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