Cablegate: Goma Report September 16

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OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0769 2601113
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161113Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8440
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 KINSHASA 000769

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO PHUM PREF CG
SUBJECT: Goma Report September 16

1. (SBU) Summary: The only area of continued firing remains the
Ngungu-Kirtoshe area. Nkunda and CNDP are not communicating with EU
special envoy Van de Geer. MONUC has presented a plan for zones of
separation to the government, to include FARDC departure from
positions in Rutshuru buffer zone. End Summary.

2. (SBU) As of September 16, CNDP has almost entirely withdrawn
from areas beyond its previous area of control. The only exceptions
are a few stragglers in the large northern area around Nyanzale and
continued fighting in the Ngungu-Kirotshe area in the southwest. In
the latter there was a brief exchange of fire between CNDP and FARDC
this morning near Kirotshe-Shasha. North Kivu brigade assesses that
this was not an attack by either side, but rather forces in movement
too close to each other who opened fire. North Kivu brigade has
given PARECO until noon to day to clear out of Ngungu, where there
has been significant human displacement. There has been ongoing
exchange of fire between CNDP and PARECO in and around Ngungu.
North Kivu brigade commander is present today in Kirotshe and
Ngungu.

3. (SBU) In the large northern zone around Nyanzale, North Kivu
brigade assesses that CNDP has 95 percent cleared out with only a
few CDNP elements still left around Kibirizi. North Kivu brigade
continues to occupy its own base at Nyanzale as well as the FARDC
brigade headquarters north of the town, having expected FARDC to
return to the area byu now. However, FARDC has effectively kept out
of the entire region south of Kanyabayonga, leaving a vacuum that
has been occupied in part by PARECO, Mai Mai, and FDLR. North Kivu
brigade has warned PARECO at Kikuku and pushed it at least out of
that village.

4. (SBU) In the Rutshuru corridor, North Kivu brigade confirms that
CNDP has withdrawn from the one forward position it held (since
August 28) in the buffer zone, at Kanombe. The FARDC continue to
hold the positions taken within the buffer zone, i.e., Ntamugenga
and Mutabo, as well as Kishebere near the Uganda border. The water
source for Rutshuru town, located in CNDP territory, remains cut
off. (Note: This issue was mentioned to the CNDP team at Kimoka by
Eastern Coordinator Alpha Sow on September 13, and CNDP promised an
immediate solution. End note.) The local population on the Birao
to Bunaganga road has staged a protest over closure of the road.

5. (SBU) EU Special Envoy Roeland van de Geer remains in Goma until
September 17. He hoped for a meeting with Nkunda, or failing that
at least another meeting with the CNDP team at Kimoka, but there has
been no return call from Nkunda, nor any willingness of the CNDP
team to meet again. He also planned to helicopter to meet the
leader of the southern wing of PARECO, but ongoing fighting around
Ngungu appears to have also negated that possibility, as the PARECO
commander is evidently too engaged.

6. (SBU) Yesterday, September 15, MONUC presented a
rapidly-prepared plan for North Kivu zones of separation to the
government (before SRSG Doss and Minister of Interior and other
ministers left Goma). The plan was not coordinated with the
international facilitation team. It appears that the plan proposes
that FARDC evacuate Ntamugenga, Mutabo, and Kishebere. The
government has not given its response. MONUC proposed to present
the plan to CNDP at Kimoka, but CNDP has thus far shown no
willingness to meet MONUC or receive the plan.

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