Cablegate: Eastern Drc Notes - November 26

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OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1052 3311151
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261151Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8832
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 001052

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM PREF KPKO CG
SUBJECT: EASTERN DRC NOTES - NOVEMBER 26

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.

Security Situation
------------------

2. (SBU) After three days of relative calm, UNDSS reported that
fighting broke out in two separate areas of North Kivu on November
25. CNDP and PARECO forces clashed at Lushebesho, south of Katsiru
and east of Mweso. CNDP reportedly was trying to dismantle a PARECO
base in the area. An NGO said there was additional fighting in
Kalembe, west of Katshuga.

3. (SBU) CNDP and PARECO also engaged in a battle at Kinyadoni,
which the CNDP apparently captured, 7 kilometers north of Kiwanja on
the road to Ishasha. According to one NGO, PARECO retreated
quickly. Wounded PARECO soldiers were transported to the hospital
in Nyamilima, where two of them later died. There are reports of
many people fleeing the Kinyadoni-Ngwenda-Nyamilima area northward
to Ishasha or directly into Uganda. A MONUC commander told Goma
Poloff that the CNDP appeared to be advancing toward Ishasha, which
is on the Ugandan border.

4. (SBU) Looting by FARDC elements is on-going in the
Kanyabayonga-Kayna-Kirumba area, with the village of Bulotwe
particularly affected on November 24. Apparently, "only
journalists" were traveling to Kanyabayonga from Goma, as the
security situation remains unsafe.

5. (SBU) MONUC military sources confirmed that the FARDC was
redeploying two battalions closer to the frontline in North Kivu:
the 101st from Beni towards Kanyabayonga and the 102nd from Bumba
(Equateur Province) to Beni. The FARDC will soon transfer its
headquarters for Eastern Congo from Kisangani to Beni.

6. (SBU) MONUC's Operation Kimia will resume on December 8,
focusing on DDRRR activities in South Kivu. MONUC does not require
FARDC support to move forward with this operation.

Fighting in Ituri
-----------------

7. (SBU) On November 24, the FARDC launched an attack to try to
retake the southern Ituri towns of Poto-Poto and Tchey, held by the
rebel group Popular Front for Justice in Congo (FPJC). The FPJC
fought back the FARDC advance in these two villages and retook the
village of Janda, which the FARDC had occupied since early morning
November 24.

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