UNHCR ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONS AGAINST FDLR AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000155

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM PGOV CG UG
SUBJECT: UNHCR ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONS AGAINST FDLR AND
LRA


1. (SBU) Summary: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR)
Deputy Representative, Mohamed Toure, recently met with PolCouns and
PolOff to discuss security and humanitarian issues in Eastern DRC,
as well as civilian protection challenges stemming from the separate
joint operations against the LRA and the FDLR. Toure identified the
lack of communication amongst the UPDF, FARDC, and MONUC as the
biggest impediment to civilian protection in Dungu Territory. Toure
also questioned UPDF techniques, which he claimed were the same
techniques unsuccessfully employed against the LRA over the last 20
years in Uganda. On the situation in the Kivus, Toure expressed
concern that the RDF and FARDC would not be ablQto fully respect
the human rights of civilians when confronting the FDLR.
Ninety-five percent of recent voluntary repatriations to Rwanda are
made up of family members of FDLR combatants, according to UNHCR
data. Toure cautioned that the recent repatriations are most likely
only temporary. End summary.

Protection Problems in Orientale Province
--------------


2. (SBU) UNHCR's Deputy Representative for Protection, Mohamed
Toure, recently met with PolCouns and PolOff to discuss civilian
protection problems arising from the separate FARDC/UPDF and
FARDC/RDF operations targeting the LRA and FDLR, respectively.
According to Toure, one of the main problems with civilian
protection in Dungu Territory, Orientale Province is the lack of
coordination amongst the main actors. Due to language and cultural
barriers, the four MONUC battalions in Dungu Territory (from
Bangladesh, Morocco, Indonesia, and Guatemala),do not communicate
well with each other or with the local population. In addition,
neither the UPDF nor the FARDC coordinates action or communicates
well with MONUC. On a positive note, Toure said that the FARDC
troops in the area, many of whom were trained by MONUC, and the
Republican Guard troops were very well disciplined.


3. (SBU) According to Toure, UPDF techniques against the LRA are
identical to the techniques it has unsuccessfully employed against
the LRA over the last 20 years. As a nomadic group, the LRA can
very easily splinter into smaller groups when attacked, then
subsequently regroup into a larger fighting force when it feels less
threatened. Another trademark of the LRA, which is repeating
itself, is its tendency to exact reprisals on local populations.


4. (SBU) Toure, who just returned from a trip to Dungu, estimated
that there are 300 MONUC troops currently outside of Dungu guarding
the airport. Beyond guarding the airport and providing armed
escorts to and from the city of Dungu, eight kilometers away, MONUC
troops do not provide any active patrols for protecting civilians.
He also estimated there were approximately 4,500 FARDC troops in and
around the city of Dungu. MONUC troops in Dungu currently do not
have the capacity to facilitate the arrival or the distribution of
large shipments of humanitarian aid. The Swedish Government has
reportedly pledged $1 million to construct a compound to house
humanitarian workers and supplies.

UNHCR Fears Exacerbation of Crisis in the Kivus
-------------- --


5. (SBU) Although he welcomed some kind of pressure against the
FDLR, Toure shared UNHCR concerns about the joint FARDC/RDF
operations. He questioned their ability to fully respect human
rights and their lack of coordination with MONUC. MONUC's civil
protection mandate becomes much more difficult if they are not kept
abreast of military operations. UNHCR estimQes that military
operations against the FDLR may cause as many as 500,000 new
displacements.


6. (SBU) With regards to news reports of a sharp rise in the number
of FDLR members presenting themselves for repatriation to Rwanda,
Toure estimated that 95 percent of recent voluntary repatriations
were FDLR dependents and only 5 percent were actual combatants.
UNHCR has 10 welcome sites set up in North and South Kivu for this
purpose. However, UNHCR does not receive combatants. It refers
them to MONUC DDRRR first. UNHCR has set up an expedited process
where it only keeps repatriation volunteers for two days at the
welcome centers before transporting them to the repatriation exit
points. Within the last week, UNHCR has repatriated 200 people each
day to Rwanda.


7. (SBU) In Toure's opinion, it was very likely that FDLR
combatants had opted to move their families to Rwanda temporarily to
avoid anticipated heavy fighting with FARDC and RDF troops. The
border with Rwanda was very porous and it was likely that the
families would return to the DRC once the fighting ended. He called

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on Rwanda to create more political space, which would facilitate
permanent returns.

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