MONUC, UNSC MEMBERS CONSULTATION IN KINSHASA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000175 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO UNSC CG SUBJECT: MONUC, UNSC MEMBERS CONSULTATION IN KINSHASA Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Roger Meece. Reason 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (SBU) In follow-up to informal discussions among several Chiefs of Mission in Kinshasa, SRSG Swing invited the Ambassadors and Charges from all UNSC members with resident diplomatic representation in the DRC to a "consultation" session on Saturday, February 10. Ten of the fifteen UNSC members are represented in Kinshasa, specifically all five permanent members plus Belgium, South Africa, Congo-Brazzaville (Republic of Congo),Ghana, and Italy, and all attended the meeting. Swing was accompanied by a number of MONUC civilian, police, and military officials. ¶2. (SBU) The agenda dealt with a variety of current issues involving MONUC, including recent violence in Bas-Congo province, security conditions in North and South Kivu provinces and Ituri District (Orientale Province),the election process, and the general political environment of the country. ¶3. (C) Most of the discussion regarding security issues in the east covered material that has been reported in previous reporting cables from post. Regarding Bas-Congo, MONUC officials noted that at least two police officials have been suspended, although the circumstances of the violent clashes that resulted in the reported death of over 100 people are still murky. For example, the head of MONUC police operations noted that it is clear that the Bunda dia Kongo separatist demonstrations had been planned in advance, but there seemed to be almost no preparations by the local police or security services to deal with them. There were at least some reports that some police and other officials may have been sympathetic to the Bunda dia Kongo cause, or in political opposition to the Kinshasa government. It was also clear that there had been a puzzling lack of any apparent coordination among various Bas-Congo municipal police detachments where demonstrations were held. This has given rise to speculation that at least some officials may have contributed to, rather than worked to contain, the demonstrations and level of resulting violence. ¶4. (C) Some police along with a larger number of civilians had been killed, with some reports suggesting considerable brutality. It also appears that a large number of bodies of those killed had not yet been claimed by anyone, although it was not clear as to whether this was out of fear by family members, or as some have suggested, the victims were from Kinshasa or elsewhere brought in for purposes of the demonstrations. There were in any case a number of questions to be resolved before conclusions could be drawn regarding responsibility for the large-scale loss of life and injury. At least one police official had apparently joined some opposition elements to level charges that MONUC was involved in provoking violence, a ridiculous and unjustified charge. ¶5. (SBU) MONUC confirmed that some Ghanaian military forces, stationed in Matadi to protect MONUC aassets, had been caught up in early stages of the demonstrations, and one MONUC vehicle had been burned. As of February 10, MONUC had dispatched a total of 260 military troops and 60 Bangladeshi police to the province to help maintain security. It appeared that these numbers would begin to be drawn down soon as political tensions seemed have lessened, possibly in reaction to a court ruling requiring a new election in the provincial assembly for the province's governor. ¶6. (SBU) Also at the February 10 meeting, the UN election unit also distributed a summary sheet outlining the status of various election results and challenges to-date,and requirements to organize required local and municipal elections. These should be held this year in theory, although the timeline will likely slip. More complete reporting will be provided septel. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: While not the primary purpose of the Transition period International Committee To Accompany the Transition (CIAT),one corollary benefit of the regular CIAT meetings was to permit an exchange of information between diplomatic missions and MONUC regarding operations and developments in the DRC. This had been lost with the end of the Transition and the CIAT. The introductory session by MONUC with the UNSC member representatives was useful, and may well serve as the basis for a regular series of similar future meetings. End comment. MEECE