Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KINSHASA1783
2005-10-26 16:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

ITURI UPDATE: OPERATIONS AGAINST MILITIAS "BEARING

Tags:  PGOV PREL KPKO MOPS CG 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001783 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO MOPS CG
SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: OPERATIONS AGAINST MILITIAS "BEARING
FRUIT"

Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001783

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO MOPS CG
SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: OPERATIONS AGAINST MILITIAS "BEARING
FRUIT"

Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (C) Summary. Recent joint operations by MONUC and Armed
Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) against
militia groups in the Ituri district have seen promising
results, according to MONUC officials. Nearly 1,000 militia
members have turned themselves in during the past month and
more are expected to do the same. The situation in Ituri
remains precarious, however, due to the continuing
proliferation of small arms and a lack of training on the
part of FARDC troops. End Summary.

--------------
RENEWED EFFORTS AGAINST ITURI MILITIAS
--------------


2. (C) PolOff spoke with two MONUC officials October 26
regarding recent military operations in Ituri district in the
northeastern section of the DRC. Joint search-and-cordon
operations between MONUC and the FARDC began in early October
to control and disarm the militias still spread throughout
the area. During the month of October, nearly 1,000 militia
members, most of them from the Congolese Revolutionary
Movement, have turned themselves in to either MONUC or FARDC
troops for disarmament and demobilization.


3. (C) Lt. Col. Mamadou Sane, MONUC Chief of Operations, said
the FARDC missions, with the assistance of MONUC, were
"bearing fruit" against the militias. Sane said now that
FARDC and MONUC troops were engaging in coordinated
operations throughout Ituri, militias have realized the
strength of the forces aligned against them. Consequently,
Sane described the militias as being in a "panic." Sane also
said MONUC has noticed a lot of movement recently by
militias, indicating that their operations have been greatly
disrupted by MONUC-FARDC activities.


4. (C) Sane said MONUC and the FARDC intend to keep their
momentum against the militias going. A new series of joint
operations between the two groups began October 25 in Ituri
to force militias to disarm and surrender. These operations
are initially focusing on areas around the towns of Boga,
Mangbwalu, Mabanga and Aru.

--------------
MORE ATTACKS, BUT WITH POSITIVE RESULTS

--------------


5. (C) MONUC and FARDC forces are, however, being challenged
and attacked by militia groups. On October 22, a Nepalese
soldier with MONUC was wounded in the head during a firefight
in Fataki. Four militia members attacked the Nepalese
contingent when they arrived at the Fataki market to
investigate reports of looting. The UN troops were
immediately fired upon when they arrived. Three of the
militia members fled the scene, while one surrendered and
turned in his weapon. All were members of the Union of
Congolese Patriots/Lubanga (UPC/L) militia group.


6. (C) Two weeks before the attack in Fataki, a platoon of
MONUC South Africa soldiers in Gina was ambushed while on
patrol. The South African troops returned fire, but all 10
militia members escaped. No soldiers were wounded, and one
AK-47 rifle, plus ammunition, was recovered afterwards.


7. (C) Since those two incidents, Sane said a large wave of
militia surrenders have occurred. Sane reported 57 militia
members have turned themselves in to FARDC troops in Fataki,
in addition to nine members the morning of October 26. After
the attack on Gina, 20 militia members turned themselves in
to authorities. In addition, during a three-day period the
week of October 17, 60 militia members surrendered to a
Nepalese battalion in Djugu. Sane explained the large number
of militia disarmament comes as a direct result of the more
aggressive approach of MONUC and FARDC troops. He said the
militias know these troops will fight back and have thus
chosen to lay down their arms.


8. (C) There are approximately 8,000 MONUC and FARDC troops
currently conducting operations in Ituri. The FARDC's 1st and
recently deployed 4th Integrated Brigades make up nearly
6,000 soldiers. MONUC's contingent consists of nearly three
battalions of more than 2,000 troops from Nepal, Pakistan,
Morocco, Senegal and South Africa.

--------------
NOTES OF CAUTION
--------------


9. (C) MONUC Political Officer Oleg Sepelev said, however,
that there is a need to be cautious regarding events in
Ituri. Sepelev said no one is certain of the size and
strength of militia forces, but he estimated that there are
no more than 3,000 in Ituri. Sepelev also said there are
continuing problems with ex-militia members not receiving
their promised pay after going through DDR. (Note:
Ex-militias are entitled to 100 USD in exchange for their
weapons. End note.) Sepelev also said there is a problem of
former militia members deserting DDR centers and rejoining
local militias. He explained there is not enough control over
the militias to ensure they remain demobilized, especially
since there continue to be a large amount of small arms still
being trafficked in the area.

10. (C) Sepelev said the militias do appear to be
encountering logistic difficulties as a result of the
MONUC-FARDC operations. He explained that when many militia
members turn in their weapons now, they only have four to six
bullets remaining, indicating that supply routes have been
severed. Normally, Sepelev said, militias have surrendered
their weapons with a full stock of ammunition.

--------------
USAID REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS
--------------


11. (U) USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) has
been running in Ituri programs for the reintegration of
ex-combatants, involving approximately 5,000 people from 80
different communities in the district. OTI's Synergie
d'Education Communautaire et d'Appui a la Transition (SE-CA)
program inaugurated five projects in September, including the
rehabilitation of a general hospital in Bafwasende and the
construction of the Kolomani peace market in Bunia. SE-CA
participants have also assisted the Independent Election
Commission with voter registration activities.


12. (U) On October 14, USAID signed a contract with CONADER
(the Congolese institution charged with DDR) to begin the
reintegration of 11,200 ex-combattants in Ituri. The program,
which will also include 5,040 non-combattants in its
activities, consists of 4.7 million USD in CONADER (World
Bank) funds, plus 1.7 million USD from USAID. This is the
first of CONADER's national reintegration projects, and is
expected to run until April 2006.


13. (C) Comment. Reports of increasing militia disarmament in
Ituri, on top of the gains achieved earlier this year,
indicate the GDRC may well be able to bring increased
stability to the violence-ravaged region. Further military
successes will also boost confidence in the ranks of the
FARDC, as they continue to face threats from other forces in
the east. However, these successes come with large amounts of
logistical support from MONUC; the FARDC alone could not deal
with the militias. It is also important for military
authorities to implement administrative reforms to improve
pay, food and general conditions of support to field troops,
a continuing major problem even for the integrated brigades.
A voluminous report from the European Security Mission
(EUSEC) is pending to effect such reforms. We will continue
with other CIAT partners for rapid approval and
implementation of the EUSEC recommendations. End Comment.
MEECE