Cablegate: Eastern Drc Notes - December 16

VZCZCXRO7379
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1109 3511158
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161158Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8907
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 001109

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - DECEMBER 16

1. (U) The items contained in this 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.

Anti-LRA Operation
------------------

2. (SBU) According to MONUC sources, FARDC and SPLA
soldiers, along with four Ugandan helicopter gunships,
are supporting the Ugandan army in the operation against
the LRA. A senior MONUC military source told Goma poloff
that MONUC is prepared to offer logistical support to the
operation.

Nairobi Talks
-------------

3. (SBU) MONUC will reportedly transport eight CNDP
negotiators to Nairobi for the next round of talks with
the GDRC. MONUC contacts in Goma did not have the names
of the members of the CNDP team, but noted that the
composition will be different from the group that went to
Nairobi last week. A senior MONUC source in Goma told
poloff it is unlikely the CNDP negotiators will have
final authority on major decisions, but that UN mediator
General Sumbeiwo has Nkunda's personal phone number, and
will intervene directly with him to keep negotiations
moving.

North Kivu Security Situation
-----------------------------

4. (SBU) According to information provided by MONUC, unidentified
assailants shot at a vehicle of the Italian NGO AVSI December 15,
injuring the driver and killing the passenger. The AVSI personnel
were traveling in CNDP-controlled territory from Rutshuru town at
the time of the shooting.

5. (SBU) MONUC reported that a dispute at the FARDC base near the
Goma airport resulted in four deaths. A FARDC commander reportedly
brought two men and a woman into his office to resolve the dispute,
and a hand grenade went off, killing all four.

6. (SBU) With respect to the FDLR, MONUC has reports that
approximately two dozen demoralized FDLR fighters near Manangara (in
northwest CNDP-held territory) have expressed a desire to repatriate
to Rwanda. In addition, there have been almost no recent verified
reports of combat between the CNDP and FDLR.

7. (SBU) MONUC continues to reconfigure its forces to defend Goma
and prepare for the arrival of an additional 3000 UN peacekeepers.
At present, there are 1000 MONUC soldiers in and around Goma, along
with 5000 FARDC soldiers.

GARVELINK

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