STREP21: EAC CONVENES

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001338 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV KPKO CG SUBJECT: STREP21: EAC CONVENES REF: KINSHASA 1335 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) The EAC convened at 0830 local time on August 23 to assess current security situation in Kinshasa, and discuss recommended next steps. All EAC members were present, and the Ambassador also attended the meeting. ¶2. (SBU) EAC members all reported that the situation in the central Gombe area of Kinshasa has calmed significantly beginning the afternoon of August 22. One EAC member had received a report of three rounds of unanswered gunfire in Gombe around 03:30 on August 23; no other EAC members were aware of any other reports of gunfire during the evening. Early morning reconnaisance patrols by RSO and other offices indicated visible MONUC and EUFOR presence, relatively light police deployments, no active belligerent forces, light vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and the tentative re-opening of local businesses. ¶3. (SBU) There were no reports of violence in other parts of Kinshasa. The airport road is open, as are other main streets throughout the city. The airport remains open, and international flights have resumed. (Kenya Air arrived as scheduled this morning, and station managers of Air France, SN Brussels, Ethiopian Airways reported that their next flights will take place as scheduled on August 24.) River traffic between Kinshasa and Brazzaville is open, with the first boats departing both sides of the Congo River shortly after 0900 on August 23. ¶4. (SBU) Most mission officers had returned to their residences by August 22. Those who had not yet done so were authorized by the RSO to return home in armored GOVs early in the morning of August 23. Employees who had been on duty in the Chancery and JAO compound on August 21-22 were switched out with employees who had been in their residences. ¶5. (SBU) Along with the U.S. mission, other embassies were open for business on August 23, albeit with reduced staffing. Some local employees (arriving both by public transportation and private cars) arrived at opening of businesses at the U.S. mission, as well as at other embassies in Gombe. ¶6. (SBU) DAO confirmed that additional EUFOR forces had arrived in Kinshasa. ¶7. (SBU) In light of the improved security circumstances, the EAC made the following recommendations: - Messages to mission personnel and all registered AmCits will be sent out this morning and afternoon. - The Embassy would be open for business on August 23. - For the time being, travel between residences and USG facilities will be permitted in armored GOVs. A further assessment of conditions will be made the afternoon of August 23 to inform an RSO determination of whether travel by POVs will be permitted. - Mission personnel and AmCits will be advised to remain indoors and at home during August 23 evening hours. - An updated Travel Warning should be issued, advising of the recent violence. - Assuming the situation remains peaceful, the embassy school bus will transport mission children to the American School when it opens August 24. - Assuming the situation remains peaceful, all mission offices will be opened as normal during regular work hours on August 24 and thereafter. - The EAC will re-convene as needed to re-assess the security situation, and then subsequently to discuss "lessons learned" during the past days. MEECE