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