SOUTH KIVU NON-KIDNAPPING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001757 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO CG SUBJECT: SOUTH KIVU NON-KIDNAPPING Classified By: PolOff TJNaber, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) Reports of armed Mai Mai troops taking UNDP hostages in South Kivu October 19 were discounted October 20 by MONUC Poloff. Disgruntled due to lack of promised pay, eight soldiers (out of more than 500 awaiting demobilization) temporarily locked an undetermined number of demobilizing soldiers and one international staff member from UNDP/CONADER (demobilization commission) in a room on the orientation center compound and threatened them. By this morning, the situation had been resolved peacefully. The soldiers locked in the building had complete freedom of movement within the camp. CONADER arrived to deliver overdue payments, and the orientation center is once again operational. ¶2. (C) Comment: Although this situation was not serious, it illustrates the difficulties facing CONADER and the international community in the DDR process. World Bank delays in releasing funds to CONADER and internal DRC logistical problems affecting funds transfers to provincial CONADER offices, combined with ready access to arms for demobilizing soldiers, create a potentially volatile situation throughout the DRC. End comment. MEECE