VZCZCXRO9643
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0640/01 1871435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061435Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9860
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 000640 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - JULY 6 
 
¶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. 
 
Anti-LRA Operations 
------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The FARDC attacked LRA positions at Duma on June 30, 
killing two rebels and at Lema on July 1, capturing one LRA 
combatant.  According to MONUC, the UPDF and FARDC assess that Kony 
is in the CAR, but that many of his officers remain in the DRC near 
the CAR border. 
 
UNICEF Views on the LRA 
----------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) A UNICEF contact responsible for child protection in the 
eastern DRC recently provided us with a summary of recent UNICEF 
actions that the organization believes are helping to put more 
emphasis on protection and response in Province Orientale.  UNICEF, 
its Italian NGO partner COOPI, and seven Congolese NGOs have 
implemented an early warning system to highlight suspected LRA 
positions.  UNICEF and its partners advise villagers to move in 
groups, also pointing out safe areas to which the villagers can 
flee.  UNICEF noted that the emergence of self-defense units has 
deterred LRA attacks in certain instances. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) According to our contact, the LRA is now focused on 
survival, attacking for food, rather than for strategic or 
retributive goals.  The group lacks ammunition and guns, and 
constant movement complicates resupply efforts.  Since January, 
UNICEF estimates that the LRA has abducted some 600 children and 
young adults, but around 307 have escaped.  Based on abductee 
debriefings, UNICEF believes the LRA seeks to recruit a new batch of 
fighters, then move to the CAR to recover and train. 
 
Security Situation in the Kivus 
------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Radio Okapi reported an FDLR attack on Kasheghe in North 
Kivu on the night of June 29-30 resulted in three FARDC and 8 FDLR 
killed.  MONUC confirmed that a joint FDLR/PARECO force carried out 
the attack (see paragraph 12).  GDRC Spokesman Lambert Mende 
condemned the attack, which occurred on the DRC's Independence Day, 
as "a terrorist act intending to demoralize the Congolese 
population."  Opposition politicians, while condemning the attack, 
claimed that the attack highlighted two failures:  the inability of 
the joint operations to neutralize the FDLR; and the lack of 
military reform. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) MONUC confirmed that around 25 houses were burned in 
Kesheguru, 22 kilometers north of Kiwanja.  It is unclear how the 
fires started, although there was reportedly heavy exchange of fire 
between FARDC and FDLR in the area.  Two FARDC were reportedly 
killed.  Some locals maintained that the FARDC had set the fires. 
(Comment:  this area around Nyalima remains tense with frequent 
FARDC-FDLR clashes, with the local population caught in the middle. 
End comment.) 
 
¶7.  (U) Radio Okapi reported that unidentified men in uniforms 
killed a pastor in his house, as well as two guests, in Rutshuru the 
night of July 4-5.  The perpetrators apparently did not take 
anything from the house.  The same night at Kinyandonyi (10 
kilometers from Rutshuru), an exchange of fire between the national 
police (PNC) and FDLR/Mai Mai forces left one PNC officer dead. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) A previously unknown Mai Mai group evoked panic in 
Rutshuru by distributing leaflets calling on all Nande to depart the 
area by June 30.  MONUC has stepped up patrols to protect the Nande 
population.  We subsequently followed up to ascertain that the 
threat was empty, but ethnic tensions remain high. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) An independent researcher, with good FDLR contacts, has 
informed us that collaboration between the FARDC and FDLR has 
decreased significantly over the past few months.  It is now the 
exception, not the rule. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Money to pay the April and May salaries of FARDC troops 
in South Kivu has arrived in Bukavu.  Troops in Goma were paid prior 
to President Kabila's June 30 visit to the city. 
 
PARECO-Nande Collaboration with the FDLR 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (SBU) According to Nande contacts, PARECO-Nande military leader 
 
KINSHASA 00000640  002 OF 002 
 
 
"General" Lafontaine refused to meet with Chief of Defense Didier 
Etumba, when the CHOD recently met with non-Rwandophone armed groups 
in Goma.  Lafontaine reportedly insisted on meeting only with 
President Kabila. 
 
¶12.  (SBU) MONUC reported that a captured FDLR combatant claimed 
that LaFontaine's units were involved in the attack on Kashege, and 
that PARECO-Nande is systematically collaborating with the FDLR. 
(Comment:  this information is consistent with previous reports that 
indicated LaFontaine was considering a military option.  While 
LaFontaine may still try to hedge his bets, it looks increasingly as 
if he has chosen to side with the FDLR.  It is uncertain how much 
support he can muster within the Nande community for this approach. 
End comment.) 
 
Humanitarian Situation 
---------------------- 
 
¶13.  (U) Press reports indicate that as many as 4,000 IDP households 
have fled FARDC-FDLR fighting in the areas of Miriki, Luofu, Kitalo, 
and Buakinge in southern Lubero District.  The German NGO Diakonie 
has provided 300 tons of foodstuffs and non-food items, including 
beans, rice, salt, blankets, mosquito nets, hoes, and jerry cans. 
 
¶14.  (SBU) WFP estimates that there are currently 20,000 IDPs on the 
Hombo-Bunyakiri axis in South Kivu.  There are no IDP camps on the 
axis.  WFP will supply three megatons of rations and MONUC stands 
ready to assist "in any way necessary." 
 
GARVELINK