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 NNNN