US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1730

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001730 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA AND DS/IP/AF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER 
SUBJECT: KINSHASA - SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE 
QUESTIONNAIRE (SEPQ) 
 
REF: A) STATE 185263 B) KINSHASA 00354 
 
 
1.  (SBU)  Our responses to the questionnaire have not 
changed dramatically since our last submission in reftel (B). 
 However, there is more narrative explanation due to the 
events of June 3-6. 
 
2.  (SBU)  POLITICAL VIOLENCE 
 
    a.  Yes. 
    b.  There were city-wide demonstrations from June 3-6 that 
        targeted the United Nations which to a certain degree 
        spilled over to the U.S. and other Embassies in 
        Kinshasa.  The objective of the demonstrators was 
        to voice their dissatisfaction with the fact that 
        MONUC (the U.N) did nothing in response to military 
        action taken by a renegade general in the city of 
        Bukavu in eastern Congo. 
    c.  Yes.  The June 3-6 demonstrations did occur in the 
        vicinity of the Embassy.  However, the EAC agreed that 
        this was a result of the fact that the Embassy is 
        located within 2 blocks of MONUC Headquarters. 
    d.  N/A.  There have not been any demonstrations 
        specifically targeting the U.S. Embassy. 
    e.  The June demonstrations were triggered by domestic 
        issues. 
    f.  Although the majority of demonstrations in Kinshasa 
        are peaceful, the June demonstrations were quite 
        violent. 
    g.  There was slight damage to the Embassy - three broken 
        windows from rocks/debris being thrown by the 
        demonstrators. 
    h.  No. 
    i.  Yes.  There are frequent peaceful demonstrations by 
        civil servants and teachers usually due to the lack 
        of payment of salaries. 
    j.  Yes. 
    k.  Although there were several thousands of demonstrators 
        during the events of June 3-6, the average size of 
        most demonstrations is 100-200. 
    l.  Most of the demonstrations are usually peaceful. 
    m.  As mentioned above, the Embassy did suffer minor 
        damage during the June demonstrations. 
 
3.  (SBU)  MACRO CONFLICT CONDITIONS 
 
    a.  Yes. An intrastate conflict. 
    b.  It is limited to the eastern part of the country. 
    c.  No. 
    d.  Some of the factions involved in the conflict have 
        signaled a slight anti-American stance, but nothing 
        too serious. 
 
4.  (SBU)  HOST COUNTRY CAPABILITIES 
 
    a.  No. 
    b.  Yes.  Limited training in document fraud, personal 
        protection and chemical and biological training 
        has been given to a limited number of Congolese 
        security personnel.  The effectiveness of the 
        training is difficult to determine.  However, we 
        believe that the training was somewhat effective 
        and better than none at all. 
    c.  Yes. 
    d.  The Congolese Intelligence Services are as 
        professional as they can be with their limited 
        resources and training. 
    e.  Yes. 
    f.  No. 
    g.  Yes. 
    h.  Poor. 
    i.  Ineffective. 
    j.  Ineffective 
 
5.  (SBU)  ANTI-AMERICAN TERRORIST GROUPS 
 
    a.  Yes. 
    b.  Two.  ALIR and FDLR. 
    c.  No. 
    d.  N/A. 
    e.  No. 
    f.  No. 
    g.  Limited to a specific region - eastern Congo. 
    h.  No. 
 
6.  (SBU)  OTHER INDIGENOUS TERRORIST GROUPS 
 
    a.  Yes. 
    b.  The UPC and several other uncontrolled armed 
        groups. 
    c.  No. 
    d.  N/A. 
    e.  N/A. 
 
7.  (SBU)  TRANSNATIONAL TERRORISM 
 
    a.  No.  There are individuals in Kinshasa and 
        elsewhere in the Congo who may be sympathetic 
        to certain terrorist groups (such as Hamas 
        and Hezbollah), but we believe that there 
        are no known operational cells in the 
        country.  There are reports of a group 
        called the Al Qaida Fan Club but the members 
        are more than likely sympathizers and not 
        operatives. 
        the majority of the people 
    b.  The EAC assesses these as possibly financial 
        support and/or propaganda cells. 
    c.  No. 
    d.  There are Islamic NGO's operating in Congo. 
        The EAC has no reason to believe they 
        represent a threat to U.S. interests. 
    e.  Yes. 
    f.  Low. 
    g.  Easily accessible. 
 
8.  (U)  POC is RSO Jeff Lischke at 243-81-88-44608 (cell) or 
934 ext. 2207 (IVG). 
MEECE