VZCZCXRO2927
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0864/01 2831626
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 091626Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8581
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000864 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO PHUM PREF CG
SUBJECT:    Goma Report October 8: Heavy Fighting in 
        Rutshuru; CNDP Threatens MONUC; GDRC Remains 
        Concerned About Imminent Rwandan Intervention 
 
REF:        Kinshasa 843 
 
KINSHASA 00000864  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Heavy fighting erupted October 8 in the Rutshuru 
region.  CNDP overran a FARDC brigade head-quarters near Rumangabo, 
apparently inflicting heavy casualties and capturing significant 
amounts of military equipment.  MONUC told post that CNDP almost 
certainly initiated the fighting.  MONUC has lodged formal 
complaints with the FARDC regarding the following: FARDC forces are 
actively inciting and even participating in anti-MONUC 
demonstrations along the Rutshuru corridor, thus hindering MONUC 
movements; in certain areas, FARDC has moved its troops next to 
MONUC positions, thus bringing MONUC into crossfire; and FARDC has 
initiated operations with attack helicopters without coordinating 
with MONUC.  CNDP's Major Castro told Goma PolOff and MONUC Kinshasa 
that the CNDP might attack a MONUC base near Bunagana (outside of a 
FARDC-CNDP battle zone) should MONUC prevent CNDP troop movements to 
Rumangabo.  FARDC, with MONUC logistical support, is preparing for 
operations against Ituri rebel groups.  MONUC believes that a 
heretofore unknown Ituri group, the Union for Congolese Revolution 
(URC - Union pour la Revolution Congolaise), may be a CNDP creation, 
perhaps with support from Uganda.  End Summary. 
 
Heavy Fighting in Rutshuru Region 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Heavy fighting between FARDC and CNDP erupted October 8 
along the Rutshuru corridor.  Confrontations began early morning in 
the vicinities of Ntamagenga and east of Rumangabo.  Both sides 
accused the other of starting the fighting.  MONUC's Deputy Director 
of Political Affairs, Christian Manahl, while briefing P3+2 
Political Counselors, said that CNDP almost certainly initiated the 
hostilities. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) By 9:00 am, FARDC had employed two attack helicopters, 
which fired rockets at CNDP positions near Rumangabo.  FARDC also 
used mortars, and tanks were observed moving north towards Rugari, 
though it is unclear if FARDC used them.  By 10:30, the fighting 
near Rumangabo had stopped, while there was sporadic gunfire through 
the afternoon near Ntamagenga.  When the dust had settled, CNDP had 
overrun the FARDC's 2nd Integrated Brigade headquarters two 
kilometers east of Rumangabo.  In Ntamagenga, MONUC forces had 
evacuated the area, which FARDC then reoccupied.  Manahl said that 
CNDP had inflicted heavy casualties and had captured considerable 
military equipment at Rumangabo. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Acting Chief of MONUC's Force Headquarters, Lt. Colonel 
McNight, announced that MONUC would present FARDC with three formal 
complaints.  First, FARDC apparently incited the local population to 
demonstrate against MONUC, with FARDC elements even actively 
participating in the demonstrations.  This hindered MONUC efforts to 
deploy from Rutshuru to Rumangabo to confront the CNDP.  Some 2,000 
FARDC soldiers and their families, who were fleeing north towards 
Rutshuru, reportedly instigated the incitement. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) MONUC's second complaint was the FARDC's decision - 
previously taken in Kimoka and near Himbi Heights - to place its 
units in Ntamagenga directly next to MONUC elements, while engaging 
CNDP.  A Uruguayan unit was therefore caught in crossfire and forced 
to evacuate the area, which the FARDC subsequently reoccupied.  At 
least one Uruguayan vehicle caught fire after sustaining gunfire. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The final complaint was the FARDC's decision to use attack 
helicopters without coordinating with MONUC.  Manahl told PolCouns 
that a FARDC helicopter almost mistakenly attacked a MONUC position. 
 MONUC had canceled an operation to send one of its Mi-24's to 
support the FARDC withdrawal because FARDC was already flying in the 
area.  MONUC also canceled a mission to send attack helicopters to 
Walikale in support of Operation Kimia, as the helicopters might 
have been needed along the Rutshuru corridor. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) CNDP's Major Castro contacted Goma PolOff to explain that 
the CNDP actions near Rumangabo were in response to FARDC attacks in 
the area.  Castro conceded that the CNDP might consider attacking 
the MONUC base at Chengerero near Bunagana, in the event MONUC 
forces blocked CNDP forces from advancing to Rumangabo.  PolOff 
warned Castro that such an action would have serious consequences. 
Manahl told PolCouns that he had told Castro that such an attack, 
outside of a FARDC-CNDP battle zone, would be extremely provocative, 
almost certainly resulting in a robust MONUC response. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) In a separate incident on October 8, the FARDC's 14th 
Integrated Brigade and the Mai Mai Cobra Brigade engaged in a brief 
firefight near Bweremana between Sake and Minova.  The FARDC was 
conducting a sensitization campaign on disengagement when a scuffle 
 
KINSHASA 00000864  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
broke out, which escalated into a firefight.  Three Mai Mai were 
reportedly killed.  Strangely, the situation ended when 
approximately 375 Mai Mai combatants surrendered.  They are being 
held in Minova awaiting transfer to a brassage center.  MONUC was 
unclear why the situation escalated or why the FARDC was conducting 
a disengagement sensitization campaign independent of MONUC. 
 
FARDC Prepares for Operations in Ituri 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) In southern Ituri, preparations for FARDC operations 
against the Front for Patriotic Resistance in Ituri (FRPI-Forces de 
Resistance Patriotique d'Ituri) are underway.  Efforts consist of 
securing the main supply route (MSR) southwest from Bunia into the 
projected area of operations.  During fighting last week, the FARDC 
lost some 60,000 rounds of ammunition and an unspecified number of 
weapons.  MONUC was now providing security and logistical support 
along the MSR.  However, coordination amongst the Bangladeshi, 
Guatemalan, Pakistani, and Nepalese units was proving difficult. 
There was no immediate timeline for beginning the FARDC operations 
in the area. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) In Kinshasa, Manahl said that MONUC remains concerned 
about renewed instability in Ituri, particularly because MONUC and 
the FARDC have reduced their presence in the province to support 
operations in North Kivu.  MONUC recently received a declaration 
from a heretofore unknown Ituri rebel group, the Union for Congolese 
Revolution (URC - Union pour la Revolution Congolaise), announcing 
its establishment.  Manahl opined that the same people were probably 
associated with this group, the FRPI, and its purported successor, 
the Popular Front for Justice in Congo (FPJC - "Front Populaire pour 
la Justice au Congo")(reftel). 
 
¶11.  (SBU) According to MONUC officials, there are strong 
indications that the CNDP may be behind the URC.  MONUC has 
ascertained that the URC document, which MONUC received, was sent 
from North Kivu from an individual believed to have ties with the 
CNDP.  There are also rumors that Uganda may be backing the URC, 
perhaps to irritate Kinshasa because of the two countries' oil 
exploration dispute in Lake Albert. 
 
BROCK