BEMBA TOLD TO MOVE GUARD FORCES OUTSIDE CITY

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001781 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPKO ASEC CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: BEMBA TOLD TO MOVE GUARD FORCES OUTSIDE CITY REF: A. KINSHASA 1743 ¶B. KINSHASA 1777 ¶1. (U) Approximately 50 members of Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba's personal guard were transported from Kinshasa to a military camp November 23. SRSG Swing confirmed to the Ambassador that the troops traveled in Congolese army vehicles from Bemba's private residence on the Congo River, and were accompanied by some family members. ¶2. (U) The move followed press reports of an order to Bemba by President Joseph Kabila, in his capacity as commander-in-chief, to fulfill promises he made November 12 to redeploy his guard to Camp Maluku, approximately 70 km northeast of the capital (ref A). It was not immediately clear how many among the full complement of Bemba's estimated 500-600 member guard in Kinshasa were expected to move to Maluku by the end of the day November 24. ¶3. (SBU) Bemba and the other three transitional vice presidents have the right to security details as part of the Sun City Accords. Bemba's guard has grown beyond the 100 authorized, and have been a continual source of insecurity in the downtown and residential areas they have taken over. MEECE