an officer who had been designated since 2005 who was completely unaware that he had been listed at all. Uganda Council Membership will be Counterproductive to Sanctions --------------------------------------------- ---------------- 4. (C) The GOE told USUN privately that they are concerned about how Uganda's recent election to the Security Council will affect DRC sanctions. The Group said it believes that leaks from the Ugandan governments would warn any new proposed designees for asset freezing, leading to "asset flights," and severely limit the effectiveness of targeted sanctions. They did not seem to think that the Council would be able to develop a mechanism to prevent this. (NOTE: The Group also explained that the low quality of their interim report was due to their hesitation to reveal sensitive information to the public, and consequently those who were being investigated. Uganda's membership will likely increase this tension. END NOTE.) GOE Fears U.S. Delay in Listing FDLR Members Undermines Regime Credibility --------------------------------------------- ------------- 5. (C) The GOE expressed the fervent need for the DRC Sanctions Committee to maintain an updated, accurate list of designated individuals and entities. The GOE argued that an accurate designee list, with frequent updates, enhances the credibility of the entire regime by acting as a consistent warning to those who undermine peace and security in the region. In this context, the GOE noted that the Committee had not moved to designate any new members of the FDLR rebel group. Khalilzad