UN SAYS SITUATION IN DRC IS DIRE, ASKS FOR HELP

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000992 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KPKO CG RW SUBJECT: UN SAYS SITUATION IN DRC IS DIRE, ASKS FOR HELP REF: A. USUN 910 ¶B. UN S/PRST/2008/40 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: UN Peacekeeping U/SYG Le Roy said in two recent meetings an immediate political solution was needed to end hostilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and that MONUC required additional resources to protect civilians. Le Roy believed if Goma fell MONUC would be at risk throughout the DRC. The advance of rebel CNDP forces towards Goma, which ended in a unilateral ceasefire October 29, uprooted up to 250,000 IDPs who now need immediate humanitarian assistance. Le Roy said DRC troops (FARDC) crumbled in the face of the CNDP attacks and FARDC elements attacked MONUC positions and looted places in Goma following their collapse. The Security Council issued a strong Presidential Statement calling for a permanent ceasefire and a return to dialogue. END SUMMARY DPKO BRIEFS UNSC, IF GOMA FALLS, "PRAY" ¶2. (SBU) UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Under-Secretary-General Alain Le Roy briefed the P3 2 (Belgium and South Africa) on October 28 and the Security Council on October 28 and 29 on the escalating crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Le Roy noted the UN Operation in the DRC (MONUC) would be at risk if Goma were to fall, saying the city's fall would lead citizens throughout the country to turn on MONUC forces. When Le Roy asked the P3 2 what should be done if Goma fell, only South African PermRep Kumalo responded, with just one word, "pray." MONUC NEEDS HELP-"WE NEED DRC AND RWANDA TO TALK" ¶3. (SBU) Le Roy also said MONUC was "stretched to the limit" and was being attacked on all sides. He called for nations to explore DRC President Kabila's request for a multi-national force (MNF). That said, he noted and Council members agreed that only a political solution would bring lasting peace. He asked Council members to apply pressure to all parties, especially President Kabila and Rwandan President Kagame, to cease fire and return to the Goma and Nairobi agreements. UNSYG Ban was exploring the option of naming a Special Envoy for the region, Le Roy said. Kagame told Ban he was not prepared to meet with Kabila, but would send his foreign minister to Kinshasa for discussions, according to Le Roy. Le Roy noted Ban would continue to press for the two presidents to meet. MONUC WILL ASK FOR MORE TROOPS, SENEGALESE TO HEAD FORCES �0A; ¶4. (SBU) Le Roy reiterated SRSG Doss' call for additional resources, (Ref. A) including two light infantry battalions, two formed police units, two special forces companies, air transport abilities, and increased intelligence. (NOTE: While Doss mentioned this request during his October 6 briefing to the Security Council, MONUC has yet to present a formal request for additional troops. Ambassador DiCarlo reiterated the need for a formal request to Le Roy in the margins of the October 29 briefing. He replied that DPKO would present a letter to the Council soon. END NOTE.) In the P3 2 meeting Le Roy said Senegalese General Gaye would be the interim replacement for Force Commander Diaz, who tendered his resignation for "personal reasons" after only three weeks in the DRC. CROSS-BORDER FIRE, DID RWANDA TRAIN CNDP? FARDC COLLAPSES ¶5. (SBU) Le Roy noted the Rwandan government confirmed its forces shelled positions inside the DRC in response to DRC shelling Rwanda. Le Roy also said the new guerilla tactics used by the CNDP were very hard for MONUC to combat, and he thought these tactics most likely were taught to the CNDP by the Rwandan military. FARDC commanders, Le Roy noted, abandoned their posts or lost control of their troops quickly following the CNDP attacks. Alarmingly, FARDC troops were looting, shooting at MONUC, and harassing civilians, Le Roy said. HUGE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS ¶6. (SBU) Le Roy noted more than 250,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were in the Goma region, and another 250,000 IDPs were expected if the fighting continued. Goma was being flooded by IDPs, and this scale of need would require a massive NGO response. Le Roy said both CNDP and FARDC elements were hampering relief workers access to those in need. SC ACTIONS-(WEAK) PRESS REMARKS, THEN A STRONGER PRST ¶7. (SBU) On October 28, all Council members called on the President of the Security Council, currently China, to make remarks to the press condemning the recent attacks by the CNDP and calling for General Nkunda to cease offensive operations. The Council assumed Chinese PermRep Zhang would follow the agreed upon remarks, and members expressed surprised and disappointment when Zhang removed all specific references to the rebel groups and the FARDC during his press statement. On October 29, the Council issued a Presidential Statement (PRST) specifically condemning the recent CNDP offensive. (Ref. B) The PRST expressed concern at the cross-border heavy weapons fire, and called on all regional governments to diffuse tensions and cease support of armed groups. It also called on MONUC to take robust action to protect civilians at risk. Khalilzad