LRA UPDATE: MONUC CONTINUES INVESTIGATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000108

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO SU UG GT CG
SUBJECT: LRA UPDATE: MONUC CONTINUES INVESTIGATION

REF: A. KINSHASA 105

B. KINSHASA 100

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


1. (C) MONUC military spokesman Hans-Jakob Reichen told
PolOff January 24 that MONUC has pulled all of its troops
from the Garamba National Park area, and that no
search-and-cordon operations are currently being conducted
against suspected LRA forces. Reichen said the only MONUC
forces near Garamba Park are a previously-positioned
Senegalese military observer team (along with a contingent of
FARDC troops) stationed in Aba. According to Reichen, the
Senegalese and FARDC troops are only conducting regular
patrols around the Aba area, not near Garamba Park. However,
senior MONUC military officials in Bunia are organizing
imminent operations against remaining LRA elements.


2. (C) Reichen also said debriefing of the injured Guatemalan
forces has begun in Bunia. MONUC Head of Office in Bunia,
Sharouh Sharif, told PolOff in a separate conversation that
reliable information is not expected from those debriefs
about the operation for a couple of days due to the medical
conditions of the soldiers.


3. (C) Sharif and Reichen also said that four burned bodies
of suspected LRA elements had been recovered from Garamba
Park and had been brought to Bunia for identification. MONUC
military official Col. Mike O'Riordan also told PolOff that
there is still no confirmed number of how many LRA troops may
have been killed or wounded in the January 23 fire fight.


4. (C) Presidential diplomatic adviser Andre Kapanga told
PolCouns January 24 that the GDRC has prepared an official
statement of condolence to be given to the Guatemalan
president and to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Kapanga
also said a public statement has been prepared for President
Kabila to deliver.


5. (C) SRSG Swing informed CIAT ambassadors January 24 that
he would be traveling to Bunia later in the day. A memorial
service was held at MONUC headquarters in Bunia January 24
and a broader memorial service will be held at MONUC
headquarters in Kinshasa January 26.
MEECE


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