ITURI UPDATE: FARDC, MONUC LAUNCH NEW ANTI-MILITIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000762 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2016 TAGS: PGOV KPKO MOPS CG SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: FARDC, MONUC LAUNCH NEW ANTI-MILITIA OPERATION Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) The Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC),backed by MONUC peacekeepers, launched May 9 a new military operation in Ituri District with the aim of eliminating militias from the Congolese Revolutionary Movement (MRC) in Djugu territory near Lake Albert. Operation Ituri Ember, which is composed of forces from the FARDC's 811th Brigade and elements of the Pakistani MONUC Battalion, by May 10 had captured the towns of Kafe and Joo (approximately 15 miles east of Bunia),which had previously been under MRC control. The towns are currently being patrolled by FARDC troops. The newly-installed MONUC Ituri Brigade Commander Mahboob Haider Khan told PolOff May 6 during a visit to Bunia that MONUC was targeting those locations in an effort to eradicate illegal trade coming from Uganda across Lake Albert, as well as to seize control over a suspected entry point for smuggled weapons to the DRC. ¶2. (C) The joint FARDC-MONUC forces have also retaken control of Tche, (approximately 13 miles northeast of Bunia) and as of May 11, were advancing south towards the lakeside town of Datule (nearly 11 miles southeast of Bunia). General Mahboob said May 10 that two militia members had been killed in the fighting and four others were captured. Mahboob also said the operation had resulted in some displacement of the local population, but there had not been large numbers of people fleeing the area. ¶3. (C) Following a May 10 overflight tour of Djugu territory to assess the operation, both General Mahboob and MONUC-Bunia Head of Office Sharouh Sharif told PolOff in separate conversations they were surprised by the lack of resistance on the part of MRC militia during the fighting. Sharif said he suspected the militia may have been informed beforehand about the pending operations and subsequently fled the area. Mahboob said despite encountering a weaker-than-expected militia opposition, he would encourage FARDC commanders to remain vigilant and continue a strong presence in the newly-recaptured areas. ¶4. (C) Comment: While Operation Ituri Ember succeeded in retaking several strategic locations east of Bunia, the main concentration of militia forces remain south and north of Ituri's main city. Operation Ember was meant as a feint to catch MRC and other militias off guard as MONUC prepares for the long-anticipated Operation Ituri Explorer. This latest military move, while eliminating one threat, may only serve to give advance warning to other militias, allowing them time to regroup and rearm in different locations. End comment. MEECE