EASTERN DRC NOTES - AUGUST 5

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000736 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - AUGUST 5 ¶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) In an August 4 BBC interview, an LRA spokesperson (identified as David Matsanga) claimed that Joseph Kony is ready to sign the Juba peace agreement and is seeking an immediate cease-fire. The spokesperson is an Acholi compatriot of Kony resident in Nairobi, but it is not clear if he speaks for Kony, as the LRA leader has disavowed the spokesperson's statements previously. (Comment: Knowledgeable sources believe Kony simply seeks survival and would use a cease-fire to regroup and recruit. Kony has had many chances to negotiate his surrender, but has reportedly executed leaders who came to advocate such an outcome. End comment). ¶3. (SBU) A MONUC civilian recently returned from Dungu and Faredje told Goma poloff that the FARDC had captured an LRA officer with a Thuraya satellite phone. The phone reportedly contained text messages from Joseph Kony instructing all LRA units to withdraw from the DRC and regroup in the Central African Republic (CAR). The MONUC source noted that the division of labor in the Haut Uele is clear: the FARDC protects civilians while the UPDF hunts for LRA units. The security afforded civilians is incomplete. Faradje, for example, is considered secure up to a three kilometer radius, which does not permit significant cultivation and the city remains dependent upon food assistance. ¶4. (SBU) According to the same source, MONUC has only three civilians resident in Dungu, and coordination between UN agencies is poor. MSF-Belgium ("Medecins Sans Frontieres" in French) is the only NGO in Faredje and has taken responsibility for 14 child soldiers recovered from the LRA (five girls and nine boys). They reportedly are seeking to transfer the youths to the NGO COOPI, a UNICEF partner. ¶5. (SBU) The MONUC source stopped in Kampala, where he found UPDF contacts who expressed determination to continue Operation Lightening Thunder until the LRA was eliminated. According to the source, GoU contacts reported that President Museveni would be willing to negotiate with the National Alliance for the liberation of Uganda and the Alliance of Democratic Forces, who maintain a small but long-running presence in the north east of the DRC. ¶6. (SBU) A separate MONUC source told Goma poloff that two LRA groups had become separated from the bulk of the fighters and were now stranded in eastern Orientale Province (near Faradje). The source estimated the strength of the groups at 25-40 and 40-50 members each. The source said that due to FARDC and UPDF deployments, the two groups have little prospect of rejoining the several other groups now operating northwest of Dungu (and possibly heading for the CAR). Unless the two isolated groups are able to escape through Sudan, the source predicted that the two groups will be trapped and may try to abandon their weapons, strip off their uniforms and impersonate IDP's to escape. (Comment: A plausible escape tactic, but we are less sanguine. There is a lot of open country in the isolated north east and the LRA is adept at avoiding capture. End comment). ¶7. (SBU) The LRA attacked the village of Podo, south of Faradje on July 31, and one LRA rebel was killed. There were no reports of FARDC casualties. The FARDC reportedly killed two civilians in Djabir (north of Faradje) during the week of July 20 while attempting to disarm them. Further south near Fataki, men in FARDC uniforms have been looting local villages. FARDC sources tell MONUC that the uniforms are stolen and the bandits are likely FNI-UPC militia elements. Security Situation - Ituri -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Operation Iron Stone (phase III) may finally be succeeding in getting the main armed groups in Ituri District to give up the armed struggle and demobilize. According to the FARDC 13th Brigade Commander, the FRPI and FPJC militias have sent many of their families to seek shelter in Boga. Representatives of the two armed groups have met with the FARDC commander and said they are ready to surrender but are seeking "incentives." MONUC, which has been supporting FARDC operations, may be in a position to help. (Comment: The low-key but persistent Ituri conflict demonstrates the long-term implications of an incomplete disarmament and integration process such as the one conducted in the Kivus, KINSHASA 00000736 002 OF 002 especially South Kivu. End comment). Security Situation - North Kivu -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The FDLR attacked Bolotwa (near Kanyabayonga) August 1-2 and killed one civilian. They also clashed with the FARDC 20 kilometers east of Hombo, but no casualties were reported. Security Situation - South Kivu -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The FDLR attacked the village of Kiyonvo (near Mwenga) during the same period and burned 63 houses. Mwenga remains the site of frequent clashes between the FDLR and FARDC. MONUC military sources claim seven FDLR died in fighting July 25-26. Sixteen FDLR surrendered near Bunyakiri (including four combatants). FDLR elements abducted 16 civilians at Kasese and are demanding $200 each for their release (Note: MONUC Force Command in Kinshasa speculated August 3 that the hostage taking may indicate FDLR attempts at revenue generating as Operation Kimia II disrupts mineral trading and road tax income sources. End note) South of Bukavu, the FDLR burned ten houses in Lubundu. Clashes south of Bukavu have produced large numbers of IDPs in need of assistance. ¶11. (SBU) Mai Mai Zebuloni, one of the two largest militias in South Kivu, has pulled almost all of its men out of the integration process. In some areas, it is actively cooperating with the FDLR. ¶12. (SBU) DDRRR sources confirm from FDLR defectors that a massacre of FDLR troops and dependents took place in May at Mount Sherio, near the North Kivu - South Kivu border. Perhaps up to 100 persons were killed, prompting the FDLR to retaliate with its own attack at Bunyakiri several days later. ¶13. (SBU) An estimated 20 FDLR cadres attacked the village of Kigowe, about one kilometer west of Sange on July 28. The rebels burned 9-10 homes occupied by FARDC soldiers before retreating into the forest. Elsewhere in South Kivu, three FDLR troops surrendered. ¶14. (SBU) A well-placed western diplomat claimed that the FDLR continues to recruit new fighters from Rwandan refugee camps in Tanzania, primarily in the Kigoma area. GARVELINK