US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1685

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001685 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINS, PREL, CG, INR 
SUBJECT: ITURI ARMED GROUP RELEASES KIDNAPPED PEACEKEEPER 
IN BUNIA 
 
Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) Summary. On September 6th at approximately 11 PM, the 
Union of Congolese Patriots Lubanga faction (UPC-L) released 
a Moroccan peacekeeper whom they had kidnapped September 2nd. 
The security situation in Bunia deteriorated significantly as 
armed Hema and Lendu militias openly patrolled the streets of 
Bunia without any apparent reaction from MONUC or FARDC's 
integrated brigade. MONUC has indicated that it soon will 
take action to restore stability in the city. The militias 
have also expressed unhappiness with the Ituri demobilization 
program and the lack of military integration. Elsewhere in 
Ituri District, Jerome and FNI clashed, leading to some 
renewed internal displacements. End Summary. 
 
UPC Releases kidnapped Moroccan Peacekeeper in Bunia 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
2. (C) According to MONUC senior poloff Gerold Gerard, a 
Moroccan peacekeeper in Bunia was kidnapped by members of the 
UPC-L September 2nd at approximately 10 AM, as he visited the 
market in the Mudzipela neighborhood of Bunia. MONUC and GDRC 
officials exerted pressure on UPC's leader, Thomas Lubanga, 
and engaged in prolonged negotiations with UPC elements in 
Bunia until the peacekeeper was finally released September 6, 
at approximately 11 PM. UPC had demanded the release of UPC 
prisoners under MONUC custody as well as a motorcycle that 
had been confiscated. MONUC did not release any UPC 
prisoners, but did return the confiscated motorcycle 
apparently to facilitate the release of the captive 
peacekeeper. Gerold noted that MONUC will implement cordon 
and search operations to seize weapons in Bunia and improve 
security within the next several days. 
 
 
Situation in Bunia Volatile 
--------------------------- 
 
3. (C) NGO and MONUC sources in Bunia said that the 
kidnapping of the peacekeeper resulted in a marked 
deterioration of the security situation in Bunia. September 
4th and 5th found armed UPC-L and Lendu militias returning to 
various neighborhoods, especially Mudzipela, Saio, and 
Nyakasanca. On September 5, a former UPC-Lubanga commander, 
Garuwa Garuwa, who had defected to UPC-Kisembo, was 
assassinated, reportedly by UPC-L militia. Persistent gun 
fire was heard throughout the weekend from militias who 
openly defied MONUC's weapons ban in Bunia. 
 
4. (C) Marcus Sack, Director of the German NGO Agro Action 
Allemand in Bunia told poloff September 5 that he was 
concerned by the militias' open defiance of MONUC during the 
weekend. He said that MONUC had not done anything to enforce 
the weapons ban, bring back order to the city, and expel the 
armed militias. He also complained that MONUC's Bunia 
director, Dominique McAdams, had very poor communication with 
the NGO community and was perceived as taking a "soft" 
approach towards the UPC. 
 
5. (C) Sack also voiced concern about reported meetings 
between Lendu elements from the Front for National 
Integration (FNI) and the integrated Congolese Armed Forces 
battalion in Ituri (FARDC) the afternoon of September 5. 
Lendus have felt reassured by the presence of FARDC soldiers, 
whereas Hemas have viewed these soldiers with distrust. In 
Sack's view, Lendus will not tolerate a significant armed 
escalation by UPC militias and could possibly confront them 
with assistance from FARDC. 
 
Other Problems in Ituri 
----------------------- 
 
6. (U) Fighting erupted on August 31, between Popular Armed 
Forces of the Congo (FAPC) and FNI militias in Djalasiga (102 
KM north of Mahagi.) NGO sources in Bunia said that after 
several days of fighting, FAPC suffered a defeat which forced 
them to withdraw to 35 KM from Djalasiga. There are 13 
unconfirmed military fatalities, but no indication of 
civilian casualties. An unknown number of civilians have been 
displaced towards Kerekere and Aru. The current situation in 
Djalasiga is calm, but tense. 
 
7. (C) Vice-Minister of Interior Paul Musafiri, told poloff 
September 2nd, that he was concerned about the presence of 
Sudanese armed elements near Aru and the possibility of 
Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) recycling weapons in 
Ituri during coming months, as the peace process in Sudan 
frees up military equipment. He acknowledged that the GDRC 
does not have the means to patrol the northern part of Ituri 
and that the remaining battalions of FARDC's first integrated 
brigade would not be deployed for some time, due to lack of 
equipment. 
 
8. (C) Musafiri also voiced concern over the movement of 
Mbuza Nyamwisi's Congolese Popular Army (APC) forces from 
Beni to Mambaza. He said that although Nyamwisi is part of 
the transition government, his forces are not yet integrated 
into the national army and their deployment to Ituri at this 
point was inappropriate and could increase tensions. Musafiri 
also acknowledged that Jerome Kakawe, leader of the FAPC, was 
paying the salary of the Aru territory administrator and that 
he has de facto control of Aru, but said that there was not 
much the GDRC could do at this point. 
 
9. (C) Ituri militia leaders such as Jerome have expressed 
disappointment that neither they nor their officers have been 
integrated into the Congolese army. They have also voiced 
skepticism about the disarmament and demobilization of their 
forces without the option of integrating them into a national 
army. GDRC officials have said repeatedly that the government 
does not currently have the resources to integrate these 
combatants and that this issue will have to be addressed 
later. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
10. (C) The release of the Moroccan peacekeeper by the UPC-L 
is a welcome end to the kidnapping incident. However, UPC-L 
militias continue to challenge MONUC over the past several 
days in Bunia by openly displaying their weapons while 
patrolling streets in what is supposed to be a "weapons-free" 
city. MONUC's apparent unresponsiveness to militia 
provocations in Bunia over the weekend may have reflected 
concern that confrontations could have impeded or derailed 
negotiations for the release of the peacekeeper. However, 
they will probably have to reassert their authority before 
the situation further deteriorates by pressing the militias 
to leave Bunia and abide by the engagement act that they 
signed in Kinshasa May 14, agreeing to disarm and refrain 
from further armed conflict. The GDRC also needs to play a 
greater role in controlling armed groups and re-establishing 
effective authority in Ituri; paying the salaries of the 
district commissioner and of the territory administrators 
would be a good start. 
MEECE