NORTH KIVU UPDATE: CONTINUED FIGHTING, RENEGADE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001938 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2016 TAGS: PGOV MOPS DPKO CG SUBJECT: NORTH KIVU UPDATE: CONTINUED FIGHTING, RENEGADE FORCES TAKE BUGUSA REF: KINSHASA 1846 Classified By: PolOff TJNaber, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (SBU) Fighting re-erupted at Runyoni, North Kivu early in the morning of December 28 when forces loyal to renegade General Nkunda attacked the FARDC post at Bugusa. According to MONUC, the incident began when the FARDC 94th Battalion tried to attack renegade troop positions at Bisiza. The renegade forces retaliated by attacking the FARDC post at Bugusa. The 94th Battalion soldiers fled, and Nkunda's forces took over by mid-morning. MONUC's North Kivu Brigade reported 150 soldiers of the 94th and 92nd Battalions withdrawing toward Rutshuru after the fighting. ¶2. (C) In a meeting between MONUC North Kivu Brigade Commander Behl and FARDC Land Forces Commander General Amisi, Behl suggested Amisi meet with the 81st and 83rd Brigade commanders loyal to Nkunda to continue negotiations toward integration of their troops and to remind them that current clashes violated the cease-fire informally in place. According to MONUC, Amisi agreed and called one of the commanders to make arrangements. The commander said the capture of Bugusa was in retaliation for FARDC attacks and that pro-Nkunda forces were amenable to falling back to their previous positions. The commander requested that Amisi get MONUC to monitor the withdrawal of both sides. DOUGHERTY