Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA490
2006-03-24 15:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
TROUBLING DEVELOPMENTS IN ITURI
how-toVZCZCXRO0983 OO RUEHMR DE RUEHKI #0490 0831519 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241519Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3512 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000490
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV CG
SUBJECT: TROUBLING DEVELOPMENTS IN ITURI
Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000490
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV CG
SUBJECT: TROUBLING DEVELOPMENTS IN ITURI
Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) Both MONUC Head of Office Sharu Sharif and Ituri
District Commissioner Petronelle Vaweka told PolCouns March
22 that the militia group MRC, under the leadership of Peter
Karim, is planning to attack Bunia. The MRC has augmented its
numbers by recruiting disgruntled ex-combatants who have not
yet received their demobilization packages. MONUC has
reported for the last several weeks that arms trafficking
routes from Uganda into Ituri, which had essentially been
inactive for the last several months, have been reactivated.
Arms are "flooding" into Ituri again from Uganda, according
to MONUC reports, which are substantiated by an upsurge in
aggressive attacks by well-armed MRC and FRPI militia against
both FARDC and MONUC forces throughout the southern part of
Orientale province, ranging from Djugu (on Lake Albert) to
villages a mere 10 kms from Bunia itself. MONUC forces in
Ituri are almost completely tied down in protecting civilians
in these southern villages, severely limiting its capacity to
try to intercept incoming arms.
2. (C) According again to both Congolese and MONUC sources,
there appears to be coordination between FRPI forces
operating in the area of Tchei and those of the MRC in the
zone around Bunia, another new and disturbing element. NGOs
trying to work on demobilization efforts have for weeks
reported rising unrest among ex-combatants in Bunia, and have
warned of the possibility that as a result they could be open
to recruitment by one or both militia groups, as now seems to
be the case. Meanwhile, militia attacks have provoked a new,
large wave of IDPs, many of whom have, as in the past, fled
to Bunia itself, which risks again becoming a long-term IDP
refuge.
--------------
Comment
--------------
3. (C) It seems possible to us that the Ugandan supplies are
indeed stepping up support to the militias and perhaps
encouraging them in their attacks on MONUC and the FARDC.
Unauthorized penetration by Ugandan forces into DRC territory
could have a profoundly destabilizing effect not only on
bilateral relations but perhaps the DRC's fragile electoral
process as well.
MEECE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV CG
SUBJECT: TROUBLING DEVELOPMENTS IN ITURI
Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) Both MONUC Head of Office Sharu Sharif and Ituri
District Commissioner Petronelle Vaweka told PolCouns March
22 that the militia group MRC, under the leadership of Peter
Karim, is planning to attack Bunia. The MRC has augmented its
numbers by recruiting disgruntled ex-combatants who have not
yet received their demobilization packages. MONUC has
reported for the last several weeks that arms trafficking
routes from Uganda into Ituri, which had essentially been
inactive for the last several months, have been reactivated.
Arms are "flooding" into Ituri again from Uganda, according
to MONUC reports, which are substantiated by an upsurge in
aggressive attacks by well-armed MRC and FRPI militia against
both FARDC and MONUC forces throughout the southern part of
Orientale province, ranging from Djugu (on Lake Albert) to
villages a mere 10 kms from Bunia itself. MONUC forces in
Ituri are almost completely tied down in protecting civilians
in these southern villages, severely limiting its capacity to
try to intercept incoming arms.
2. (C) According again to both Congolese and MONUC sources,
there appears to be coordination between FRPI forces
operating in the area of Tchei and those of the MRC in the
zone around Bunia, another new and disturbing element. NGOs
trying to work on demobilization efforts have for weeks
reported rising unrest among ex-combatants in Bunia, and have
warned of the possibility that as a result they could be open
to recruitment by one or both militia groups, as now seems to
be the case. Meanwhile, militia attacks have provoked a new,
large wave of IDPs, many of whom have, as in the past, fled
to Bunia itself, which risks again becoming a long-term IDP
refuge.
--------------
Comment
--------------
3. (C) It seems possible to us that the Ugandan supplies are
indeed stepping up support to the militias and perhaps
encouraging them in their attacks on MONUC and the FARDC.
Unauthorized penetration by Ugandan forces into DRC territory
could have a profoundly destabilizing effect not only on
bilateral relations but perhaps the DRC's fragile electoral
process as well.
MEECE