FARDC SECOND BRIGADE TO MOVE TO NORTH KIVU

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000178 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO CG SUBJECT: FARDC SECOND BRIGADE TO MOVE TO NORTH KIVU REF: KINSHASA 101 Classified By: PolOff TJNaber, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) Following the FARDC Fifth Brigade's ignominious flight in the face of insurgent attacks in Rutshuru, North Kivu (reftel),the Second Integrated Brigade has been ordered to North Kivu from Kinshasa. According to MONUC Goma Poloff, approximately 150 troops had arrived at Goma airport by February 1, but three full battalions are expected over the course of the next several weeks. (Note: The deployment is being personally supervised by Air Force Commander General John Numbi. Minister of Defense Adolphe Onusumba is also in Goma at present, working on addressing both the political and military problems in the province. End note.) The battalions will deploy to Rutshuru, Rindi, and Goma. At Goma, the Second will replace the FARDC military police currently providing security in the town. According to Numbi, the Fifth will be sent for additional training and will probably be broken up. MEECE NNNN