ITURI UPDATE: FARDC TAKES BACK JUBA TERRITORY

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001931 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS KPKO CG SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: FARDC TAKES BACK JUBA TERRITORY POSTS REF: KINSHASA 1922 ¶1. (SBU) FARDC forces reportedly took back all Juba territory FARDC posts attacked by Peter Karim's FNI on December 24 (reftel). By the morning of December 26, the FARDC posts near the towns of Fataki, Djugu, and Bulle were recaptured, according to MONUC sources. However, FNI forces attacked the FARDC Fataki camp later that afternoon, and fighting continued there on December 27. Local sources reported that FARDC forces had also retaken the nearby towns, but this has not been confirmed by MONUC. MONUC confirmed that FARDC suffered 19 casualties in the fighting, and the FNI took 15 FARDC troops hostage. The number of casualties among the FNI is not known. ¶2. (SBU) FNI leader Peter Karim requested talks with MONUC on December 27. MONUC officers reportedly told him such talks would be possible only if the FNI stopped fighting and released all FARDC hostages. A visiting GDRC delegation headed by Vice Minister of Defense Bernard Mena is set to hold a meeting with Karim on December 28. According to MONUC, Karim has agreed to release three FARDC hostages prior to the meeting. DOUGHERTY