SITREP 5: KINSHASA FIGHTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001320 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2016 TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC KPKO CG SUBJECT: SITREP 5: KINSHASA FIGHTING REF: A. KINSHASA 1319 ¶B. KINSHASA 1318 ¶C. KINSHASA 1317 ¶D. KINSHASA 1316 Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) FARDC Chief of Staff General Kisempia announced on national television that all soldiers are prohibited from carrying arms in the city of Kinshasa, and that they have been ordered to return to their barracks and remain there. Kisempia said General Nabiola, commander of the Unite de Defense de Kinshasa (UDK),who is in charge of the defense of Kinshasa, will be patrolling the city to confirm compliance with the order. (Note: The troops under Nabiola's command are composed mainly of non-integrated ex-FAZ -- Armed Forces of Zaire -- soldiers. End note.) PolCouns reported that as the announcement was being made, she heard gunfire in the vicinity. Separate reports at 1945 confirm renewed shooting in the Boulevard 30 Juin area. ¶2. (C) Congolese security officials reported that while government troops are retreating from their positions, MLC forces are not under direct control, are spread throughout the city, and have not retreated. The same sources also report that General Nabiola's troops have been engaged in much of today's fighting, and have been misidentified as GSSP. ¶3. (C) RSO reports that the MONUC head of security was as of 1930 outside Bemba's residence. The CIAT ambassadors were still inside the residence with Bemba. The Ambassador called at 1950 and reported that General Gaye had just returned to Bemba's residence. ¶4. (C) At 1955 local time DCM called Ambassador-at-Large Antoine Ghonda at the Presidency to report that CIAT ambassadors were still at Bemba's residence. Ghonda said President Kabila had been surprised to have just recently learned they had not yet left Bemba's. Ghonda subsequently called Kabila and reported back to DCM at 2000 local time that arrangements were being finalized for the ambassadors to leave. Per Ghonda, Bemba had asked for MONUC to leave troops at his residence to provide for his security -- and his request has been accepted. MEECE