REBELS ATTACK KABO AND BATANGAFO IN NORTHWESTERN CAR

UNCLAS BANGUI 000045

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C SSARDAR, MASHRAF, SLOPEZ, KWYCOFF
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD
AFRICOM FOR KOCH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR CT
SUBJECT: REBELS ATTACK KABO AND BATANGAFO IN NORTHWESTERN CAR


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In the early morning of Saturday, 21 February,
elements from the FDPC (Democratic Front of the Central African
People),a group that had signed a peace treaty with the Central
African Government in 2008 attacked the towns of Batangafo and
Kabo in Northwestern CAR and then departed from them within
hours. No casualties have been officially reported, but the
Batangafo gendarmerie was sacked and the brigade radio, weapons
and ammunition were absconded with. Sources also claim that a
military base was attacked and further weapons and ammunition
taken. President Bozize is reportedly in Batangafo now after
security forces secured the area. While this attack is, by
itself, minor it, along with the prison break at Bosambele, and
rebel activity at Bria and Ndele, contributes to the mounting
evidence that the peace accords of 2008 are collapsing and that
activity by new and old rebel groups can be expected to
increase. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) The FDPC claims that some 400 of its troops attacked
the town at 0500 on 21 February 2009. (Post believes the number
was more likely 20-30.) Much more troubling are reports that
previously demobilized ex-combatants of the FDPC have rejoined
the group. The FDPC, lead by General Abdoulaye Miskine, who is
currently in Libya with his new political ally, Abakar Saboun of
the MLCJ (Movement of the Central African Liberators for
Justice),has rejected the national peace talks of late last
year and is believed to be agitating for further concessions
from the Central African Government. The FDPC is also one of
the more credible groups to claim responsibility for an attack
in early February on Bossembele prison that freed an unknown
number of prisoners.


3. (SBU) The rebels allegedly took the Batangafo police
headquarters by surprise. It is also possible that the location
was unguarded at that hour, but post suspects rather that the
site was very lightly staffed in any case and that most of the
police simply fled. The FDPC did manage to kidnap the police
chief of Batangafo for a short time but then released him. More
alarmingly, they appear to have secured an unspecific amount of
weaponry and ammunition as well as a military radio. No further
information is available about the Kabo attack. The FDPC claims
two rebels wounded in the incidents and reportedly quit both
towns by 1100. The website of the FDPC is:
http://www.centrafriquefdpc.com.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: The leadership of the FDPC has recently
issued statements from Tripoli and the group is believed to be
increasingly an instrument of influence by Libyan President
Mohammar Qadaffi. President Qadaffi may resent Gabonese
President Omar Bongo's preeminent role in the peace process and
may be seeking to reestablish his influence in the CAR, greatly
reduced since the days of 2001 when Libyan troops kept President
Patasse in power.


5. (SBU) Given the CARG's inability to respond beyond attacking
its own population, a grim picture is developing. The peace
accords of 2008, the "Political Dialogue" and the subsequent
shallow reshuffling of the government have clearly not addressed
demands of all the relevant groups. Post fears that other
groups will follow the lead and reject their previously signed
peace agreements and that new splinter groups and alliances will
form. There is, thus far, little evidence that the CARG has
either the ability or even a plan to deal with evolving events.
END COMMENT

COOK