Cablegate: Refugees From Bandundu Conflict Reluctant to Return to Drc

VZCZCXRO1587
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1806 3331553
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291553Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5239
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 0026

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001806

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

KAMPALA FOR REFCOORD FREDERICK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM CG
SUBJECT: REFUGEES FROM BANDUNDU CONFLICT RELUCTANT TO RETURN TO DRC

REF: Kinshasa 1779

1. (SBU) Attempts by UNHCR and DRC officials to persuade some 2-3000
people to return to the DRC territory of Bolobo from camps across
the Congo River near Bouanga, Republic of the Congo have proven
largely unsuccessful, Jens Hesemann of UNHCR told us November 28.
The refugees are primarily ethnic Nunu people who fled clashes
earlier this month in a longstanding conflict with neighboring Tende
over land-use rights in Bandundu province northeast of Kinshasa
(reftel).

2. (SBU) Hesemann and UNHCR colleague Ralf Gruenert report that
UNHCR-Brazzaville is providing food and shelter to the elderly, ill
and other vulnerable persons in Bouanga. Some people have returned
to Bolobo, but several hundred others remain in the bush around the
town. UNHCR-Kinshasa has approved a follow-up assessment mission to
the area, but has not confirmed a date.

3. (SBU) According to a memorandum to SRSG William Swing from the
MONUC-Bandundu head of office, Interior Minister Denis Kalume
claimed that local officials and political interference from
Kinshasa were responsible for the November 13-19 violence. Per the
memorandum, Kalume took swift action against local and provincial
authorities in its wake, firing nearly all senior district officials
upon arrival via helicopter November 19, and ordering senior
provincial officials, including the governor, to remain in Bolobo
overnight and to return with him to Kinshasa the next day with
little more than the clothes on their backs.

4. (U) Embassy Kinshasa is continuing to monitor the humanitarian
situation and will provide updates as necessary.

MEECE

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