NO CASULTIES AFTER SALVO FIRED FROM DRC INTO RWANDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000238

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C, AND INR, EUCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: MOPS PREL MONUC KPKO CG RW
SUBJECT: NO CASULTIES AFTER SALVO FIRED FROM DRC INTO RWANDA

Classified By: Poloff GLearned for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (U) Summary. At approximately 21h00 local time on 3 March
a barrage of direct and indirect fire was directed from North
Kivu into a unoccupied area in Northwest Rwanda by an unknown
unit suspected to be from the Democratic Forces for the
Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). No casualties were reported by
the GOR or MONUC after the estimated 20 minute incident.
Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) leaders quickly contacted their
Congolese counterparts to prevent any escalation and the
situation is currently calm. Details vary according to the
source, but the incident appears to have been isolated and
the GOR has indicated that it plans no further reaction other
than discussing the incident in the upcoming Tripartite Plus
talks. End summary.

GOR's Version
--------------

2. (C) In a 5 March meeting with MONUC-Kigali military
observers (milobs),the GOR described the attackers as North
Kivu based FDLR troops intending to instigate a Rwandan
retaliatory strike by firing from a position 400 meters from
an RDC Armed Forces (FARDC) position. (Note. The GOR made
the accusation that the FARDC's 91st Battalion consisted of a
significant number of integrated FDLR-FOCA troops. End note.)
The salvo- consisting of indirect (60mm mortars),machine
gun, RPG and rocket (107mm Kaytusha) fire- impacted on open
ground in two cells in Busasamana Sector, Rubavu District,
Western Province, no casualties or property damage resulted.
BrigGen Richard Rutatina (RDF J3- chief of operations,
training and plans) told MONUC reps that the attackers
continued to fire as they withdrew from their initial firing
positions near the DRC-Rwanda border in order to create the
impression that the RDF returned fire into the DRC. Rutatina
denied any Rwandan retaliation and an RDF intel officer,
Major Tinka, claimed that Rwandan military intelligence was
aware of the impending attack. (Note. MONUC contact did not
know how the RDF acquired its warning. End note.)


3. (C) After communicating the RDF's version of events,
Rutatina handed the MONUC milobs a letter titled "Aggression
and Violation of Rwanda's National Sovereignty and Integrity"
signed by RDF Chief of General Staff General James Kabarebe.
Rutatina concluded the meeting by telling the MONUC milobs
that he had no confidence in MONUC or the FARDC as they had
failed to disarm and repatriate the genocidal forces and
prevent continued attacks on Rwanda.

MONUC's Version
--------------

4. (C) According to Kigali based MONUC poloff (protect) an
investigation is on-going. An initial MONUC situation report
indicated that the "firing was initiated by suspected FDLR
cadres to create confusion." Initially, MONUC units reported
that the Rwandans returned fire with machine guns and
mortars, however, MONUC has backed off from these reports
until further investigations are completed. On 4 March, MONUC
radio station "Radio Okapi" reported that the details of the
incident were undetermined.


5. (SBU) Comment. The positive aspects of the incident
include the lack of casualties and the apparent close
coordination between Rwandan and Congolese leadership to
defuse the situation. GOR officials have privately
criticized MONUC for the failure to prevent the incident,
but, in Kigali press reporting, have noted the upcoming
Tripartite Plus talks as the appropriate mechanism to address
the security situation. Despite the current problems in North
Kivu, it appears at first blush that this isolated border
incident, the first in a few years, was an unsuccessful
attempt by the FDLR to trigger an RDF response. End comment.

ARIETTI