SEPTEMBER 16 SPOT REPORT: FIGHTING NEAR

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000770 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO PHUM PREF CG SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 16 SPOT REPORT: FIGHTING NEAR KIROTSHE; THREE CIVILIANS DIE IN ACCIDENT WITH MONUC ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER REF: KINSHASA 769 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Fighting near Kirotshe September 16 is worse than first indicated, with FARDC bringing in tanks. It is not clear if FARDC is planning to go on offensive just when MONUC had presented plan for separation of forces. Meanwhile, a MONUC armored personnel carrier overturned north of Goma, killing three civilians and leading to the stoning of the MONUC convoy. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Further to this morning's (September 16) read-out (reftel),it appears that fighting between CNDP and FARDC around Kirotshe and in the hills east of Kirotshe/Minova is widespread. In the course of the morning, exchange of fire was noted in Bitonga (southeast of Ngungu),Bishangwa, well south of Ngungu in South Kivu),and Murambi (south of Ngungu),as well as continued fighting around Ngungu involving PARECO. The first three are in a swathe of territory which is not considered a "traditional" CNDP-controlled area, but it is unclear to MONUC at present how much of it was in fact under CNDP control on August 28. MONUC's new plan for separation of forces would exclude CNDP entirely from the area. ¶3. (SBU) North Kivu brigade near Sake at 13:55 observed FARDC bringing in four armored personnel carriers, five tanks, and one multi-barreled rocket launcher, headed for Kirotshe. Deputy Chief of Staff Col Cunliffe described the situation in the whole Ngungu-Numbi-Minova-Kirtoshe area as highly confused. It is possible that CNDP elements have been attacking, but it is possible that they were continuing the process of withdrawing back toward the Ngungu area (where there has also been persistent fighting between PARECO and CNDP),or both. FARDC's actions through the morning similarly could have been interpreted as defensive, but FARDC's bringing into the Kirotshe area of heavy armaments suggests an offensive intent at this juncture. ¶4. (SBU) President Kabila has just returned to Goma, and Kirotshe is the home village of the First Lady. For the afternoon, MONUC has lost contact with FARDC commanders (a loss of contact no doubt exacerbated by the arrival of the President, whose presence absorbs all senior personnel). At this writing (16 September 2008 3:30 pm Goma time),the South African battalion in Kirotshe describes itself as being in the midst of persistent firing, as FARDC is lobbing shells into the hills from the town. The increasingly offensive nature of FARDC actions in the Kirotshe area is, according to Col. Cunliffe, not in keeping with the previous day's in-depth and high-level discussions with government and FARDC on the plan presented by MONUC for creating zones of separation in North Kivu. General Rawat's concern is that FARDC could be planning a wider offensive, but he has no confirmation of such a plan. ¶5. (SBU) Latest from CNDP (which has continued to refuse face-to-face contact with Special Envoy van de Geer or with MONUC) is a telephonic message from one of its mid-level political officials, Muiti: "I believe that it is difficult to stop the combat. FARDC is thinking of using all its means, even non-conventional. It is displacing the population by force before engaging in pillage." ¶6. (SBU) Meanwhile, at 11:00 am a North Kivu brigade armored personnel carrier overturned just north of Goma (on the road to Rutshuru),after brake failure, hitting a motorcycle carrying three civilians, all of whom were killed. A crowd immediately gathered and North Kivu brigade fired into the air to disperse the crowd. No one was injured by the firing into the air. However, rumors quickly spread through Goma that North Kivu brigade had fired into the crowd and killed persons in the crowd. Shortly afterward, a MONUC convoy moving on the western road, near the general hospital, was attacked by a stone-throwing mob. For the time being, MONUC is ceasing movement in the city, until tempers cool. GARVELINK