30 JUNE: KINSHASA CALM, BUT TENSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001065

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2015
TAGS: PGOV CASC ASEC KPKO CG
SUBJECT: 30 JUNE: KINSHASA CALM, BUT TENSE

REF: KINSHASA 1053

Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.4 B and D


1. (C) SUMMARY. As of mid-day June 29, Kinshasa was calm but
tense, with no security incidents reported. Post will
continue to monitor closely the developing situation. END
SUMMARY.

More Monitoring
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2. (C) Police patrols continued overnight in Kinshasa on June
28 without incident. Police observed, but did not attempt to
disband a group of about 150 UDPS supporters who held a
short, peaceful rally in Limete the evening of June 28.
General John Numbi (Chief of the Air Force) told polcouns
June 29 that about 60 'known troublemakers' were arrested the
night of June 28 and security services visited a number of
parliamentarians (mostly RCD/G due to a former alliance
between the RCD/G and UDPS) at home during the early morning
of June 29. Numbi said the arrests would continue.


3. (SBU) Military elements started a cordon and search
operation for weapons in Limete the morning of June 29, but
there was no unusual military presence in Gombe. Senior
MONUC poloff told poloff June 29 that MONUC was closely
monitoring the situation, with peacekeepers conducting hourly
patrols in different areas of Kinshasa, a MONUC helicopter
flying around the city, and about 700 Uruguayan soldiers
located at the MONUC logistics base on the road to the
airport. MONUC reported no security incidents.

Military Matters
--------------


4. (C) As scheduled, the three-day military 'show of force'
ended the night of June 28. General Kisempia (FARDC Chief of
Staff) officially closed the exercise by speaking to a large
group of soldiers at Camp Kokolo June 28. Radio Okapi
reported that Kisempia praised soldiers' performance during
the exercise, told them they would be paid this month based
on the new rank-based pay scale, would receive a raise
starting July 20, and reminded them to stay off the streets
from June 29-July 4. The soldiers then reportedly received
bread, soft drinks and a small present. Numbi told polcouns
June 29 that soldiers were confined to barracks starting the
night of June 28, but were ready to be called in to back-up
the police if necessary.


5. (C) Numbi told polcouns June 29 that most soldiers in
Kinshasa were paid June 28 and the rest would be paid by June

30. He said the money was available, but the government's
decision to implement the new rank-based pay scale had caused
delays. Numbi said that salary payments to soldiers located
outside Kinshasa would start June 29 and should finish by
July 1.
MEECE