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ACTION AF-06
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 IO-11 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 SSO-00 USIE-00 INRE-00 PM-04 H-02 INR-07 L-03
NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01 SP-02 SS-15 SAM-01 ARA-06 /077 W
--------------------- 082880
O R 060740Z FEB 76
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6381
INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY LOURENCO MARQUES
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY LISBON
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
USMISSION USUN NY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 1087
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CG, AO, PINS
SUBJ: MERCENARIES REFUSED TRANSIT RIGHTS THROUGH ZAIRE
PASS USIA FOR IOP/M AND IAA
BEGIN UNCLASSIFIED
1. ZAIRIAN PRESS FEB 4 CONCENTRATED ON GOZ DECISION TO PROHIBIT
TRANSIT OF MERCENARIES THROUGH ZAIRE TO FIGHT IN ANGOLA. SAVIMBI
AND HOLDEN WERE INFORMED OF DECISION DURING THEIR MEETINGS WITH
MOBUTU FEB 3. ACCORDING TO SOURCES CLOSE TO PRESIDENCY,
PRESS SAID, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ACTION WAS IN CONFORMITY
WITH POLICY OF NEUTRALITY OF ZAIRE IN ANGOLAN AFFAIR; ZAIRE
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CANNOT DENOUNCE SOVIET-CUBAN MERCENARY PRESENCE AND
AT SAME TIME PERMIT THOSE OF OTHER NATIONALITIES TO TRANSIT ZAIRIAN
TERRITORY. PRESS FURTHER NOTED THAT MOBUTU TOOK ACTION UPON HIS
RETURN TO KINSHASA AFTER REPEATED REPORTS OF SOME EIGHTY SOLDIERS OF
FORTUNE COMING THROUGH COUNTRY.
2. AT PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER HIS MEETING WITH MOBUTU, SAVIMBI
OBSERVED THAT MERCENARIES COMING FROM ANGOLA WOULD BE ALLOWED PASS
THROUGH ZAIRE ON THEIR WAY HOME.
3. IN THEIR EDITORIALS, SALONGO AND AZAP EMPHASIZED GOZ NEUTRALITY
IN ANGOLAN WAR AND NEED NOT GIVE SOVIET-CUBAN COALITION ADDITIONAL
EXCUSES FOR CONTINUING ITS INTERVENTION. AZAP IN PARTICULAR NOTED
THAT MOBUTU'S CREDIBILITY WAS AT STAKE BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.
SALONGO ON OTHER HAND RECALLED HIS CONCEMNATION OF FOREIGN INTER-
VENTION AND HOTED THAT GOZ'S POSITION IS RESULT OF ITS OWN UNFOR-
GETTABLE EXPERIENCE WITH MERCENARIES. THIS EXPERIENCE, IT CONTINUED
SHOULD NOT BE REPEATED IN ANGOLA.
END UNCLASSIFIED.
BEGIN CONFIDENTIAL
5. COMMENT: THERE IS MUCH SPECULATION AMONG OBSERVERS
HERE TO THE EFFECT THAT MOBUTU'S DECISION ON THE MERCENARIES
MUST BE AN OVERTURE TO NETO, OR AT LEAST A CONCILIATORY
REPLY TO NETO'S AAPSO SPEECH IN LUANDA. OTHERS THINK
MOBUTU HAD TO RESPOND TO AMIN'S RECENT CTITICISM OF FNLA/
UNITA MERCENARIES OR RISK SEEING THE UGANDAN LEADER ALLY WITH
THE MPLA. WHILE EITHER OR BOTH OF THESE FACTORS MIGHT
HAVE ENTERED INTO MOBUTU'S DECISION. WE BELIEVE MOBUTU MAY
HAVE DECIDED TO GO ON PUBLIC RECORD AS OPPOSING MERCENARY
ACTIVITY IN ZAIRE PRIMARILY TO COUNTER WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY,
MUCH OF IT NEGATIVE, CONCERNING BRITISH AND OTHER EUROPEAN
MERCENARIES STAGING OUT OF ZAIRE TO HELP THE FNLA IN
NORTHERN ANGOLA.
6. SUCH A PUBLIC POSITION STRENGTHENS ZAIRE'S CASE FOR
DEMANDING THE WITHDRAWAL OF CUBAN/SOVIET MERCENARIES FROM
ANGOLA; AT THE SAME TIME, IT HELPS PROTECT ZAIRE IN CASE THE
MERCENARY EFFORT WITH FNLA TURNS SOUR. WE DO NOT BELIEVE
MOUBUT'S PUBLIC PROHIBIITON MEANS HE WILL NOT IN FACT
CONTINUE FACILITATING THE PROVISION OF MERCENARIES TO BOTH
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FNLA AND UMITA SO LONG AS HE VIEWS SUCH ASSISTANCE AS IN
THE COLLECTIVE INTEREST OF ZAIRE AND ITS FRIENDS IN ANGOLA.
CUTLER
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