VZCZCXYZ0043
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKI #0301/01 0871127
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271127Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7735
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000301 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MOPS MARR PGOV SOCI KPKO CG UN UG
SUBJECT:  GOMA NOTES 03/26/08 - BRIEFING IN BENI 
 
REF:  Kinshasa 283 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  MONUC assesses the situation in North Kivu's 
Grand Nord region as much calmer than that further south near Goma. 
Combat is occurring only between PARECO and FDLR/RUD forces 
southwest of Lubero, with relatively limited disruption.  There is a 
significant presence of foreign armed groups in the region; 
FDLR/FOCA is particularly well-integrated into the local community. 
Reliable estimates of these groups' numbers remain elusive.  MONUC 
has established bases at Kokola and Kanango to pressure FDLR 
positions.  Many FARDC troops have been moved out of the region, and 
the three battalions that remain are not prepared to undertake 
meaningful operations against the FDLR.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Lt. Colonel Santosh Nair, commander of MONUC forces based 
in Beni in the Grand Nord region of North Kivu, led a staff briefing 
for USAID Liaison Officer March 26, 2008 about cease-fire 
violations, negative forces and the general state of play in the 
region.  Highlights of that briefing follow. 
 
Overview 
-------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) The overall situation is much calmer than further south in 
the Goma hinterlands of the Petit Nord.  No Goma process ceasefire 
violations have been recorded, with the exception of the FARDC tank 
movement south from Beni (reftel).  This is primarily due to the 
fact that no Congolese armed groups are currently facing off against 
each other.  Active or semi-active combat is occurring only between 
PARECO and the RUD faction of the FDLR, southwest of Lubero.  This 
is producing new IDPs and disruption.  Ex-combatants, many of whom 
have not been properly reintegrated, are floating around cities and 
major towns, and are a source of instability.  However, this is a 
chronic, rather than acute, problem. 
 
"Negative forces" 
----------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) There is a significant presence of "negative forces" in 
the Grand Nord.  Foreign armed groups include: 
 
--  ADF/NALU.  East and northeast of Beni toward the Ugandan border. 
 They avoid contact with MONUC and the FARDC so MONUC is not certain 
of their precise location.  They have also reportedly moved to areas 
east of Butembo.  MONUC estimates they number 400-500 and are 60 per 
cent Congolese.  They use North Kivu as a sanctuary, and have no 
economic interests in the DRC.   They do not harass or brutalize the 
local populations in areas they are occupying.  They are quiescent 
at this time and are not mounting any armed offensives in Uganda. 
 
--  FDLR/FOCA.  West of Lubero, extending down to north of 
Kanyabayonga, and farther south to near Rwindi.  There is also a 
pocket south of Lake Edward in the Virungas.  They are fully in 
charge of the areas they control, providing security, administration 
and tax collection.  They are firmly integrated into the communities 
and getting along with their lives in a fashion that would be judged 
to be normal if they were not armed and organized as a fighting 
force.  They do not brutalize or harass the local population, and 
have perhaps 1,000 men under arms (light weapons, mortars and 
rockets.)  FOCA has a lock on the area around Fatua, where gold 
mining is king.  Gold -- not Congolese francs or dollars -- is the 
medium of exchange.  FOCA take 8 per cent of all commercial 
transactions, payable in gold, as taxes. 
 
--  FDLR/RUD.  Southwest of Lubero, west of Kanyabayonga.  Less 
radical than FOCA.  Still led by General Mushaere. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Congolese armed groups in the Grand Nord include: 
 
--  PARECO (La Fontaine).  Southwest of Lubero, spread out but 
concentrated between Bingi and Buniatenge.  Claim to have 1,000 
fighters, but MONUC estimates 150-200, including many minors. 
Currently involved in clashes with RUD. 
 
--  Vurondo Mai-Mai.  Southwest of Beni and northwest of Butembo, 
near the town of Vurondo.  Seems to have split into three factions: 
General Baraka faction -- small, with 15 officers; Vurondo 
faction,"riffraff," in MONUC's characterization; Hundule faction -- 
10 officers.  (Note:  This is not the story told us by Mai-Mai 
spokesman Didier Bitaki and Colonel Mbusa Ndime, the latter from the 
Vurondo Mai-Mai.  End note.) 
 
--  Rwenzori Mai-Mai.  West bank of Lake Edward in the forest.  They 
apparently moved to this area around the time of the Goma 
conference.  In MONUC's assessment, not a real group.  They cannot 
produce any fighters when asked to do so.  (Note:  This tracks with 
Bitaki's assessment.  End note.) 
 
--  MRC.  A big question mark.  Unconfirmed rumors place them in the 
Grand Nord, but if they are, they have less than 100 men under arms 
and are east-northeast of Beni.  It is not clear whether the group, 
if it exists, is loyal -- or not -- to Nkunda. 
 
--  CUDTE/ACOA.  Same questions, same general area. 
 
Goma and Nairobi processes 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Nairobi process: 
 
--  MONUC has established a mobile operating base (MOB) at Kokola 
and a helicopter operating base (HOB) at Kanango to put pressure on 
FDLR positions in the Grand Nord. 
--  FARDC has only three battalions in the region, which are not 
prepared to undertake any meaningful operations against the FDLR. 
Many troops have been moved to the Petit Nord, and others are in 
training in Nyaleke. 
--  FDLR deserters average one per week from RUD and zero from 
FOCA. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Goma process:  there do not seem to be any major issues in 
the Grand Nord. 
 
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