CONGOLESE MIXED BRIGADES CLASH WITH FDLR IN NORTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000214 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2017 TAGS: PGOV KPKO MOPS ASEC PREF CG SUBJECT: CONGOLESE MIXED BRIGADES CLASH WITH FDLR IN NORTH KIVU REF: KINSHASA 207 Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) Summary: Elements of the Congolese military's "mixed" brigades clashed February 19-20 with suspected FDLR and Mayi-Mayi forces in North Kivu province. The fighting does not appear to be part of planned operations, although skirmishes have been ongoing since the beginning of February. The army reports at least two dozen FDLR and Mayi-Mayi fighters were killed in the latest fighting. The hostilities have caused an estimated 20,000 civilians in Rutshuru territory to flee. End summary. -------------- ATTACKS IN NYAKAKOMA -------------- ¶2. (C) Small battles between the new "mixed" brigades and FDLR forces have been taking place regularly over the past several weeks. Congolese military (FARDC) officials told us a small-arms firefight broke out early February 19 between the 1st Battalion of the "mixed" Bravo Brigade and suspected elements of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Mayi-Mayi ("self-defense") forces in North Kivu near the border town of Nyakakoma, about 80 miles northeast of Goma. Colonel Delphin Kahimbi, deputy commander of the 8th Military Region (North Kivu),reported the battalion was on routine patrol when it was attacked by the FDLR/Mayi-Mayi forces because, he claimed, they opposed the deployment of Bravo soldiers in the region. (Note: Bravo is the second brigade created by the so-called "mixage" process, which combines troops loyal to dissident General Laurent Nkunda with pro-government forces into a "mixed" unit. End note.) ¶3. (C) Kahimbi reported the Bravo troops quickly dispersed their attackers and regained control of the area. He claimed 16 FDLR and nine Mayi-Mayi troops were killed in the exchange. ¶4. (C) Crispin Atana, the provincial director of the DRC's National Intelligence Service (ANR),told us FDLR and Mayi-Mayi forces launched a reprisal attack on civilians in the Nyakakoma area February 20. He reported some 30 homes were burned in the village of Ngwenda, approximately ten miles north of Rutshuru town. There were no reported victims from this attack. Kahimbi told us late February 20 that the area was now calm. ¶5. (C) Colonel Makenga Fulsani, commander of Bravo Brigade, reported to MONUC officials that soldiers of the 1st Battalion near Ishasha, about 30 miles northeast of Rutshuru, were attacked February 20 by the FDLR. He claimed his forces killed five FDLR troops. -------------- FARDC: NOT PART OF PLANNED OPS -------------- ¶6. (C) MONUC officials in North Kivu reported that General Louis Ngizo, the 8th Military Region commander, told them the recent fighting was not part of planned operations aimed at the FDLR. He claimed the firefights resulted from "active" patrols being carried out by Bravo elements to establish their positions and security zones. He added, however, that actions taken by the brigade against Mayi-Mayi forces were designed to curtail "illegal activities" by the group. -------------- OTHER SMALLER CLASHES REPORTED -------------- ¶7. (C) The February 19-20 fighting in Nyakakoma and Ishasha follows a series of other skirmishes between Bravo and suspected FDLR forces. Makenga claimed one of his escort vehicles was attacked by FDLR and Mayi-Mayi forces late February 17 about 15 miles north of Rutshuru. He reported one Bravo soldier was killed and another two injured. The same day, Bravo soldiers on patrol near Nyakakoma reportedly clashed with FDLR forces; one FDLR soldier was reported killed. Earlier on February 19, another skirmish broke out between Bravo troops and suspected FDLR elements near the border town of Nyamilima, about 11 miles east of Rutshuru. Makenga claimed another 19 FDLR soldiers were killed in that fight. KINSHASA 00000214 002 OF 002 ¶8. (C) MONUC military officials have not been able to verify any of the reported fatalities from these events, but confirm firefights have been taking place frequently since Bravo deployed to Rutshuru in early February. -------------- NEW WAVE OF IDP'S -------------- ¶9. (C) Kahimbi told us "several thousand" civilians have fled the latest fighting; refugee officials in confirm it has resulted in a new wave of IDPs. A February 20 MONUC mission to Vitshumbi, 80 miles north of Goma along Lake Edward, discovered that nearly three quarters of the population there -- approximately 9,400 of 12,500 inhabitants -- had been displaced as a result of the new clashes. OCHA-North Kivu director Patrick Lavand'homme told us February 21 another estimated 13,000 people have been displaced along the Rutshuru-Ishasha road following skirmishes and reprisal attacks between Bravo soldiers and the FDLR. Lavand'homme said many of these IDPs have fled to the Kinyandoni area, about 55 miles north of Goma. -------------- COMMENT: INCREASING DANGER -------------- ¶10. (C) Further FARDC-FDLR clashes risk a widening conflict in North Kivu. Bravo Brigade's "active" patrols are clearly meant to intimidate and suppress the FDLR, and it appears those forces are now beginning to fight back. Even these limited engagements are causing panic among civilians in a region where security is already delicate. End comment. MEECE