FARDC-MAI MAI FIGHTING FORCES 30,000 TO FLEE

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000056

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM KPKO CG
SUBJECT: FARDC-MAI MAI FIGHTING FORCES 30,000 TO FLEE

REF: A. 05 KINSHASA 1940


B. 05 KINSHASA 2028


1. (SBU) Despite recent media reports of up to 125,000 new
internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Katanga
province, the number of people who have fled their homes
since mid-November is actually about 30,000. According to
Anne Edgerton, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) chief in Kalemie, around 76,000 Kantangans
were internally displaced prior to the fighting that broke
out in November. An additional 16,000 were displaced due to
Mai Mai attacks during October, shortly before the start of
Congolese army (FARDC) action against militia members. Per
OCHA, the current total IDP population in Katanga province as
of January 9 is 121,990.


2. (SBU) The FARDC Sixth Military Region began operations
against Mai Mai militia in northern Katanga in November 2005
(reftels). The operations began around the town of Dubia,
known to be the base of renegade leader Gedeon Kyungu. The
FARDC claimed to have gained back all villages previously
occupied by Gedeon and his troops by the end of 2005. They
were also holding 150 prisoners near Dubia including,
reportedly, one of Gedeon's lieutenants. Gedeon is reported
by locals as openly operating in the region, despite FARDC
claims that he cannot be located. Recent credible reports
from Katanga suggest that Gedeon and his followers are
currently responsible for armed attacks against civilians
near Mufunga.


3. (SBU) Humanitarian conditions, according to the
International Crisis Group (ICG) and OCHA, are deplorable.
The lack of infrastructure, the large existing IDP
population, and the disruption of food distribution systems
by military operations have created a crisis situation. Aid
agencies have been unable to reach many people affected in
the north and center of the province, and they fear that IDP
numbers could be higher than reported. According to the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in
Kinshasa, an emergency response team from Geneva will be sent
to the region within the next week in order to verify IDP
numbers and to determine how to provide assistance more
broadly. (Note: The UNHCR has recently broadened its mission
in the DRC to include internally displaced persons. End
note.)


4. (SBU) Comment: Unfortunately, civilian displacements have
resulted from all military operations targeting armed militia
groups in the east. Considering the seriousness of the OCHA
and ICG reports, the UNHCR response team's cannot arrive too
soon. End comment.
MEECE


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