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