INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Goma Report October 9: Rutshuru Fighting Subsides; Cndp

Published: Fri 10 Oct 2008 11:00 AM
VZCZCXRO3166
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0868 2841100
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101100Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8587
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 000868
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO PHUM PREF CG
SUBJECT: Goma Report October 9: Rutshuru fighting subsides; CNDP
Withdraws from Rumangabo; Anti-MONUC Demonstrations in Kisangani;
Unconfirmed rumors of Rwandan involvement in DRC
REF: Kinshasa 813
1. (SBU) Summary: There were no major incidents on October 9,
following heavy fighting on October 8. Stating it was responding to
the SRSG's request, CNDP announced it would withdraw from the FARDC
base at Rumangabo. There were anti-MONUC demonstrations by students
in Kisangani, the first such demonstrations outside of the Kivus and
Kinshasa. There continue to be unsubstantiated rumors of Rwandan
troops infiltrating into the DRC. End Summary.
2. (SBU) MONUC reported no major incidents in the Rutshuru area
October 9 following heavy fighting the previous day. MONUC said
that the CNDP had clearly initiated the fighting on October 8, with
strong evidence that the operation to capture the Rumangabo FARDC
headquarters had been well planned. Reportedly 47 FARDC were killed
in the Rumangabo attack, and MONUC had received a long list of
military equipment, including tanks and AK-47, which the CNDP had
captured. MSF in Rutshuru noted that there were 90 casualties in
the local hospital, as a result of the October 8 fighting. There
were IDP movements south toward Kibumbu.
3. (SBU) CNDP confirmed to MONUC it had taken the Rumangabo base,
claiming that FDLR troops had fled the area alongside retreating
FARDC troops and their families. Late on October 9, CNDP Spokesman
Betrand Bisimwa sent out a message that, at the request of SRSG
Doss, it had withdrawn from Rumangabo "to maximize prospects for a
peaceful resolution of the crisis." MONUC confirmed the withdrawal.
4. (SBU) There were anti-MONUC demonstrations in Kisangani October
9. A group of approximately one thousand students marched on MONUC
headquarters, and subsequently began throwing rocks. There were no
reports of injuries or damage to vehicles. MONUC claimed this was
the first anti-MONUC demonstration outside of the Kivus. (Note:
There have been several peaceful demonstrations in Kinshasa against
perceived MONUC inaction vis-a-vis the CNDP. Reftel refers to
September 26 demonstration during which protestors stoned a UN
vehicle. End Note.)
5. (SBU) There were continuing rumors in the local population of a
Rwandan troop build-up in the Wawe area on the east side of Lake
Kivu. There were also unconfirmed reports that some Rwandan troops
had infiltrated the DRC at Mushawase, south of Wawe.
BROCK
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