SITREP 18: KINSHASA FIGHTING (8/22 1730 LOCAL TIME)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001333 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2016 TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC KPKO CG SUBJECT: SITREP 18: KINSHASA FIGHTING (8/22 1730 LOCAL TIME) REF: KINSHASA 1332 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: EconOff W.Brafman for reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) The Canadian Embassy's security chief told RSO that at about 1315, he drove from the Canadian Embassy down Boulevard 30 Juin toward the center of town. He said that he saw heavy "GSSP" presence near DRC government buildings along the Boulevard, but that the troops were in the process of pulling off 30 Juin at Mandela Circle, towards Avenue de la Justice, another main thoroughfare The Canadian also told RSO he saw eight bodies on the ground, presumably dead, about one to two miles away from the Canadian Embassy, in front of the Kinshasa golf course. Five were wearing what appeared to be police uniforms, while three were dressed in civilian clothes. ¶2. (SBU) A Belgian citizen reported to Pol Assistant at about 1300 that Gombe was calm, except for some shots heard near Mandela Circle. The Belgian citizen also reported that what he said were MLC troops were not engaging UN patrols, but just passing each other on the roads. ¶3. (C) MONUC's Chief of Protocol told the Political Section that MONUC has not yet decided if MONUC's Kinshasa air operations will recommence August 23. ¶4. (SBU) ROC Charge phoned DCM at about 1330 that from Brazzaville he could see three large plumes of smoke coming from undetermined locations in and around downtown Kinshasa. (Note: We believe the smoke was from the previously reported fire at the building next to the Ministry of Interior.) ¶5. (U) Pol Assistant reported at 1500 that public transportation is operating on tertiary roads in neighborhoods outside of Gombe. ¶6. (C) In an armored motorcade, RSO accompanied 14 Mission personnel to their homes without incident. RSO and PolOff told EmbOffs that they saw four apparently dead bodies en route, and while assessing route safety upon returning to the Embassy, armed people pointed a gun at RSO's vehicle, outside the home of General Numbi. ¶7. (C) Post has no reports of any AmCits having been injured in the violence over the past day. MEECE