Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA1316
2006-08-21 16:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
DRC SITREP 1: KINSHASA FIGHTING
how-toVZCZCXRO6415 OO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #1316 2331637 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 211637Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4636 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001316
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC KPKO CG
SUBJECT: DRC SITREP 1: KINSHASA FIGHTING
REF: KINSHASA 1314
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001316
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC KPKO CG
SUBJECT: DRC SITREP 1: KINSHASA FIGHTING
REF: KINSHASA 1314
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) Active fighting broke out in the Gombe neighborhood of
Kinshasa around 4pm local time apparently between elements of
the Presidential Republican Guard (GSSP),Congolese police,
and security forces of Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba's MLC
party. The fighting is apparently a continuation of violence
which broke out August 20 prior to the announcement of
provisional presidential election results (reftel). There are
numerous confirmed reports of machine gun and mortar fire on
the Boulevard 30 Juin of Gombe, apparently centered around
MLC party headquarters.
2. (C) A CIAT meeting with Vice President Bemba at Bemba's
riverside residence began at 3:30pm local time, shortly
before today's fighting began. CIAT had gone to Bemba's
following an emergency meeting to discuss the events and
violence of the past day. The Ambassador has called DCM twice
to reports that he and other CIAT ambassadors are presently
in a safe room at the Bemba residence. SRSG Swing, also at
Bemba's residence, has been in phone contact with President
Joseph Kabila, and passed the phone to Bemba so the President
and Vice President could speak to one another. The Ambassador
conveyed a report that Bemba's helicopter has been destroyed.
MONUC's head of security told RSO that armored personnel
carriers (APCs) were on their way to Bemba's residence.
3. (C) PolCouns called at 4:30pm to report that the Minister
of Interior said some members of the GSSP had been "taken
hostage" by MLC forces. The Minister claimed security
elements were reinforced with troops from near N'Djili
airport. PolCouns reported again at 4:34pm local time that
fighting had moved from near the MLC headquarters towards the
area of the Presidential Palace, the Central Bank and the
Ministry of Interior.
4. (SBU) All employees currently at the Chancery, JAO
compound, and USAID building are on lockdown status. All
employees currently at home have been advised to stay there.
We have no reports of any injuries to AmCits.
MEECE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC KPKO CG
SUBJECT: DRC SITREP 1: KINSHASA FIGHTING
REF: KINSHASA 1314
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) Active fighting broke out in the Gombe neighborhood of
Kinshasa around 4pm local time apparently between elements of
the Presidential Republican Guard (GSSP),Congolese police,
and security forces of Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba's MLC
party. The fighting is apparently a continuation of violence
which broke out August 20 prior to the announcement of
provisional presidential election results (reftel). There are
numerous confirmed reports of machine gun and mortar fire on
the Boulevard 30 Juin of Gombe, apparently centered around
MLC party headquarters.
2. (C) A CIAT meeting with Vice President Bemba at Bemba's
riverside residence began at 3:30pm local time, shortly
before today's fighting began. CIAT had gone to Bemba's
following an emergency meeting to discuss the events and
violence of the past day. The Ambassador has called DCM twice
to reports that he and other CIAT ambassadors are presently
in a safe room at the Bemba residence. SRSG Swing, also at
Bemba's residence, has been in phone contact with President
Joseph Kabila, and passed the phone to Bemba so the President
and Vice President could speak to one another. The Ambassador
conveyed a report that Bemba's helicopter has been destroyed.
MONUC's head of security told RSO that armored personnel
carriers (APCs) were on their way to Bemba's residence.
3. (C) PolCouns called at 4:30pm to report that the Minister
of Interior said some members of the GSSP had been "taken
hostage" by MLC forces. The Minister claimed security
elements were reinforced with troops from near N'Djili
airport. PolCouns reported again at 4:34pm local time that
fighting had moved from near the MLC headquarters towards the
area of the Presidential Palace, the Central Bank and the
Ministry of Interior.
4. (SBU) All employees currently at the Chancery, JAO
compound, and USAID building are on lockdown status. All
employees currently at home have been advised to stay there.
We have no reports of any injuries to AmCits.
MEECE