SITUATION REPORT FOR DRC - NOVEMBER 6, 2008,

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000980 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG SUBJECT: SITUATION REPORT FOR DRC - NOVEMBER 6, 2008, AS OF 12:30 PM CENTRAL AFRICAN TIME (GMT +1) REFS: (A) KINSHASA 972 (B) KINSHASA 967 ¶1. (U) All times Kinshasa (GMT + 1) unless otherwise indicated. ¶2. (U) The items contained in this situation report consist principally of spot information from various sources. This report is not exhaustive, nor can all the information contained therein be confirmed at this time. Security Situation in Goma and Surrounding Area -------------- -- ¶3. (SBU) USAID officer TDY in Goma/Gisenyi reports that, according to information received from the OCHA security briefing this morning, the CNDP has moved closer to Kibati, which is approximately 15 miles north of Goma, and the FARDC has stepped back. NGO field missions are still taking place, but NGO's are advised to limit the number of people they send out on any given mission so as to make MONUC extraction easier, and to not travel the Rutshuru axis. Separately, MONUC has said there would soon be a force of up to 1,000 peacekeepers protecting Goma, along with 5,000 FARDC soldiers. ¶4. (SBU) Various people at Post received a text message on November 5 saying that the CNDP was massacring the population in the city of Kiwanja, the site of previously reported CNDP-PARECO fighting (reftels). USAID officer reported that, according to MONUC military contacts, Kiwanja has changed hands between PARECO and the CNDP several times, and the fighting is ongoing. There is conflicting information as to whether or not the FARDC and FDLR are involved in this fighting on the side of PARECO. ¶5. (SBU) Furthermore, the issue is that PARECO fighters are dressed in civilian clothes and are taking refuge in and firing at CNDP from presumably abandoned homes. While MONUC does not believe that civilians are being targeted per se, the CNDP could be killing innocent people as they go through houses looking for PARECO fighters. Many civilians have already fled the town, with 20,000-30,000 people moving to Rutshuru. MONUC has placed itself between PARECO and the CNDP, but is only using light arms, to minimize any collateral damage. ¶6. (SBU) A statement from the CNDP (Note: Post does not have the text at the present time. End note.) reportedly claims that the Kiwanja fighting is a cease fire violation, because they believe it to be FARDC proxy fighting, but simply asks MONUC to intervene. ¶7. (SBU) USAID officer reports that there is a Belgian journalist who has been taken hostage from the Kiwanja/Rutshuru area. It remains unclear who has taken him, and an OCHA contact noted that it may even be that he is in GDRC custody. The OCHA contact said that there has been telephone contact with him, and he is unharmed, but not free to leave. Political Developments -------------- ¶8. (SBU) USAID DART team leader provided a readout of a briefing provided November 5 by EU Special Representative Roeland van de Geer. He suggested that people should not expect too much from the planned Nairobi meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Presidents Kabila and Kagame, as there was as of yet no carefully prepared agenda and it was very early to have much in the way of results. ¶9. (SBU) Van de Geer said that he, Senior Advisor Tim Shortley, and General Numbi were to meet with Nkunda on November 5, but that the meeting was subsequently cancelled because the CNDP called to say they were not ready. Discreet meetings are, however, being conducted between GDRC and CNDP representatives. ¶10. (SBU) Van de Geer stated there remains the impression that Nkunda is no longer completely in control of the CNDP and guessed that his health was a factor in this equation. He predicted it would be even more difficult to deal with the CNDP in the future since its leadership appears less cohesive. BROCK