VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLGB #0238 0661333
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071333Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3870
INFO RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 0026
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 1552
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 0191
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000238 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C, AND INR, EUCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017 
TAGS: MOPS PREL MONUC KPKO CG RW
SUBJECT: NO CASULTIES AFTER SALVO FIRED FROM DRC INTO RWANDA 
 
Classified By: Poloff GLearned for reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
¶1. (U) Summary. At approximately 21h00 local time on 3 March 
a barrage of direct and indirect fire was directed from North 
Kivu into a unoccupied area in Northwest Rwanda by an unknown 
unit suspected to be from the Democratic Forces for the 
Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).  No casualties were reported by 
the GOR or MONUC after the estimated 20 minute incident. 
Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) leaders quickly contacted their 
Congolese counterparts to prevent any escalation and the 
situation is currently calm.  Details vary according to the 
source, but the incident appears to have been isolated and 
the GOR has indicated that it plans no further reaction other 
than discussing the incident in the upcoming Tripartite Plus 
talks. End summary. 
 
GOR's Version 
------------- 
¶2. (C) In a 5 March meeting with MONUC-Kigali military 
observers (milobs), the GOR described the attackers as North 
Kivu based FDLR troops intending to instigate a Rwandan 
retaliatory strike by firing from a position 400 meters from 
an RDC Armed Forces (FARDC) position.  (Note.  The GOR made 
the accusation that the FARDC's 91st Battalion consisted of a 
significant number of integrated FDLR-FOCA troops. End note.) 
 The salvo- consisting of indirect (60mm mortars), machine 
gun, RPG and rocket (107mm Kaytusha) fire- impacted on open 
ground in two cells in Busasamana Sector, Rubavu District, 
Western Province, no casualties or property damage resulted. 
BrigGen Richard Rutatina (RDF J3- chief of operations, 
training and plans) told MONUC reps that the attackers 
continued to fire as they withdrew from their initial firing 
positions near the DRC-Rwanda border in order to create the 
impression that the RDF returned fire into the DRC.  Rutatina 
denied any Rwandan retaliation and an RDF intel officer, 
Major Tinka, claimed that Rwandan military intelligence was 
aware of the impending attack.  (Note.  MONUC contact did not 
know how the RDF acquired its warning. End note.) 
 
¶3. (C) After communicating the RDF's version of events, 
Rutatina handed the MONUC milobs a letter titled "Aggression 
and Violation of Rwanda's National Sovereignty and Integrity" 
signed by RDF Chief of General Staff General James Kabarebe. 
Rutatina concluded the meeting by telling the MONUC milobs 
that he had no confidence in MONUC or the FARDC as they had 
failed to disarm and repatriate the genocidal forces and 
prevent continued attacks on Rwanda. 
 
MONUC's Version 
--------------- 
¶4. (C) According to Kigali based MONUC poloff (protect) an 
investigation is on-going.  An initial MONUC situation report 
indicated that the "firing was initiated by suspected FDLR 
cadres to create confusion."  Initially, MONUC units reported 
that the Rwandans returned fire with machine guns and 
mortars, however, MONUC has backed off from these reports 
until further investigations are completed. On 4 March, MONUC 
radio station "Radio Okapi" reported that the details of the 
incident were undetermined. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Comment.  The positive aspects of the incident 
include the lack of casualties and the apparent close 
coordination between Rwandan and Congolese leadership to 
defuse the situation.  GOR officials have privately 
criticized MONUC for the failure to prevent the incident, 
but, in Kigali press reporting, have noted the upcoming 
Tripartite Plus talks as the appropriate mechanism to address 
the security situation. Despite the current problems in North 
Kivu, it appears at first blush that this isolated border 
incident, the first in a few years, was an unsuccessful 
attempt by the FDLR to trigger an RDF response. End comment. 
 
ARIETTI