MONUC OPERATIONS AGAINST FDLR A SUCCESS---WITHIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001203

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2015
TAGS: PGOV KPKO PREL MOPS CG
SUBJECT: MONUC OPERATIONS AGAINST FDLR A SUCCESS---WITHIN
LIMITS

REF: KINSHASA 01099

Classified By: Polcouns Mel Sanderson for Reasons 1.4 B and D


1. (C) Summary: During MONUC's weekly diplomatic meeting July
20, MONUC Military Chief of Staff General Jean Francois
D'Escury discussed MONUC's initiatives to address the FDLR
problem, particularly in South Kivu. D'Escury stated that
MONUC's recent military operations had been a success,
expressed concern about FARDC soldiers' limited ability to
support operations, and explained that there would be a brief
technical halt in operations while reaffirming that MONUC
would continue FDLR repatriation operations. End Summary.


2. (SBU) MONUC's Military Chief of Staff General Jean
Francois D'Escury opened MONUC's weekly diplomatic meeting
with a brief overview of MONUC's current efforts to address
the FDLR problem in South Kivu. D'Escury reported that since
July 4 MONUC had conducted ten cordon-and-search operations
in South Kivu, including Operations Falcon Sweep (reftel),
Iron Fist and Thunderstorm. As a result of these operations,
MONUC successfully cleared out 13 FDLR camps and 1000 FDLR
combatants from the Walungu and Karambe territories (about 10
km east and 50 km southeast of Bukavu).


3. (C) D'Escury also said he was concerned that the Congolese
soldiers' transport difficulties could jeopardize the success
of MONUC operations. FARDC soldiers are specifically
responsible for staking out areas cleared by MONUC to insure
that FDLR members do not return, however, they have been too
slow to keep up with MONUC peacekeepers, and cleared areas
are left unwatched. At this point it remains unclear whether
FDLR members have rebuilt their old camp sites. (NOTE: The
FDLR camps are rudimentary in nature and comprised of mostly
huts, making FDLR reinstallement relatively easy. END NOTE.)
MONUC noted that peacekeepers' fatigue was also becoming a
problem.


3. (C) MONUC will briefly halt cordon-and-search operations
in South Kivu in order to give peacekeepers a rest and
perform equipment maintenance. D'Escury concluded by
reassuring diplomats that Operation Thunderstorm was not the
last of MONUC's FDLR operations to encourage FDLR
repatriation.


4. (SBU) Comment: It appears that MONUC's operations have had
initial success, and are pushing FDLR combatants out of their
previously "safe zone" operating areas. At this point,
however, this means they are moving further into the forested
areas further east in the region, and it is not clear whether
these efforts will succeed in producing larger-scale
repatriation to Rwanda. The Ambassador and other members of
CIAT just completed a trip to South Kivu with briefings and
field visits hosted by the Pakistani forces conducting these
operations. Observations from this trip will be reported
septels. End Comment.
MEECE