RESURGENCE OF ETHNICALLY-BASED VIOLENCE IN ITURI

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000185 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPKO PHUM CG SUBJECT: RESURGENCE OF ETHNICALLY-BASED VIOLENCE IN ITURI ¶1. (U) Summary. Lendu militias attacked the Ituri Hema village of Tche January 26, causing an unknown number of civilian casualties and hundreds of IDPs. A similar attack on another village February 1 apparently resulted in about 60 deaths. Clashes between Lendu and Hema militias in the Djugu territory of Ituri have been escalating since mid-December and could further increase if the GDRC does not act. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) MONUC and NGO sources in Bunia spoke with poloff January 31 about an attack by Lendu militias against Hema civilians in the Ituri village of Tche (60 kms SW of Bunia) on January 26. Hema survivors claim that 15 civilians were killed by the attackers, but this figure has yet to be confirmed by MONUC. According to the NGO German Agro Action (AAA) there are close to 1500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the area as a result of this attack. MONUC has deployed 60 Pakistani peacekeepers to Tche to protect remaining civilians and UN and NGO agencies are providing humanitarian assistance to IDPs. ¶3. (U) NGO sources in Bunia said the attack on Tche is part of an ongoing conflict in the territory of Djugu between Lendu militias, mostly from the Front for National Integration (FNI) and Hema militias from the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC). This conflict started in mid-December and has continued to escalate, fueled apparently by the desire to control strategic routes to Lake Albert. ¶4. (U) According to the NGO sources, MONUC has made an effort to dismantle militia camps in the area of conflict and to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians following recent clashes. Peacekeepers, however, are only deployed to two towns in extremely isolated Djugu territory (Fataki and Kpandroma) and have limited capability to protect civilians in small villages. Sources also note that Lendu militias involved in the fighting are from different factions and may not be under the control of one particular leader. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Although recent clashes between Lendu and Hema militias are not yet sustained or widespread, there is a real danger that the situation can deteriorate again into more significant ethnic conflict. As Ituri's history demonstrates, ethnically-based conflicts are extremely difficult to defuse. The economic motivations which had apparently led to a temporary decrease in Hema-Lendu hostilities seem to have fallen by the wayside. It is unclear what either the GDRC or MONUC can do to defuse the situation, although local community leaders in Bunia are trying to facilitate dialogue. MEECE