FORMER NKUNDA OFFICERS PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001835

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV KPKO MOPS ASEC CG RW UG
SUBJECT: FORMER NKUNDA OFFICERS PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO
RENEGADE GENERAL'S OPERATIONS

REF: A. KINSHASA 1831

B. KINSHASA 1787

C. KINSHASA 1832

Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (C) Summary: MONUC military officials in North Kivu
December 4 debriefed former top lieutenants to Laurent Nkunda
after the two abandoned the renegade general's ranks earlier
that day (ref A). Colonel Bernard Mbyamungu and Major
Dieudonne Kabika told MONUC interrogators the November 25
fighting in Sake (ref B) was not planned by Nkunda, who never
had any intention to attack the provincial capital of Goma.
They provided MONUC officials with an outline of Nkunda's
command structure and the general whereabouts of several of
his top commanders. The two denied Nkunda has been reinforced
with additional forces or materiel from Rwanda. End summary.


2. (C) Colonel Bernard Mbyamungu, renegade general Laurent
Nkunda's operations commander, and Major Dieudonne Kabika,
the secretary general of Nkunda's National Committee for the
Defense of the People (CNDP) political party, turned
themselves over to Congolese military (FARDC) authorities
December 4 for integration into the national army. The
officers are two of the highest-ranking aides to have
abandoned Nkunda's ranks. MONUC military intelligence
officers briefed the pair in Goma after they were extracted
from their base outside Masisi by a MONUC helicopter mission
earlier that day.

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NOT WANTING TO FOLLOW THE "VIOLENT" PATH
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3. (C) Mbyamungu and Kabika claimed they chose to leave
Nkunda because they sought "a negotiated way out" for peace
in the region. According to a MONUC summary of the
debriefing, Kabika said he opted for integration, despite
being in agreement with Nkunda's overall goal of "national
reconciliation and tribal unity," because Nkunda only wants
"to follow the path of violence" to achieve that end.
Mbyamungu claimed Nkunda was against a peaceful agreement
because he fears the arrest warrant issued against him.

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SAKE INCIDENTS NOT PLANNED
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4. (C) Mbyamungu contended the recent fighting in Sake was
not planned or orchestrated by Nkunda. He said the clashes
were an isolated event stemming from the killing of a local
Tutsi, which sparked ethnic unrest in the area. Mbyamungu
said the incident spiraled out of control and had no overall
aim. He added that Nkunda never had any plans to move on
Goma, and that the fighting which occurred after the initial
hostilities was to prevent FARDC integrated troops from
adding reinforcements in Sake.


5. (C) The former Nkunda operations commander told MONUC
officers that there had never been any movement of armed
troops from Rwanda to reinforce Nkunda. He claimed Nkunda and
his loyalists had no control over the border areas and thus
receiving reinforcements was not feasible. Mbyamungu denied
Nkunda's forces had received any equipment or ammunition from
Rwanda or Uganda, despite also telling interrogators the
December 5 attacks in Bunagana and Runyoni (ref C) were
supposedly meant to open a re-supply corridor into North Kivu
from Uganda.

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RE-ORGANIZING HIS COMMAND
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6. (C) Mbyamungu said Nkunda has reorganized the
non-integrated 81st and 83rd FARDC Brigades, which contain
many Nkunda loyalists, into three separate brigades. The new
so-called 1st Brigade is roughly equivalent to the 81st
Brigade and is commanded by Major Claude. The 2nd Brigade,
headquartered in Kitchanga (about 50 miles north of Goma),is
sub-divided into three battalions and is commanded by a
Colonel Makenga. The 3rd Brigade is commanded by Major
Faustin with Major Kavundi as his deputy; it is also divided
into three battalions, and his based in Kingi, about 30 miles
northwest of Goma. A special battalion was newly-created and
is commanded by Major "Jaguar" in the area of Kalonge,
approximately 40 miles north of Goma.

KINSHASA 00001835 002 OF 002



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WHEREABOUTS OF TOP COMMANDERS
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7. (C) Mbyamungu gave the last known whereabouts of several
top Nkunda commanders. He said former FARDC colonel Jules
Mutebusi is believed to be in Rwanda, and Mbyamungu himself
has not seen him since Nkunda attacked Bukavu in 2004. Two
other dissident commanders, Colonel Richard Sulonge and
Colonel Eric Ruhimbere were said to be in Ngungu and
Kitchanga, respectively.


8. (C) Mbyamungu claimed Bosco Ntaganda is with Nkunda in the
area of Kilolirwe, about 35 miles north of Goma. He said
Bosco has reportedly been staying with Nkunda since January
2006 and has not traveled to Ituri District as many observers
have alleged. Mbyamungu said Nkunda and his followers,
including Bosco, have been in "constant" telephone contact
with Ituri militia leaders Peter Karim, Mathieu Ngudjolo and
Cobra Matata.

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COMMENT: STORIES FOR SELF-PROTECTION
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9. (C) The statements provided by Mbyamungu and Kabika were
no doubt self-serving and at least in part were most likely
designed to shield them from any wrongdoing associated with
Nkunda himself. It is now impossible to verify claims that
the attack on Sake was completely "unplanned" ring false, as
do contentions that Nkunda is not currently receiving
assistance through sources in Rwanda or Uganda. Nkunda's
alleged contacts with Ituri militias, long-rumored but still
unproven, is a troubling development if indeed true. The
debriefing, however, offers valuable insight into Nkunda's
operations and demonstrates that internal dissent in Nkunda's
ranks may be growing. End comment.
MEECE