November 22 Goma Update

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001311 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPKO CG SUBJECT: November 22 Goma Update SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY Note: Following report was submitted November 22 by Political Counselor David Brown, currently on TDY in Goma. End note. Mushake roadblock lifted -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Commercial traffic between Goma and Masisi is flowing again after MONUC installed a mobile operating base at Mushake at midweek. CNDP forces had set up a roadblock there that, in the words of Governor Paluku, was "strangling" the provincial capital. Prices of staples such as beans had exploded exponentially and warehouses were down to their last sacks of grain. The roadblock had also cut off Masisi from any imported products. Reports are circulating that the FARDC is now impeding commercial traffic into the area at its barrier and Mugunga on the road to Sake. Gaye, Kayembe in Goma -------------- ¶2. (SBU) MONUC force commander General Babukar Gaye and FARDC chief of staff General Kayembe arrive today. Expectations are that the visit will include final preparations for the Joint Verification Mechanism. FARDC area commander Mayala noted last Saturday that the Congolese delegates were in place in Goma -- FARDC has rented houses, bought two SUVs for them -- but have heard nothing from Rwanda. Greater information about this and items referred to below will obtained after meeting with MONUC's head of office tomorrow. SADC delegation -------------- ¶3. (SBU) A 21-member delegation from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) arrives today. This is believed to be the anticipated assessment mission from the SADC security commission in response to President Kabila's request for activation of the pact's mutual defense mechanism. Nairobi communique accords -------------- ¶4. (SBU) After discussions between the U.S. Goma rep and provincial deputies, the head of provincial assembly's majority caucus met with Governor Paluku and the head of the provincial pacification cell, Clovis Muni, to discuss a joint campaign between the governor's office and parliamentarians to get the word out about the agreement in their home districts. Such a campaign is still in the talking stages and needs to be encouraged. The assembly as an institution went on record in a press conference last Saturday in favor of the accords, but real action to explain what it means to constituents has been lacking. Hutu communities, especially those with strong ties to the FDLR and the Pareco Mai-Mai militia, are suspicious of the accords and extremist Hutu politicians have been manipulating fears of a pro-Tutsi sellout by Kabila to fan up hostility to it. Radio campaign -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Poloff in Goma spoke at length yesterday by phone with a representative of the NGO "Search for Common Ground" regarding ideas for a radio campaign to explain the Nairobi accords. The conversation took place poloff and OFDA colleagues were confined to the MONUC mobile operations base during the panic in Rutshuru. Wolpe, Kassa workshop in Bukavu -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Howard Wolpe and Michel Kassa's workshop for FARDC and other military continues in Bukavu, with all FARDC units in the province represented. Today and tomorrow are the crucial sessions during which participants will agree on what, if any, concrete steps should be taken next. Wolpe is leaving for the U.S. through Burundi but Kassa plans to stay in the province if he is needed to travel to the High Plateaus or elsewhere to help mediate or support follow-up actions. Olivier Richard of the French Embassy and Belgian Consul Hugues Chantry are observing proceedings. GARVELINK