NORTH KIVU FREE-FOR-ALL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001750

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR CASC CG
SUBJECT: NORTH KIVU FREE-FOR-ALL


Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.5 B and D


1. (C) Summary. There may be a total of 10,000
Interahamwe/FDLR elements spread out between Beni and Bukavu,
but it is unclear whether the FARDC is working with them.
There has been serious, sustained fighting in southern North
Kivu between Mai Mai and former ANC (military wing of the
RCD/G) troops. General Obedi does not fully control the North
Kivu military region. End Summary.

FDLR/Interahamwe Involvement
--------------


2. (C) North Kivu Governor Serufuli estimates a total of
10,000 Interahamwe/FDLR elements spread out between Beni and
Bukavu, including a number who had been previously
repatriated to Rwanda. It is unclear, however, what they are
up to, and whether they are working with the FARDC. There has
been no overt, large-scale cooperation between regular FARDC
troops and Interahamwe/FDLR, but there have been
long-standing rumors of Mai Mai/ Interahamwe/FDLR cooperation
in both Kivus. VP Ruberwa's Chief of Staff Emungu told
polcouns that S. Kivu military commander Mabe's personal
bodyguard included Interahamwe/FDLR elements who were also
being used to protect the Bukavu airport. In North Kivu,
Governor Serufuli alleges Interahamwe/FDLR elements are
fighting with Mai Mai in Masisi. A MONUC internal report,
however, said that Interahamwe/FDLR elements in the Masisi
territory withdrew, and did not appear to be involved in the
fighting. (Comment: The most likely scenario is that certain
Mai Mai commanders share information, equipment and
ammunition, and work with Interahamwe/FDLR elements on a
case-by-case basis. They may also use a limited number of
Interahamwe/FDLR troops in Mai Mai offensives. Regular
FARDC-Interahamwe/FDLR cooperation is less likely, but
small-scale intermingling probably occurs. End comment.)
MONUC Butembo officer estimates that 2-3,000
Interahamwe/FDLR-related civilians have moved north from S.
Kivu and are just outside Butembo. He told poloff that this
group consists mostly of Hutu civilians who moved north from

S. Kivu due to fighting and fears of reprisal attacks. He
said he did not know their exact intentions. MONUC did not
report any other recent, large movements of Interahamwe/FDLR.

North Kivu
--------------


3. (C) As of September 16, a free-for-all was underway in
Masisi territory between local Mai Mai and ex-ANC soldiers
from N. Kivu (who are probably loyal to Nkunda),possibly
FARDC regular soldiers or Mai Mai from S. Kivu, and maybe
some Interahamwe/FDLR elements. A MONUC internal report said
that ex-ANC troops were reinforcing Nyabiondo (15 km north of
Masisi town),and Rwanda had sent troops to Masisi to
reinforce Nkunda. North Kivu Governor Serufuli told polcouns
that the situation in Masisi was not a military problem, but
a political problem involving outside interference from S.
Kivu and out-of-control Mai Mai who refused to follow orders
from N. Kivu military commander General Obedi.


4. (C) Serious fighting broke out between Mai Mai and ex-ANC
troops (possibly loyal to Nkunda) outside Walikale (120 km
west of Goma) on September 10. (Note: There are credible
reports that regular and/or Mai Mai elements from N. Kivu, S.
Kivu and Orientale may be involved in these confrontations.
End note.) On September 15, a MONUC team attempted to assess
the situation and evacuate two humanitarian workers. The
ex-ANC commander who controls the deserted town told the team
it could not leave the field where the helicopter had landed
because it was too dangerous. MONUC poloff told poloff that

S. Kivu military region payments to local Mai Mai surrounding
Walikale encouraged them to fight the ex-ANC troops, who the
Mai Mai see as loyal to Nkunda. North Kivu Governor Serufuli
told polcouns that the Walikale situation was a Mai Mai
problem that General Padiri, now based in Kisangani, should
help address. Serufuli said that Generals Obedi, Padiri and
Mabe were brought to Kinshasa by FARDC Chief of Staff General
Kisempia to discuss command and control of troops. In his
analysis, the re-division of the generals' responsibilities,
which supposedly re-establishes Obedi control of all N. Kivu,
could help improve the situation. According to Serufuli,
Kisempia also plans to send written instructions with Obedi
when he returns to Goma September 17 or 18 ordering all N.
Kivu Mai Mai groups to follow Obedi's orders.

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


5. (C) Current fighting in northern S. Kivu and southern N.
Kivu is murky and confusing, in large part because no troops
in N. Kivu (outside Goma) really report to Obedi. The Mai Mai
represent a loose collection of local militias. Many respond
to Padiri and/or Mabe because Mabe recently paid them; a
large number used to work with or for Padiri; and, they
collectively hate Nkunda and the RCD/G. Former ANC soldiers
appear to respond to Nkunda because he paid them, and he used
to command them. Regular troops north of Kanyabayonga (mostly
APC from the RCD/KML) appear to respond to Padiri or Mbusa
Nyamwisi. A MONUC mission to Minova met a Mai Mai commander
from the Beni-Butembo area in N. Kivu who said he had been
tasked by General Padiri, based in Kisangani, to help the 4th
brigade of the N. Kivu military region ensure that Mabe had
control over the S. Kivu military region. The N. Kivu 4th
brigade commander, who identified his brigade as a
'nationalist unit' whose objective was to ensure the
territorial integrity of the DRC, told the team that he had
decided to attack Nkunda last week because Nkunda's troops
killed a trader and his family in Minova. It is unlikely that
a written order from Kisempia instructing notoriously
ill-disciplined Mai Mai to follow Obedi will improve the
dynamic, or regain control of what might is a volatile
situation.
MEECE