VZCZCXRO8739
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0996 3171112
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121112Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8758
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 000996
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: SITUATION REPORT FOR DRC - NOVEMBER 12, 2008,
AS OF 12:30 PM CENTRAL AFRICAN TIME (GMT +1)
1. (U) All times Kinshasa (GMT + 1) unless otherwise indicated.
2. (U) The items contained in this situation report consist
principally of spot information from various sources. This report
is not exhaustive, nor can all the information contained therein be
confirmed at this time.
Security Situation in Goma and Surrounding Area
--------------------------------------------- --
3. (SBU) An EU representative in Goma reported that the Governor of
North Kivu has confirmed news reports that fleeing FARDC soldiers
pillaged civilian residences around the area of Kanyabayonga,
approximately 150 kilometers north of Goma, on November 10 and 11.
Separately, news reports continue to quote Laurent Nkunda as stating
his intention to take over the entire DRC if the Kabila government
refuses direct talks with the CNDP.
Political Developments
----------------------
4. (SBU) USAID officer TDY in Goma reported that an envoys meeting,
including former Nigerian President Obasanjo, will take place in
Kinshasa on November 14. AF Acting DAS Karl Wycoff is likely to
participate in this meeting. (See para 6. below.)
5. (U) The SADC Summit held in South Africa November 9 resolved to
provide some military assistance to the DRC in the context of the
current crisis in North Kivu, according to a communique from the
meeting. These measures consist of the following: a SADC team of
military experts will deploy immediately to assess the situation in
eastern DRC, as will the SADC Military Advisory Team for the purpose
of advising the FARDC command on matters which will be agreed by the
GDRC. It was also resolved that SADC should immediately provide
(otherwise unspecified) assistance to the FARDC.
6. (SBU) Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba convened Kinshasa
ambassadors of UN Security Council countries November 11, plus
Angola and MONUC, to brief them on the Nairobi and SADC summits.
Thambwe asserted that Nairobi had reaffirmed that the Nairobi and
Amani processes remain the only framework for solving the conflict
in the eastern Congo and that former presidents Obasanjo and Mkapa
would re-energize those processes. (Note: More to follow on
Thambwe's meeting via septel). Also on November 11, SRSG Doss met
with UNSC ambassadors. He stated that Obasanjo would arrive in
Kinshasa on November 14 and then proceed to Goma on November 15. No
meeting with Nkunda is anticipated at this time.
BROCK