Goma Report October 9: Rutshuru fighting subsides; CNDP

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000868 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO PHUM PREF CG SUBJECT: Goma Report October 9: Rutshuru fighting subsides; CNDP Withdraws from Rumangabo; Anti-MONUC Demonstrations in Kisangani; Unconfirmed rumors of Rwandan involvement in DRC REF: Kinshasa 813 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: There were no major incidents on October 9, following heavy fighting on October 8. Stating it was responding to the SRSG's request, CNDP announced it would withdraw from the FARDC base at Rumangabo. There were anti-MONUC demonstrations by students in Kisangani, the first such demonstrations outside of the Kivus and Kinshasa. There continue to be unsubstantiated rumors of Rwandan troops infiltrating into the DRC. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) MONUC reported no major incidents in the Rutshuru area October 9 following heavy fighting the previous day. MONUC said that the CNDP had clearly initiated the fighting on October 8, with strong evidence that the operation to capture the Rumangabo FARDC headquarters had been well planned. Reportedly 47 FARDC were killed in the Rumangabo attack, and MONUC had received a long list of military equipment, including tanks and AK-47, which the CNDP had captured. MSF in Rutshuru noted that there were 90 casualties in the local hospital, as a result of the October 8 fighting. There were IDP movements south toward Kibumbu. ¶3. (SBU) CNDP confirmed to MONUC it had taken the Rumangabo base, claiming that FDLR troops had fled the area alongside retreating FARDC troops and their families. Late on October 9, CNDP Spokesman Betrand Bisimwa sent out a message that, at the request of SRSG Doss, it had withdrawn from Rumangabo "to maximize prospects for a peaceful resolution of the crisis." MONUC confirmed the withdrawal. ¶4. (SBU) There were anti-MONUC demonstrations in Kisangani October ¶9. A group of approximately one thousand students marched on MONUC headquarters, and subsequently began throwing rocks. There were no reports of injuries or damage to vehicles. MONUC claimed this was the first anti-MONUC demonstration outside of the Kivus. (Note: There have been several peaceful demonstrations in Kinshasa against perceived MONUC inaction vis-a-vis the CNDP. Reftel refers to September 26 demonstration during which protestors stoned a UN vehicle. End Note.) ¶5. (SBU) There were continuing rumors in the local population of a Rwandan troop build-up in the Wawe area on the east side of Lake Kivu. There were also unconfirmed reports that some Rwandan troops had infiltrated the DRC at Mushawase, south of Wawe. BROCK