Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA777
2006-05-16 10:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
ITURI UPDATE: OPERATION EMBER ENDS; FARDC
how-toVZCZCXRO6018 PP RUEHMR DE RUEHKI #0777 1361045 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161045Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3880 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000777
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV KPKO KDEM MOPS CG
SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: OPERATION EMBER ENDS; FARDC
COMMANDER REPLACED
REF: A. KINSHASA 762
B. KINSHASA 359
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000777
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV KPKO KDEM MOPS CG
SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: OPERATION EMBER ENDS; FARDC
COMMANDER REPLACED
REF: A. KINSHASA 762
B. KINSHASA 359
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) MONUC Ituri Brigade Commander General Mahboob Haider
Khan announced May 15 the end of Operation Ituri Ember, which
had been launched May 9 to eliminate militia control in
certain areas of Djugu territory in Ituri District (ref A).
The operation, which General Mahboob said had been a success,
allowed the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC),backed by MONUC
logistical support, to retake the towns of Kafe, Joo, Datule
and Loga, which had been under the control of the Congolese
Revolutionary Movement (MRC). General Mahboob said the MRC
militias were now isolated and adequate measures had been put
into place to sever all supply links to the militias.
2. (C) MONUC-Bunia Head of Office Sharouh Sharif told PolOff
May 15 that General Bob Ngoie has been replaced as the
commander of FARDC forces in Ituri. FARDC spokesman Capt.
Olivier Mputu told PolOff May 16 that Ngoie had been
reassigned as a deputy to the FARDC 9th Military Region
Commander General Padiri Bulenda in Kisangani. Mputu said
Ngoie's replacement, General Mbuayamba, was expected to
assume command in Bunia by May 19. Neither Sharif nor Ngoie
said they knew the official reasons behind Ngoie's
reassignment.
3. (C) Comment: General Ngoie's departure is a welcome
development as he was an obstacle to establishing peace and
eliminating the militia threat in Ituri, and as he generally
failed to hold FARDC troops responsible for exactions and
other violations against local populations. His presence as
Ituri commander was also one of the reasons some FARDC
commandos mutinied in March (ref B),which led to a long
pause in anti-militia operations. As Ngoie is the nephew if
FARDC Chief of Staff General Kisempia, removing him from the
Ituri command was not politically easy. The continuing
stabilization of Ituri will rest in large part on the ability
of the new FARDC commander to establish his authority and
control over a force that is ill-equipped, underpaid, and
largely undisciplined. End comment.
MEECE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV KPKO KDEM MOPS CG
SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: OPERATION EMBER ENDS; FARDC
COMMANDER REPLACED
REF: A. KINSHASA 762
B. KINSHASA 359
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) MONUC Ituri Brigade Commander General Mahboob Haider
Khan announced May 15 the end of Operation Ituri Ember, which
had been launched May 9 to eliminate militia control in
certain areas of Djugu territory in Ituri District (ref A).
The operation, which General Mahboob said had been a success,
allowed the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC),backed by MONUC
logistical support, to retake the towns of Kafe, Joo, Datule
and Loga, which had been under the control of the Congolese
Revolutionary Movement (MRC). General Mahboob said the MRC
militias were now isolated and adequate measures had been put
into place to sever all supply links to the militias.
2. (C) MONUC-Bunia Head of Office Sharouh Sharif told PolOff
May 15 that General Bob Ngoie has been replaced as the
commander of FARDC forces in Ituri. FARDC spokesman Capt.
Olivier Mputu told PolOff May 16 that Ngoie had been
reassigned as a deputy to the FARDC 9th Military Region
Commander General Padiri Bulenda in Kisangani. Mputu said
Ngoie's replacement, General Mbuayamba, was expected to
assume command in Bunia by May 19. Neither Sharif nor Ngoie
said they knew the official reasons behind Ngoie's
reassignment.
3. (C) Comment: General Ngoie's departure is a welcome
development as he was an obstacle to establishing peace and
eliminating the militia threat in Ituri, and as he generally
failed to hold FARDC troops responsible for exactions and
other violations against local populations. His presence as
Ituri commander was also one of the reasons some FARDC
commandos mutinied in March (ref B),which led to a long
pause in anti-militia operations. As Ngoie is the nephew if
FARDC Chief of Staff General Kisempia, removing him from the
Ituri command was not politically easy. The continuing
stabilization of Ituri will rest in large part on the ability
of the new FARDC commander to establish his authority and
control over a force that is ill-equipped, underpaid, and
largely undisciplined. End comment.
MEECE