US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1323

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001323 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: EXEMPT 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINS, PREL, PINR, CG 
SUBJECT: FAPC AND FNI MILITIAS FIGHTING IN ITURI 
 
REF: KAMPALA IIR 6 913 0577 04 
 
Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) Summary. Fighting between FAPC and FNI militias in 
Ituri has continued into a second week resulting in hundreds 
of IDPs and an undetermined number of refugees. The conflict 
has been fueled by apparent efforts to control a gold mine 
and the perception that MONUC's and the GDRC's attention and 
resources have shifted to the Kivus.  End Summary. 
 
FAPC Takes Advantage of MONUC's Decreased Strength in Ituri 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
2. (C) Militias from the Popular Armed Forces of the Congo 
(FAPC) and the Nationalist and Integrationist Front (FNI) 
have continued their fighting in the Mahagi area of Ituri for 
a second week. UNHCR's representative for the DRC, David 
Kapya, returned from an assessment mission to Mahagi on July 
12. Poloff spoke with him the same day about the security 
situation. Kapya said that fighting between FAPC, led by 
commander Jerome Kakawave, and the FNI, nominally led by 
Floribert Njabu, continued on Sunday even as Kapya met with 
MONUC Nepalese peacekeepers in Mahagi. It is estimated that 
over 50 militias and 4 civilians have died as a result of the 
fighting. 
 
3. (C) According to a MONUC Nepalese Colonel in Mahagi, 
Jerome provoked FNI into fighting after sending some of his 
men to harass Lendu women in a market. After FNI responded, 
FAPC took the opportunity to challenge FNI's control of the 
gold mine near Jalasiga. FAPC also appears interested in 
taking control of Mahagi port on Lake Albert. Although the 
local population wants MONUC to use its Chapter VII authority 
to stop the fighting, the Nepalese peacekeepers have so far 
stayed out of the conflict. 
 
4. (C) Kapya explained that MONUC has less than 600 
peacekeepers in Mahagi and approximately 2,000 in all of 
Ituri (Note: According to MONUC's General Rashad, this 
decreased presence is due to a company of peacekeepers having 
been sent to Bukavu, one to Kinshasa, and one that has yet to 
arrive from Kisangani. End Note.) Moreover, due to the 
current focus on the Kivus, MONUC only has one attack 
helicopter in Bunia. Jerome, by contrast, is estimated to 
have over 3,000 well-armed fighters. It is also alleged that 
some of Jerome's commanding officers are Rwandans, including 
a Colonel Ndayisaba. Additionally, MONUC reported that prior 
to, and during the conflict, FNI and FAPC leaders have been 
seen frequently in Arua and Kampala allegedly seeking support 
from Ugandan generals. (Comment: Ugandan MOD made clear 
recently (reftel) it does not intend to intervene, but 
expects MONUC to do more to quell the fighting. End Comment.) 
 
5. (C) The ongoing conflict between FAPC and FNI militias has 
also called into question DDR plans for Ituri. FNI militias 
have now said that they will not disarm unless all other 
groups do the same simultaneously. UNDP teams and NGOs 
preparing implementation of the Ituri plan have also been 
disrupted by the insecurity and have been unable to travel to 
the proposed demobilization sites. 
 
 
Fighting Results in IDPs and Refugees 
------------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Kapya said that hundreds of people had been internally 
displaced as a result of the fighting, with the majority of 
IDPs moving towards Mahagi and Kpwandroma. Six hundred IDPs 
had been reported to gather at a Catholic Church to ask for 
assistance only to be told that there was none. Very little 
humanitarian assistance is currently available in Mahagi and 
insecurity has prevented Bunia-based NGOs from delivering aid. 
 
7. (C) Kapya indicated that UNHCR Kampala was investigating 
allegations of Congolese refugees crossing into Uganda. 
However, at this point there are only unconfirmed reports 
that 2,000 civilians may have crossed from Mahagi. He noted 
that due to ongoing instability in Ituri, UNHCR would not be 
able to repatriate in the near future the 12,000 Congolese 
refugees that remain in Uganda, most of whom come from the 
area of Boga, currently controlled by FNI militia. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8. (C) Jerome appears to be taking advantage of MONUC's focus 
on the Kivus and its diminished strength in Ituri to pursue 
economic interests in Mahagi. Fighting is likely to continue, 
along with the displacement of civilians for as long as MONUC 
and the GDRC are seen as maintaining a hands-off attitude 
towards the conflict. 
SCOTT