REFUGEES FROM BANDUNDU CONFLICT RELUCTANT TO RETURN TO DRC

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001806 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS KAMPALA FOR REFCOORD FREDERICK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM CG SUBJECT: REFUGEES FROM BANDUNDU CONFLICT RELUCTANT TO RETURN TO DRC REF: Kinshasa 1779 ¶1. (SBU) Attempts by UNHCR and DRC officials to persuade some 2-3000 people to return to the DRC territory of Bolobo from camps across the Congo River near Bouanga, Republic of the Congo have proven largely unsuccessful, Jens Hesemann of UNHCR told us November 28. The refugees are primarily ethnic Nunu people who fled clashes earlier this month in a longstanding conflict with neighboring Tende over land-use rights in Bandundu province northeast of Kinshasa (reftel). ¶2. (SBU) Hesemann and UNHCR colleague Ralf Gruenert report that UNHCR-Brazzaville is providing food and shelter to the elderly, ill and other vulnerable persons in Bouanga. Some people have returned to Bolobo, but several hundred others remain in the bush around the town. UNHCR-Kinshasa has approved a follow-up assessment mission to the area, but has not confirmed a date. ¶3. (SBU) According to a memorandum to SRSG William Swing from the MONUC-Bandundu head of office, Interior Minister Denis Kalume claimed that local officials and political interference from Kinshasa were responsible for the November 13-19 violence. Per the memorandum, Kalume took swift action against local and provincial authorities in its wake, firing nearly all senior district officials upon arrival via helicopter November 19, and ordering senior provincial officials, including the governor, to remain in Bolobo overnight and to return with him to Kinshasa the next day with little more than the clothes on their backs. ¶4. (U) Embassy Kinshasa is continuing to monitor the humanitarian situation and will provide updates as necessary. MEECE