Cablegate: Situation Report for Drc - November 10, 2008,

VZCZCXRO7322
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0990 3151050
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101050Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8750
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 000990

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: SITUATION REPORT FOR DRC - NOVEMBER 10, 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) The USAID DART team reported that, as of 9:00 AM local
time on November 9, OCHA representatives stated that Goma and Kibati
towns were calm. According to humanitarian agencies, CNDP and FARDC
forces are located immediately north of Kibati, less than one
kilometer apart. According to MONUC, the U.N. has undertaken
efforts to increase the distance between the two parties, and the
process is ongoing.

4. (SBU) Additionally, the UN Department of Safety and Security on
November 9 reported an outbreak of fighting that occurred on
November 8 between the CNDP and other armed groups seven kilometers
north of Kiwanja.

5. (SBU) As of 9:30 AM Goma time on November 9, the U.N. and
humanitarian partners reported that fighting in the Nyanzale and
Kikuku areas, and a possible CNDP advance toward Rwindi, had caused
panic amongst the FARDC ranks, which fled northward into
Kanyabayonga (approximately 150 kilometers northeast of Goma). As
of 10:00 AM local time, the DART Deputy Team Leader reported FARDC
soldiers arriving in Butembo, north of Kanyabayonga. Due to the
consistent lack of discipline of fleeing FARDC soldiers, residents
and IDP's located in Kanyabayonga are beginning to panic.

6. (SBU) At 11:30 AM local time, USG personnel in Goma reported
approximately 25 fully armed FARDC soldiers located at the border
with Rwanda. However, they did not appear to be preparing for any
formal exercises or activities. As of 2:00 PM local time, the
military presence was diminished.

7. (SBU) As of 2:15 PM local time, humanitarian agencies reported
fighting between the FARDC and CNDP in Ngungu in the southern part
of North Kivu.

8. (SBU) On November 8, members of the international press told USG
representatives that the FARDC had repeatedly turned away press
vehicles attempting to travel north of Kibati. In some instances,
the FARDC fired warning shots in order to stop the vehicles.

9. (SBU) The international press also continues to report the
presence of Angolan soldiers in the Goma area. Although the U.N.
and GDRC state there is no evidence to confirm such a presence
exists, reporters told USG representatives on November 8 that their
colleagues observed soldiers speaking Portuguese and sporting berets
with pins of the map of Angola.

Humanitarian Situation
----------------------

10. (SBU) DART reported that, although ICRC had registered 65,000
IDP's in the Kibati area, there was definitely not this amount
during a November 7 visit to the area. According to DART, there is
a large movement of IDP's back to Kibumba and, possibly, to Rugari.

11. (SBU) WorldVision told DART that there had been IDP arrivals in
Rutshuru from as far south as Minova. IDP flows are northward,
seemingly towards areas now occupied by the CNDP.

12. (SBU) Mededins Sans Frontiers (MSF) traveled to Kiwanja to
follow up on reports that CNDP forces had executed some residents
after it retook the town on November 5. MSF has not shared its
findings with the humanitarian community.

13. (SBU) A/DAS for Central Africa Karl Wycoff arrived in Goma
Friday, November 8 and plans to leave for Kigali on November 11. He
also plans a trip to Kinshasa on Thursday, November 13. A/DAS
Wycoff met with MONUC and EU officials yesterday and is in Bukavu
today.

BROCK

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