SITREP 30: LIFE IN KINSHASA PICKS UP ITS PACE,

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001352

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC KPKO CG
SUBJECT: SITREP 30: LIFE IN KINSHASA PICKS UP ITS PACE,
REMAINS CALM (8/25 1000)

REF: KINSHASA 1351 AND PREVIOUS


1. (SBU) The security situation in Kinshasa remains tense but
calm. Post received no additional reports of violence
overnight. Neighborhoods were quiet city-wide during the
evening of August 24, and people appeared to be staying close
to home, although restaurants and nightspots were open for
business. No checkpoints were reported overnight or during
the morning's commute on August 25. Embassy personnel
reported that some GSSP troops were visible at their regular
posts near the Presidential residence and offices, with the
usual number of officers at each one. Traffic continues to
be lighter than normal, but businesses are open and people
are coming in to the Gombe area without incident.


2. (SBU) The American School of Kinshasa (TASOK) is open for
its third day of classes this term. The Superintendant
reported that attendance is still low -- approximately 30% of
students reported for classes on August 21, the first day of
the term, and after two consecutive days of closure, 54%
reported on August 24, and 58% reported on August 25. The
Superintendant believed that they would have around 65-68%
attendance by September 1, and said that he was hoping to
reach 90% attendance in the next two weeks. President
Kabila's daughter, who attends the first grade at TASOK, was
present in classes as of August 24.


3. (SBU) MONUC reports that all flight operations have
resumed in and out of Kinshasa without incident since August

24.


4. (SBU) Two Mission town hall meetings are scheduled for
Monday, August 28, and a community-wide American citizen town
hall meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September 2, to
address community concerns about the situation in the DRC.
CLO continues to field calls from, and reach out to, the
Mission community. An EAC meeting was held the morning of
August 25 (septel).


5. (SBU) MONUC reports that helicopters have been dispatched
as part of a confidence-building exercise to promote the
normalization of the situation. A joint verification team
(GSSP troops, MLC troops, EUFOR, and MONUC, among others) is
participating to verify the effective cantonment of the
various armed elements. A mobile land-based verification
team is also operating.


6. (SBU) The High Media Authority (HAM) plans a meeting for
Saturday, August 26, with CIAT ambassadors and the directors
of television/media companies such as RTNC, Digital Congo,
CCTV, Canal Kin, Moliere TV and RLTV. HAM plans to have the
directors sign a Code of Conduct. This should pave the way
for resumption of broadcasting by CCTV and Canal Kin.


7. (SBU) A meeting of the Espace Presidentiel (the
President, all four Vice Presidents, and the CIAT
ambassadors) is scheduled for Saturday, August 26, and a
Council of Ministers meeting is called for either August 29
or 30.
MEECE