CNDP SOLDIERS TURN BACK FACILITATION CONVOY

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000613 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG SUBJECT: CNDP SOLDIERS TURN BACK FACILITATION CONVOY ¶1. (SBU) Summary: International Facilitation and MONUC officials, traveling overland to Kirolirwe for a previously scheduled meeting with Nkunda July 23, were turned back at a CNDP barrier approximately ten miles from Kimoka. CNDP soldiers on the scene provided no explanation, and an attempt to enlist the aid of a CNDP political counselor by telephone was unsuccessful in securing passage for the convoy. While the reason for this incident is unclear, Facilitation members are unanimous in their opinion that it cannot be attributed to a breakdown in MONUC-CNDP or internal CNDP communications. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Members of the International Facilitation (IF) in Goma and MONUC officials had planned to fly to Kirolirwe July 23 for a previously scheduled meeting with Nkunda. Weather conditions made a helicopter trip impossible and, after unsuccessful efforts to reach Nkunda to ask if the meeting could be moved to Kimoka, the Facilitation decided to drive to Kirolirwe. ¶3. (SBU) Approximately ten miles from Kimoka, the convoy encountered a barrier and CNDP soldiers refused to allow the group to pass. The Facilitation phoned Bertrand Bisimwa, a CNDP political counselor, and asked him to sort it out with the commanding officer on the scene. However, the latter simply reiterated that the group could not pass through. The Facilitation afterwards decided to return to Goma. ¶4. (SBU) After returning to Goma, the Facilitation had a meeting with D/SRSG Ross Mountain to explain the events and chart a way forward. It was decided that MONUC would get in touch with CNDP to get a message to Nkunda that he should call Roeland van de Geer. The group also decided to try again the next day to travel by helicopter to CNDP territory for a meeting, though they will only meet with Nkunda if he contacted the IF and specifically requested to see them. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: It was clear that the barrier was set up specifically to block the convoy from traveling to Kirolirwe. The Facilitation was told that the barrier would be taken down after they turned around; they also learned later that the barrier had been set up 45 minutes prior to their arrival. While there, the group observed that the CNDP allowed other vehicles to pass through. Facilitation members are unanimous in their opinion that this incident cannot be attributed to a breakdown in MONUC-CNDP or internal CNDP communications. It is not known why the CNDP blocked the convoy from traveling to Kirolirwe, but it is nonetheless an ominous signal. End comment. GARVELINK