Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA141
2006-01-27 11:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

ITURI UPDATE: OPERATIONS CONTINUE AGAINST MILITIAS

Tags:  PGOV MOPS KPKO CG UG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000141 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO CG UG
SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: OPERATIONS CONTINUE AGAINST MILITIAS

REF: A. 05 KINSHASA 2110

B. 05 KINSHASA 2102

Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000141

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO CG UG
SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: OPERATIONS CONTINUE AGAINST MILITIAS

REF: A. 05 KINSHASA 2110

B. 05 KINSHASA 2102

Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (C) Summary: Following a series of military operations
against armed militias in Ituri District (reftels),MONUC and
the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) launched Operation Ituri
Encourager January 12 to eliminate remaining militia elements
in the region. To date, the joint operations have resulted in
a further dispersal of Patriotic Force for Resistance in
Ituri (FRPI) cadres in the southern part of the District, the
re-taking of several small towns from militia control, and
the killing of over 60 militia members. MONUC military
officials say that the taking of one of the last militia
strongholds, Tchei, will be harder than expected. End Summary.

--------------
FIGHTING TOUGHER THAN EXPECTED AGAINST FRPI
--------------


2. (C) Following the completion of Operation Edifice near
Boga in Ituri District, MONUC military officials gave FRPI
militia leaders a January 11 deadline to surrender themselves
and their weapons. While initial talks between MONUC, the
FARDC and the FRPI were encouraging, negotiations ultimately
fell through. On January 12, MONUC and the FARDC launched
Operation Ituri Encourager to kill or capture those FRPI
cadres unwilling to surrender.


3. (C) According to a January 21 internal military report to
the MONUC Force Commander, FRPI militia members were
concentrated in large numbers approximately 70km south of
Bunia near the towns of Peka, Sota, Sejabo, Tchei, Singa and
Kodeja. MONUC officials reported that FRPI leaders Jacob
Bahenga and Cobra Matata were in those areas and were likely
surrounded. The MONUC report indicated that the initial
numbers of FRPI militia were "underestimated" from previous
reports, and that fighting against them has been "tough."


4. (C) MONUC Eastern Military Division Chief of Staff Col.
Roddy Winser told PolOff January 25 that Cobra Matata is
believed to be in Tchei. Winser said MONUC and FARDC forces
are currently conducting what they hope is a final offensive
on the town. Winser cautioned, however, that Tchei will be "a
harder nut to crack" than other militia locations. Winser

said that the remaining militia cadres are the truly
hard-core fighters and are firmly dug in to their positions.
He said he expected the town to fall to the FARDC "in the
next few days."


5. (C) Sharif said the MONUC/FARDC forces captured the town
of Aveba January 23, after securing the towns of Kodesza,
Geti and Kabaga the day before. Sharif said approximately 20
FARDC soldiers have been wounded in Ituri Encourager to date,
and one FARDC major was killed during the fighting. In
addition, 60 FRPI militia were killed, and about 20 were
wounded, in fighting around Tchei the weekend of January
21-22.


6. (C) MONUC officials attribute the difficulty in
eliminating the militias to two main factors: outside
military assistance to the militias and poor performance by
some FARDC troops. The Ituri Deputy Brigade Commander, Col.
Ahmed Karmaouch, told PolOff January 11 that he believes
weapons caches seized earlier from FRPI members came from
foreign sources, mostly likely from Uganda. Karmaouch added
that, at the end of December, the FRPI's supply lines had
been cut and its cadres were running out of arms and
ammunition. Karmaouch said the renewed intensity of the
fighting by the FRPI indicates they have been resupplied.
According to the MONUC report, rockets have been fired at
FARDC and MONUC forces, and one attack helicopter was hit by
bullets. MONUC's Head of Office in Bunia, Sharouh Sharif,
told PolOff in a January 23 conversation that MONUC
intelligence officials believe Ugandan sources are actively
supplying arms to the FRPI and other militias in Ituri. In
addition, the internal MONUC military report states that some
forces from the ADF are also supporting the FRPI militia.

--------------
FARDC PERFORMANCE: MIXED RESULTS
--------------


7. (C) MONUC military officials have expressed concern about
the effectiveness of some FARDC troops operating in the area.
The MONUC document reports that the 6th Integrated Brigade
"has not been as effective as hoped" in its conduct during
military operations. The report stated that the 6th

Integrated Brigade may ultimately be relieved of duty in the
operation. The MONUC Ituri Brigade Operations Chief, Major
Nizan, gave a similar assessment to PolOff January 11,
explaining that FARDC troops lacked discipline, training and
equipment to carry out operations effectively.


8. (C) By contrast, MONUC officials praised the conduct of
the 1st Integrated Brigade. Winser said the 1st Brigade has
made "positive gains" in its fight against the FRPI, and that
he has been impressed with their performance. Despite the
intense fighting around Tchei, Winser said the 1st Brigade
has maintained its position and has had good coordination of
fire during operations.

--------------
UPDATE ON PETER KARIM
--------------


9. (C) Karmaouch and Sharif told PolOff that, following the
conclusion of Ituri Encourager, subsequent military
operations in Ituri will focus on the capture of Peter Karim
and his Congolese Revolutionary Movement (MRC) militia.
According to Karmaouch, Karim had been putting out feelers
for a possible surrender to MONUC forces (reftel B).
Karmaouch said, however, that the interlocutor who had been
serving as a go-between for the two camps has disappeared,
and it is presumed he was killed by MRC cadres.


10. (C) The MONUC internal report states that on January 12,
Peter Karim had re-entered the DRC near Mahagi from Paida in
Uganda with 80 boxes of AK-47 ammunition. MONUC currently
believes his location to be Livo, and that he is in the
process of regrouping his forces to retaliate against the
FARDC.
MEECE


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