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 KINSHASA 00000691 002 OF 002 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