VZCZCXRO8401
PP RUEHMR
DE RUEHKI #0435/01 0731639
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141639Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3406
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000435 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016 
TAGS: PGOV KPKO MOPS CG UG
SUBJECT: ITURI: FARDC AND MONUC SEAL OFF BUNIA FROM MILITIAS 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 411 
 
     ¶B. KINSHASA 359 
 
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
¶1. (C) The Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), with support from 
MONUC peacekeepers, have sealed off Bunia to prevent the 
infiltration of militia forces into the city. Following the 
cessation of Operation Ituri Engraver (reftels), militias 
have continued sporadic attacks against the FARDC and MONUC 
positions in Ituri. The Ituri militias have since been 
expanding their areas of operations to locations just south 
of Bunia. An internal MONUC planning document reports that 
militia forces have begun infiltrating the Kendia and 
Simbiliyabo quarters of Bunia. MONUC reports that sources 
have witnessed militia heading from Zumbe, Medu and Mandro 
(all approximately 15km south-southeast of Bunia), seeking to 
 mix in among the civilian population. In response, the FARDC 
have cordoned off Bunia, while MONUC and Congolese police 
begin search-and-cordon operations in the area. 
 
¶2. (C) Ituri District Commissioner Petronille Vaweka 
confirmed to PolOff March 14 that Bunia had been sealed off 
by MONUC and FARDC troops. Vaweka said, however, that she did 
not believe Bunia was being threatened by the "infiltration" 
of militias. She said the militias have been living and 
hiding in Bunia for more than 10 years, and receive 
substantial support from the local population. Vaweka said 
cordoning off Bunia would have little effect on preventing 
militia movements. 
 
¶3. (C) Vaweka added that the biggest problem currently facing 
the local government is the influx of displaced persons in 
Bunia as a result of recent fighting. Vaweka said the city of 
Bunia was being "overrun" by IDPs, many of whom are seeking 
shelter with family members. Vaweka estimated there are 
perhaps 5,000 IDPs within Bunia's city limits. According to 
MONUC-Bunia, the UN Office for the Coordination of 
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that approximately 12,000 
IDPs have registered with the agency, and most have found 
shelter in public schools, churches, and host families. 
 
¶4. (C) Internal MONUC documents also contain reports that 
other militia groups, notably the Congolese Revolutionary 
Movement (MRC), is recruiting children in Lipri, Nyakunde, 
Loga, Zumbe, Mandro, Ezekele and Kambutso (all north of 
Bunia). MONUC sources also report having seen children in 
former militia training camps in Loga. 
 
¶5. (C) Militias are continuing their attacks on MONUC and 
FARDC troops that began with the suspension of Ituri 
Engraver. Militia forces attacked March 12-13 MONUC and FARDC 
positions at several locations in Ituri. On the night of 
March 12, militias reportedly tried to advance on a post of 
Moroccan peacekeepers in Bogoro. MONUC reports that the 
Moroccan sentries detected the movement and opened fire on 
the militia, who subsequently fled the area. On the morning 
of March 13, militias fired upon FARDC and MONUC Bangladeshi 
troops in the Khajana area. After a 10-minute exchange of 
fire, the militia fled to the southeast. Later that 
afternoon, militias conducted firefights on FARDC positions 
south of Khajana and west of Kagaba. Again, militia troops 
fled when counterattacked. 
 
¶6. (C) MONUC also reports that Ituri militias are receiving 
arms and ammunition from Ugandan sources. According to 
MONUC-Bunia Head of Office Sharouh Sharif, the Ugandan-backed 
MRC is supplying weapons to militias in Tchei. Arms are being 
brought to the area from Uganda through Semiliki, Boguma and 
Boga (approximately 50km south of Bunia). In addition, FARDC 
9th Military Region Commander Gen. Padiri Bulenda reportedly 
told MONUC that ex-Union of Patriotic Congolese (UPC) Chief 
of Staff Bosco Ntaganda recently left North Kivu and moved to 
the Tchei area. MONUC has not been able to independently 
confirm this allegation. 
 
¶7. (C) Comment: The suspension of military operations in 
Ituri has allowed militias to rearm and regroup. The influx 
of IDPs into Bunia will place more burdens on the local 
government, which is already unable to provide basic 
services. Cross-border arms trafficking, if accurate and 
allowed to continue, will exacerbate the militia threat. In 
addition, the delay by the FARDC to reinforce its own troops 
after the March 1 Aveba mutiny again demonstrates the 
inability of the national army to operate independent of 
MONUC assistance. Meanwhile, as elections approach and MONUC 
becomes more engaged in securing and transporting election 
 
KINSHASA 00000435  002 OF 002 
 
 
materials, the more difficult it will be for peacekeepers to 
confront the militia threat and prevent it from spilling over 
into other provinces. End comment. 
MEECE