N. KIVU UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000793

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO PREF CG
SUBJECT: N. KIVU UPDATE

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


1. SUMMARY. (C) The security situation in Rutshuru and
Masisi, North Kivu has deteriorated in the past month. About
1500 Congolese (mostly Tutsi) have fled Masisi for Rwanda in
the past six weeks, and MONUC is concerned that targeted
attacks against Nande by a mostly Hutu ex-ANC (RCD/G military
wing) unit could lead to reprisal attacks. Minister of
Regional Cooperation Mbusa Nyamwisi told poloff that the Mai
Mai leader Jackson, operating in Rutshuru, worked closely
with the FDLR. Nyamwisi alleged that about 9500 Rwandan
troops had entered Rutshuru in early May and had started
moving west. END SUMMARY.

Masisi
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2. (SBU) During MONUC's weekly diplomatic meeting May 10,
UNHCR reported that about 1500 Congolese (mostly Tutsi) had
left Masisi, North Kivu for a camp in Gisenyi, Rwanda since
the beginning of April. A MONUC poloff said it was unclear
whether these Tutsis were long-term Masisi residents or IDPs
and/or refugees displaced several times in the past few
years. Per UNHCR, most of these refugees fled areas near
Mushaki (the site of an official Congolese military
integration center) for three main reasons. Some said FARDC
soldiers were stealing from and harassing civilians, some
said they did not wish to participate in military
integration, and others said they had heard rumors (started
by RCD/G hardliner Bizima Karaha) that Tutsis would be
targeted for attacks by the Interahamwe. UNHCR said it
expects more Tutsi refugees from Masisi. MONUC poloff said
that about 130 soldiers (mostly Tutsi) have deserted from
Mushaki in the past several weeks.

Rutshuru
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3. (C) During MONUC's weekly diplomatic meeting May 10, MONUC
poloff reported that the ex-ANC's 12th Brigade has been
systematically attacking Nande businessmen and raping Nande
women for the past several weeks in Rutshuru. (Note: The
ex-ANC 12th Brigade is composed mostly of Hutu local defense
forces that used to report to Governor Serufuli. The
brigade's former commander, Col. Smith was recently replaced
by Col. Mayunga. Smith's exact whereabouts are unknown, but
he was reportedly re-deployed to Masisi. End note.) MONUC
poloff said that Mai Mai leader Jackson is currently near
Kiwanja, where he and his mostly Nande troops have been
harassing civilians. Minister of Regional Cooperation Mbusa
Nyamwisi (himself a Nande) told poloff May 11 that Jackson
worked closely with FDLR units and had a number of FDLR
members in his Mai Mai group. MONUC poloff and Nyamwisi were
both concerned that if Jackson started revenge attacks or got
otherwise involved, the situation in Rutshuru could rapidly
deteriorate. Nyamwisi and his military advisor were also
concerned about reports that Rwandan troops had entered
Rutshuru under cover of the 12th brigade on May 7 and had
started moving toward the west on May 9 to prevent FDLR
members from repatriating to Rwanda (septel). During a
meeting May 12, Nyamwisi hand-wrote a list of four locations
housing about 9,500 Rwandan troops for poloff-- 1000 men in
Rwaza, near Rugari; 1500 men in Kisigari near Bukima; /-
3500 men in Gichwera near Ntamugeyga; /-3500 men near
Runyoruzi near Jomba. (Note: His handwriting was hard to
decipher. End note.)
DOUGHERTY