GOMA SITUATION REPORT - CONTINUING CRISIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000940 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS PREF KPKO CG SUBJECT: GOMA SITUATION REPORT - CONTINUING CRISIS REF: KINSHASA 931 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: As of the morning of October 28, MONUC's no movement order was still in effect. Violent demonstrations started late in the morning of October 27 between the town center and the Goma airport, resulting in one civilian death outside of a MONUC transit camp, when a soldier from the Malawian contingent opened fire in accordance with MONUC rules of engagement. As of the morning of October 28, the situation is mostly quiet in Goma. However, MONUC reported that there was a brief incident of stone throwing around 6:15am and they expect more riots later in the day. Goma poloff received a text message on October 28 from a CNDP contact, warning that the CNDP had infiltrated Goma and warning Alan Doss to stay away; MONUC later reported that Doss cancelled his planned trip to Goma. This contact confirmed in a subsequent conversation that the CNDP wanted to take Goma. ¶2. (SBU) Summary continued: On October 26 the CNDP seized the town of Rumangabo, thereby controlling the road from Goma to Rutschuru, which puts them in a position to block humanitarian and commercial traffic. Fighting resumed on October 27, this time mostly centered around Kibumba, south of Rumangabo. The fighting around Kibumba has caused massive civilian displacement towards Goma. Kibumba is the location of a large IDP camp of 15,000-20,000 people who have now vacated the camp and moved south. The GDRC has blocked their entrance into Goma itself, fearing this could cause mass panic in town. MONUC has reported that there will be operations (not negotiations) over the next two days or longer to reopen the Rumangabo-Kibumba axis. There is a firm MONUC position that no one will move past this point. End summary Goma Tense -------------- ¶3. (SBU) As of the morning of October 28, MONUC's no movement order was still in effect. Demonstrations started late in the morning of October 27 between the town center and the Goma airport. The majority of the demonstrators gathered around the MONUC North Kivu Brigade headquarters, which is in northern Goma directly across from the airport. Agitators threw stones over the wall into the compound and caused damage to a few vehicles. They did not manage to gain access to the compound. Indian soldiers fired warning shots into the air but MONUC reported no casualties from this exchange. MONUC political affairs subsequently allowed some representatives from civil society organizations to enter the compound for a discussion, which seemed to calm the situation. ¶4. (SBU) Meanwhile, some of the demonstrators (no more than 200) had moved about 500 meters south to a MONUC transit camp staffed by a Malawian contingent. Again the compound was attacked with stones and some of the agitators managed to gain access to the camp. In accordance with MONUC rules of engagement, the Malawian contingent opened fire and killed one young man. ¶5. (SBU) As of the morning of October 28, the situation is mostly quiet in Goma. However, MONUC reported that there was a brief incident of stone throwing around 6:15am and they expect more riots later in the day. ¶6. (SBU) Goma Poloff received a text message early on October 28 from Benjamin Bonimpa, deputy external relations chief for the CNDP, warning that the CNDP had infiltrated Goma and warning SRSG Alan Doss to stay away. Bonimpa said he was hopeful that MONUC would "facilitate the taking of Goma," which meant simply stand aside when the CNDP came into town, which it would soon do. Bonimpa confirmed that the CNDP wanted to take Goma, that certain CNDP elements were already in town, and that they had captured heavy weapons (probably rocket launchers) at Rumangabo. He also said he would not want anything to happen to Doss when he came to Goma; MONUC subsequently reported that Doss canceled his trip. Fighting in Rutshuru -------------- ¶7. (SBU) On October 26 at 5:00am the CNDP conducted what it called a preemptive strike on Rugari and Rumangabo based on intelligence that the FARDC was planning to mount an operation against Tongo (Note: MONUC subsequently reported that there was no fighting around or takeover of Tongo. End note). The intelligence was in the form of an intercepted letter from FARDC Colonel Delphin to MONUC in which he stated these intentions (reftel). ¶8. (SBU) By 7:30am the Rumangabo military base and the town itself had fallen to the CNDP. This caused considerable displacement to the north towards the town of Rutshuru but exact numbers are not known as this area is cut off from Goma. From Rumangabo, the CNDP KINSHASA 00000940 002 OF 002 controls the Goma-Rutshuru road, enabling it to block commercial and humanitarian traffic. MONUC responded from Rutshuru and Kibumba with armored personnel carriers, two of which were allegedly disabled by the CNDP. MONUC returned fire with approximately 147 rounds of 30mm main gun ammunition. There is currently no information on casualties. The CNDP continues to hold Rumangabo, while the FARDC remains in control of Rugari. ¶9. (SBU) Fighting resumed on October 27, this time mostly centered around Kibumba, south of Rumangabo. The attacks against Kibumba have come from the east, just a few kilometers from the border with Rwanda, causing a flurry of rumors regarding Rwandan support. MONUC did not engage the CNDP on October 27, though Mi-24 attack helicopters were deployed. At one point MONUC intended to use the helicopters but ultimately refrained from doing so as civilian collateral damage would have been considerable. MONUC believes, however, that the FARDC did use their helicopters October 27 somewhere east of Rumangabo. IDP's -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The fighting around Kibumba has caused massive displacement towards Goma. Kibumba is the location of a large IDP camp of 15,000-20,000 people who have now vacated the camp and moved south. The GDRC has blocked their entrance into Goma itself, fearing this could cause mass panic in town. Most of the IDPs have thus gathered around the camp of Kibati. Humanitarian organizations such as UNHCR and UNICEF are trying to mobilize support there. The Kibati camp is relatively new and has an additional capacity of 10,000. However, the arrival of over 20,000 IDP's will stretch the humanitarians' resources. UNHCR, for example, is flying in shelter materials from Tanzania and possibly South Africa. Also, with the no movement order in place, it is difficult for UN agencies to leave Goma. Some NGOs, such as MSF, are reportedly pulling out of Rutshuru. Current Situation -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Currently, the FARDC and MONUC hold Kalengera, Rugari, and Kibumba, the latter with a battalion of FARDC soldiers and a company of MONUC peacekeepers including seven armored personnel carriers. Kibumba is essentially the first line of defense between the CNDP and Goma. The CNDP holds Rumangabo. MONUC's intent is to push the CNDP away from Kibumba to allow IDP's to return to the camp. MONUC also reported that there will be operations (not negotiations) over the next two days or longer to reopen the Rumangabo-Kibumba axis. There is a firm MONUC position that no one will move past this point. If the CNDP does not want to leave Rumangabo, MONUC will find itself embroiled in close quarters combat with them. ¶12. Comment: (SBU) Since the outbreak of hostilities on August 28, this is likely the most tense situation Goma has experienced. It is unlikely the CNDP would dare to enter Goma, though they are certainly as close now as they were during the September fighting in Sake. The CNDP intent is hard to ascertain, although creating the conditions to resupply their western territory is a likely explanation. It is also widely believed that the CNDP might try to cause massive displacement into Goma to destabilize the situation in town. End comment. BROCK