ITURI ARMED GROUP RELEASES KIDNAPPED PEACEKEEPER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001685

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREL CG INR
SUBJECT: ITURI ARMED GROUP RELEASES KIDNAPPED PEACEKEEPER
IN BUNIA

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


1. (C) Summary. On September 6th at approximately 11 PM, the
Union of Congolese Patriots Lubanga faction (UPC-L) released
a Moroccan peacekeeper whom they had kidnapped September 2nd.
The security situation in Bunia deteriorated significantly as
armed Hema and Lendu militias openly patrolled the streets of
Bunia without any apparent reaction from MONUC or FARDC's
integrated brigade. MONUC has indicated that it soon will
take action to restore stability in the city. The militias
have also expressed unhappiness with the Ituri demobilization
program and the lack of military integration. Elsewhere in
Ituri District, Jerome and FNI clashed, leading to some
renewed internal displacements. End Summary.

UPC Releases kidnapped Moroccan Peacekeeper in Bunia
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2. (C) According to MONUC senior poloff Gerold Gerard, a
Moroccan peacekeeper in Bunia was kidnapped by members of the
UPC-L September 2nd at approximately 10 AM, as he visited the
market in the Mudzipela neighborhood of Bunia. MONUC and GDRC
officials exerted pressure on UPC's leader, Thomas Lubanga,
and engaged in prolonged negotiations with UPC elements in
Bunia until the peacekeeper was finally released September 6,
at approximately 11 PM. UPC had demanded the release of UPC
prisoners under MONUC custody as well as a motorcycle that
had been confiscated. MONUC did not release any UPC
prisoners, but did return the confiscated motorcycle
apparently to facilitate the release of the captive
peacekeeper. Gerold noted that MONUC will implement cordon
and search operations to seize weapons in Bunia and improve
security within the next several days.


Situation in Bunia Volatile
--------------


3. (C) NGO and MONUC sources in Bunia said that the
kidnapping of the peacekeeper resulted in a marked
deterioration of the security situation in Bunia. September
4th and 5th found armed UPC-L and Lendu militias returning to
various neighborhoods, especially Mudzipela, Saio, and
Nyakasanca. On September 5, a former UPC-Lubanga commander,
Garuwa Garuwa, who had defected to UPC-Kisembo, was
assassinated, reportedly by UPC-L militia. Persistent gun
fire was heard throughout the weekend from militias who
openly defied MONUC's weapons ban in Bunia.


4. (C) Marcus Sack, Director of the German NGO Agro Action
Allemand in Bunia told poloff September 5 that he was
concerned by the militias' open defiance of MONUC during the
weekend. He said that MONUC had not done anything to enforce
the weapons ban, bring back order to the city, and expel the
armed militias. He also complained that MONUC's Bunia
director, Dominique McAdams, had very poor communication with
the NGO community and was perceived as taking a "soft"
approach towards the UPC.


5. (C) Sack also voiced concern about reported meetings
between Lendu elements from the Front for National
Integration (FNI) and the integrated Congolese Armed Forces
battalion in Ituri (FARDC) the afternoon of September 5.
Lendus have felt reassured by the presence of FARDC soldiers,
whereas Hemas have viewed these soldiers with distrust. In
Sack's view, Lendus will not tolerate a significant armed
escalation by UPC militias and could possibly confront them
with assistance from FARDC.

Other Problems in Ituri
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6. (U) Fighting erupted on August 31, between Popular Armed
Forces of the Congo (FAPC) and FNI militias in Djalasiga (102
KM north of Mahagi.) NGO sources in Bunia said that after
several days of fighting, FAPC suffered a defeat which forced
them to withdraw to 35 KM from Djalasiga. There are 13
unconfirmed military fatalities, but no indication of
civilian casualties. An unknown number of civilians have been
displaced towards Kerekere and Aru. The current situation in
Djalasiga is calm, but tense.


7. (C) Vice-Minister of Interior Paul Musafiri, told poloff
September 2nd, that he was concerned about the presence of
Sudanese armed elements near Aru and the possibility of
Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) recycling weapons in
Ituri during coming months, as the peace process in Sudan
frees up military equipment. He acknowledged that the GDRC
does not have the means to patrol the northern part of Ituri
and that the remaining battalions of FARDC's first integrated
brigade would not be deployed for some time, due to lack of
equipment.


8. (C) Musafiri also voiced concern over the movement of
Mbuza Nyamwisi's Congolese Popular Army (APC) forces from
Beni to Mambaza. He said that although Nyamwisi is part of
the transition government, his forces are not yet integrated
into the national army and their deployment to Ituri at this
point was inappropriate and could increase tensions. Musafiri
also acknowledged that Jerome Kakawe, leader of the FAPC, was
paying the salary of the Aru territory administrator and that
he has de facto control of Aru, but said that there was not
much the GDRC could do at this point.


9. (C) Ituri militia leaders such as Jerome have expressed
disappointment that neither they nor their officers have been
integrated into the Congolese army. They have also voiced
skepticism about the disarmament and demobilization of their
forces without the option of integrating them into a national
army. GDRC officials have said repeatedly that the government
does not currently have the resources to integrate these
combatants and that this issue will have to be addressed
later.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) The release of the Moroccan peacekeeper by the UPC-L
is a welcome end to the kidnapping incident. However, UPC-L
militias continue to challenge MONUC over the past several
days in Bunia by openly displaying their weapons while
patrolling streets in what is supposed to be a "weapons-free"
city. MONUC's apparent unresponsiveness to militia
provocations in Bunia over the weekend may have reflected
concern that confrontations could have impeded or derailed
negotiations for the release of the peacekeeper. However,
they will probably have to reassert their authority before
the situation further deteriorates by pressing the militias
to leave Bunia and abide by the engagement act that they
signed in Kinshasa May 14, agreeing to disarm and refrain
from further armed conflict. The GDRC also needs to play a
greater role in controlling armed groups and re-establishing
effective authority in Ituri; paying the salaries of the
district commissioner and of the territory administrators
would be a good start.
MEECE