MONUC TO CONTINUE JOINT PATROLS IN KINSHASA AFTER

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001559 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ASEC KDEM KPKO CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: MONUC TO CONTINUE JOINT PATROLS IN KINSHASA AFTER OCTOBER 29 REF: KINSHASA 1543 ¶1. (U) In an October 7 interview with Radio Okapi, SRSG William Swing confirmed that MONUC will continue operating joint patrols in Kinshasa -- comprising MONUC peacekeepers and police forces, Congolese national police (PNC),and EUFOR troops -- beyond the October 29 election and the immediate post-election period. ¶2. (U) In a separate interview, Gen. Christian Houdet, MONUC Chief of Staff, outlined some of MONUC's specific security activities in Kinshasa. In addition to patrolling in support of a "weapon-free zone" in Kinshasa -- an effort which has resulted so far in 13 arrests of individuals carrying arms without specific authorization -- MONUC troops are participating in joint teams which are monitoring sites housing arms and ammunition caches. Such sites include both Congolese national army (FARDC) and Presidential Guard camps, such as Camp Tshatshi, and camps housing troops assigned to provide security for Vice President Bemba, such as Maluku and Bemba's compound on Boulevard 30 June. DOUGHERTY