INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Situation Report for Drc - November 5, 2008,

Published: Wed 5 Nov 2008 11:32 AM
VZCZCXRO3516
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0967 3101132
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051132Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8720
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 000967
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: SITUATION REPORT FOR DRC - NOVEMBER 5, 2008,
AS OF 12:30 PM CENTRAL AFRICAN TIME (GMT +1)
1. (U) All times Kinshasa (GMT + 1) unless otherwise
indicated.
Security Situation in Goma
--------------------------
2. (SBU) USAID officer TDY in Goma/Gisenyi attended a MONUC
military briefing the afternoon of November 4, at which it was
confirmed that the GDRC curfew for Goma (applying only to Congolese)
was now in effect from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM. MONUC would like the
GDRC authorities to extend this to the hours of 7:00 PM to 5:30 AM.
EUSEC observes a 7:00 PM curfew, though many organizations have not
implemented restrictive curfews.
3. (SBU) A situation report sent to Poloff from a contact at MONUC
HQ noted that the UN crisis management cell in Goma decided to shift
the curfew for UN staff to 9:00 PM and close the regroupment sites.
However, mechanisms are in place to reopen and operationalize these
concentration points on short notice in case the security situation
deteriorates rapidly.
4. (SBU) There were no violations of the ceasefire reported,
although the CNDP appears to be reinforcing its positions at Kivumba
and Rutshuru. FARDC forward positions around Goma are two
kilometers north of Kibati, with significant soldiers at or near
Sake and Minova.
5. (SBU) MONUC is concerned that FARDC Generals Delphin and Kenkele
have briefed 120 members of PARECO based in the Rutshuru area around
Kanyabayonga-Mbenga who could serve as paid proxies for the FARDC.
PARECO forces in Rutshuru engaged the CNDP in a firefight November 4
that started at approximately 2:00 PM local time. According to a
MONUC military contact, the PARECO forces were clearly defeated.
This firefight apparently broke out approximately 300 meters from
the MONUC base at Rutshuru, which came under cross-fire.
Stabilization and Humanitarian Developments
-------------------------------------------
6. (SBU) MONUC sources in Goma told USAID officer that, in their
opinion, the Stabilization Plan will have to be more focused on
South Kivu and Ituri for the moment. This represents a shift back
to the original idea that stabilization activities should first be
implemented in the most stable areas, and are not necessarily the
correct tool for more active zones.
7. (SBU) A MONUC military source stated to USAID officer that the
IDP camps at Nyongera, Kinyandonyi, Dumez, and Rutshuru are not just
empty, they have been completely dismantled. Nwenda and Rubare are
intact, but empty. MONUC does not know where the population has
gone.
8. (SBU) The MONUC situation report sent to Poloff described a
November 4 meeting between the humanitarian community and Alain Le
Roy, UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations.
Humanitarian workers raised concerns about how the security
situation has made it more difficult to deliver assistance to the
population, pointing to instances of pillaging and looting of NGO
property and staff. They appealed to MONUC to maintain its
positions outside of Goma to prevent an influx of IDP's into the
town.
Political Developments
----------------------
9. (SBU) The UK Ambassador in Kinshasa (pls protect) told Charge
that President Kabila has apparently given General John Numbi (Chief
of the Congolese National Police Force) an informal green light to
talk with Nkunda; such a meeting would also include representatives
from the United States and the EU.
1. (SBU) A DRC delegation was reportedly in Dar esSalaam November
4 to talk about a summit, perhap by the end of this week, between
Presidents Kabla and Kagame. AU Special Emissary Fall is charged
with arranging the summit.
BROCK
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