20,000 CIVILIANS FLEE ADVANCING FARDC TROOPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001754

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM CG PRM
SUBJECT: 20,000 CIVILIANS FLEE ADVANCING FARDC TROOPS

REF: KINSHASA 1600

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


1. (C) Summary. Seventeen to 20,000 people (mostly Hutu) fled
the area around Minova September 10-13 because they were
afraid they would be attacked by advancing troops loyal to
South Kivu military commander Mabe for having supported
Nkunda. There is no evidence of ethnic cleansing or
large-scale targeted attacks on Rwandaphone populations in
northern S. Kivu. End Summary.


2. (C) On September 17, OFDA rep told poloff that OCHA
estimates 17,000-20,000 (mostly Hutu) IDPs arrived in and
around Ngungu, Masisi territory, N. Kivu (15 km west of
Minova) over the past several days. A Western observer who
interviewed IDPs in Ngungu on September 16 told poloff there
were about 3,500 families or 15,000-20,000 IDPs. The vast
majority came from the area of Minova September 10-13.
Several IDPs (including a number who were originally
displaced in July) told her they fled because they were
afraid of reprisal attacks from Mabe's troops for having
supported Nkunda. The IDPS also said they would like to
return home as soon as security conditions permit. Local
authorities told her there were no known attacks on civilians
during the recent Mabe advance.

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

3. (C) As of late August, OCHA estimated there were over 1
million IDPs in N. and S. Kivu (Reftel). In July, fighting in
and around Kalehe (30km south of Minova) displaced about
35,000 people. The 5,000 mostly Hutu Rwandaphones went north
towards Minova, in Nkunda's territory. The other 30,000
non-Rwandaphones went south behind Mabe's lines. Congolese
armed groups have a well-deserved reputation for reprisal
attacks on civilian groups who were perceived as aiding and
abetting the 'enemy,' and reprisal attacks could have
occurred as Mabe's troops advanced if the civilians had
stayed in place. There is no evidence, however, of ethnic
cleansing or large-scale targeted attacks on Rwandaphone
populations in northern S. Kivu.
MEECE