FAPC AND FNI MILITIAS FIGHTING IN ITURI

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001323

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: EXEMPT
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREL PINR CG
SUBJECT: FAPC AND FNI MILITIAS FIGHTING IN ITURI

REF: KAMPALA IIR 6 913 0577 04

Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.5 B and D


1. (C) Summary. Fighting between FAPC and FNI militias in
Ituri has continued into a second week resulting in hundreds
of IDPs and an undetermined number of refugees. The conflict
has been fueled by apparent efforts to control a gold mine
and the perception that MONUC's and the GDRC's attention and
resources have shifted to the Kivus. End Summary.

FAPC Takes Advantage of MONUC's Decreased Strength in Ituri
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2. (C) Militias from the Popular Armed Forces of the Congo
(FAPC) and the Nationalist and Integrationist Front (FNI)
have continued their fighting in the Mahagi area of Ituri for
a second week. UNHCR's representative for the DRC, David
Kapya, returned from an assessment mission to Mahagi on July

12. Poloff spoke with him the same day about the security
situation. Kapya said that fighting between FAPC, led by
commander Jerome Kakawave, and the FNI, nominally led by
Floribert Njabu, continued on Sunday even as Kapya met with
MONUC Nepalese peacekeepers in Mahagi. It is estimated that
over 50 militias and 4 civilians have died as a result of the
fighting.


3. (C) According to a MONUC Nepalese Colonel in Mahagi,
Jerome provoked FNI into fighting after sending some of his
men to harass Lendu women in a market. After FNI responded,
FAPC took the opportunity to challenge FNI's control of the
gold mine near Jalasiga. FAPC also appears interested in
taking control of Mahagi port on Lake Albert. Although the
local population wants MONUC to use its Chapter VII authority
to stop the fighting, the Nepalese peacekeepers have so far
stayed out of the conflict.


4. (C) Kapya explained that MONUC has less than 600
peacekeepers in Mahagi and approximately 2,000 in all of
Ituri (Note: According to MONUC's General Rashad, this
decreased presence is due to a company of peacekeepers having
been sent to Bukavu, one to Kinshasa, and one that has yet to
arrive from Kisangani. End Note.) Moreover, due to the
current focus on the Kivus, MONUC only has one attack
helicopter in Bunia. Jerome, by contrast, is estimated to
have over 3,000 well-armed fighters. It is also alleged that
some of Jerome's commanding officers are Rwandans, including
a Colonel Ndayisaba. Additionally, MONUC reported that prior
to, and during the conflict, FNI and FAPC leaders have been
seen frequently in Arua and Kampala allegedly seeking support
from Ugandan generals. (Comment: Ugandan MOD made clear
recently (reftel) it does not intend to intervene, but
expects MONUC to do more to quell the fighting. End Comment.)


5. (C) The ongoing conflict between FAPC and FNI militias has
also called into question DDR plans for Ituri. FNI militias
have now said that they will not disarm unless all other
groups do the same simultaneously. UNDP teams and NGOs
preparing implementation of the Ituri plan have also been
disrupted by the insecurity and have been unable to travel to
the proposed demobilization sites.


Fighting Results in IDPs and Refugees
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6. (C) Kapya said that hundreds of people had been internally
displaced as a result of the fighting, with the majority of
IDPs moving towards Mahagi and Kpwandroma. Six hundred IDPs
had been reported to gather at a Catholic Church to ask for
assistance only to be told that there was none. Very little
humanitarian assistance is currently available in Mahagi and
insecurity has prevented Bunia-based NGOs from delivering aid.


7. (C) Kapya indicated that UNHCR Kampala was investigating
allegations of Congolese refugees crossing into Uganda.
However, at this point there are only unconfirmed reports
that 2,000 civilians may have crossed from Mahagi. He noted
that due to ongoing instability in Ituri, UNHCR would not be
able to repatriate in the near future the 12,000 Congolese
refugees that remain in Uganda, most of whom come from the
area of Boga, currently controlled by FNI militia.

Comment
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8. (C) Jerome appears to be taking advantage of MONUC's focus
on the Kivus and its diminished strength in Ituri to pursue
economic interests in Mahagi. Fighting is likely to continue,
along with the displacement of civilians for as long as MONUC
and the GDRC are seen as maintaining a hands-off attitude
towards the conflict.
SCOTT