EASTERN DRC NOTES - JULY 16

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000691

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - JULY 16


1. (U) The information contained in this cable consists principally
of spot reports from various sources. This cable is not exhaustive,
nor can all the information contained therein be confirmed at this
time.

Security Situation - LRA
--------------


2. (SBU) Press reports state that the LRA attacked the village of
Bayule (northeast of Dingila) on July 7 and abducted 80 people.
MONUC sources say local contacts confirmed the reports and consider
the media accounts accurate. LRA rebels also abducted six youths
from Yma (north of Faradje) in two attacks on June 30 and July 4.
(Note: A UNICEF source told Goma poloff week of July 6 that the LRA
is seeking to rebuild its forces before retreating to the Central
African Republic (CAR) to train and recuperate. End note). The
FARDC claims it liberated 71 LRA-abductees in the period May 26 to
July 6.


3. (SBU) MONUC has established a new Company Operating Base (COB)
of 70 troops west of Dungu at Dingila. The FARDC has established a
base in Ango territory, considerably west of Dungu, reflecting the
westward movement of LRA elements. The LRA has also been active
near Garamba Park, and a group of seven LRA (with approximately 20
abductees) attacked a village between Kiliwa and Swahili camp on
July 12. Another LRA attack on a village near the border town of
Bitima resulted in four Congolese civilian deaths.

Ituri
--------------


4. (SBU) FRPI ("Forces de Resistances Patriotique en Ituri" in
French) militia remain active in villages near Tchey in Ituri.
Local Mai Mai abducted seven villagers on July 11, but released them
several hours later. FRPI frequently uses abducted locals as
porters. MONUC estimates there are 45-50 active rebels in the area,
and the FARDC will launch the third phase of Operation Iron Stone on
July 20 to eliminate them.

North Kivu
--------------


5. (SBU) The FARDC captured four FDLR troops near Nyalima. The
FDLR has been active around Nyalima and has warned villagers not to
go to their fields. The FDLR apparently believe locals are
reporting their movements to FARDC.


6. (SBU) Police from several surrounding towns pulled back to
Rutshuru after sustained attacks by the FDLR. Further south, a
clash between Mai Mai Kifuafua and FARDC was averted when the MONUC
Joint Protection team brokered a separation of the forces. Kifuafua
claims it must remain in the area to protect family and other
locals. Near the border with South Kivu, seven FARDC troops were
reportedly abducted by Mai Mai militia just north of Hombo on the
night of July 9. FARDC troops had been pushed out of some of the
border towns, but took back the town of Murake from the FDLR on July

11. MONUC reports that local FDLR forces under "Captain" Bomboli
are attempting to regroup after suffering several losses in clashes
with the FARDC.


7. (SBU) Three FDLR were killed in an attack on a FARDC camp in
Kamandi on the southern shore of Lake Edwards the week of July 6.
There were no reports of FARDC casualties.

South Kivu
--------------


8. (SBU) FARDC and FDLR troops clashed for several hours around
Mwenga in one of the longest engagements between the two forces this
year. MONUC reports that shooting started around 10:00 am on July 9
and did not cease until nearly 6:00 p.m. A full range of weapons
were used, and MONUC launched an attack helicopter, but the pilot
was unable to spot ground targets in the heavy forest. At one
point, FDLR troops entered the town of Mwenga, but they fled when
MONUC sent a patrol into the town.


9. (SBU) In an unprecedented move, the FDLR attacked the MONUC
Company Operating Base (COB) in Mwenga on the afternoon of July 13.
The attack coincided with a conference between the local FARDC
Commander and the MONUC base commander. MONUC troops responded with
heavy gunfire, killing one FDLR cadre. One MONUC soldier was
slightly wounded. The FDLR was able to approach through dense
forest near the COB perimeter which MONUC has now cut back.


10. (SBU) MONUC suspects that local FARDC troops may be in
collusion with the FDLR. They note that the attackers appeared to

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have inside information that the commanders' meeting was taking
place at a particular time and that local FARDC troops cooperate
sporadically in anti-FDLR operations. The region around Mwenga has
seen regular skirmishes between FDLR and FARDC, and MONUC patrols
have also taken fire. According to sources in DDRRR, FDLR forces in
the area are determined to fight and have dug in around several
locations.


11. (SBU) Fighting also took place nearby at Kibumba and triggered
the movement of 5000 IDP's into Mwenga. MONUC extracted the German
NGO GTZ from the area and other NGO's temporarily suspended
operations in Mwenga.


12. (SBU) DDRRR has established a repatriation center in Kigulube
and reports that small groups of FDLR are present in the region, but
seem uninterested in repatriation. The FDLR has been established in
the area for ten years and operates a lucrative tin mine.

Integration - South Kivu
--------------


13. (SBU) Newly integrated troops continue to transfer to Luberezi
Integration Center, which will be the site for longer term training
and which received 48 Mai Mai troops from six different militias on
July 8. Most of the new FARDC troops are coming from Baraka
Integration Center, which is now down to 138 troops. Some of the
newly integrated troops, however, do not want to leave their home
areas, and MONUC reports that desertions have increased.

GARVELINK