US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1750

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001750 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, MARR, CASC, CG 
SUBJECT: NORTH KIVU FREE-FOR-ALL 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C)  Summary. There may be a total of 10,000 
Interahamwe/FDLR elements spread out between Beni and Bukavu, 
but it is unclear whether the FARDC is working with them. 
There has been serious, sustained fighting in southern North 
Kivu between Mai Mai and former ANC (military wing of the 
RCD/G) troops. General Obedi does not fully control the North 
Kivu military region. End Summary. 
 
FDLR/Interahamwe Involvement 
----------------------------- 
 
2. (C)  North Kivu Governor Serufuli estimates a total of 
10,000 Interahamwe/FDLR elements spread out between Beni and 
Bukavu, including a number who had been previously 
repatriated to Rwanda. It is unclear, however, what they are 
up to, and whether they are working with the FARDC. There has 
been no overt, large-scale cooperation between regular FARDC 
troops and Interahamwe/FDLR, but there have been 
long-standing rumors of Mai Mai/ Interahamwe/FDLR cooperation 
in both Kivus. VP Ruberwa's Chief of Staff Emungu told 
polcouns that S. Kivu military commander Mabe's personal 
bodyguard included Interahamwe/FDLR elements who were also 
being used to protect the Bukavu airport.  In North Kivu, 
Governor Serufuli alleges Interahamwe/FDLR elements are 
fighting with Mai Mai in Masisi. A MONUC internal report, 
however, said that Interahamwe/FDLR elements in the Masisi 
territory withdrew, and did not appear to be involved in the 
fighting. (Comment: The most likely scenario is that certain 
Mai Mai commanders share information, equipment and 
ammunition, and work with Interahamwe/FDLR elements on a 
case-by-case basis. They may also use a limited number of 
Interahamwe/FDLR troops in Mai Mai offensives. Regular 
FARDC-Interahamwe/FDLR cooperation is less likely, but 
small-scale intermingling probably occurs. End comment.) 
MONUC Butembo officer estimates that 2-3,000 
Interahamwe/FDLR-related civilians have moved north from S. 
Kivu and are just outside Butembo. He told poloff that this 
group consists mostly of Hutu civilians who moved north from 
S. Kivu due to fighting and fears of reprisal attacks. He 
said he did not know their exact intentions. MONUC did not 
report any other recent, large movements of Interahamwe/FDLR. 
 
North Kivu 
---------- 
 
3. (C) As of September 16, a free-for-all was underway in 
Masisi territory between local Mai Mai and ex-ANC soldiers 
from N. Kivu (who are probably loyal to Nkunda), possibly 
FARDC regular soldiers or Mai Mai from S. Kivu, and maybe 
some Interahamwe/FDLR elements. A MONUC internal report said 
that ex-ANC troops were reinforcing Nyabiondo (15 km north of 
Masisi town), and Rwanda had sent troops to Masisi to 
reinforce Nkunda. North Kivu Governor Serufuli told polcouns 
that the situation in Masisi was not a military problem, but 
a political problem involving outside interference from S. 
Kivu and out-of-control Mai Mai who refused to follow orders 
from N. Kivu military commander General Obedi. 
 
4. (C) Serious fighting broke out between Mai Mai and ex-ANC 
troops (possibly loyal to Nkunda) outside Walikale (120 km 
west of Goma) on September 10. (Note: There are credible 
reports that regular and/or Mai Mai elements from N. Kivu, S. 
Kivu and Orientale may be involved in these confrontations. 
End note.) On September 15, a MONUC team attempted to assess 
the situation and evacuate two humanitarian workers. The 
ex-ANC commander who controls the deserted town told the team 
it could not leave the field where the helicopter had landed 
because it was too dangerous. MONUC poloff told poloff that 
S. Kivu military region payments to local Mai Mai surrounding 
Walikale encouraged them to fight the ex-ANC troops, who the 
Mai Mai see as loyal to Nkunda. North Kivu Governor Serufuli 
told polcouns that the Walikale situation was a Mai Mai 
problem that General Padiri, now based in Kisangani, should 
help address. Serufuli said that Generals Obedi, Padiri and 
Mabe were brought to Kinshasa by FARDC Chief of Staff General 
Kisempia to discuss command and control of troops. In his 
analysis, the re-division of the generals' responsibilities, 
which supposedly re-establishes Obedi control of all N. Kivu, 
could help improve the situation. According to Serufuli, 
Kisempia also plans to send written instructions with Obedi 
when he returns to Goma September 17 or 18 ordering all N. 
Kivu Mai Mai groups to follow Obedi's orders. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
5. (C) Current fighting in northern S. Kivu and southern N. 
Kivu is murky and confusing, in large part because no troops 
in N. Kivu (outside Goma) really report to Obedi. The Mai Mai 
represent a loose collection of local militias. Many respond 
to Padiri and/or Mabe because Mabe recently paid them; a 
large number used to work with or for Padiri; and, they 
collectively hate Nkunda and the RCD/G. Former ANC soldiers 
appear to respond to Nkunda because he paid them, and he used 
to command them. Regular troops north of Kanyabayonga (mostly 
APC from the RCD/KML) appear to respond to Padiri or Mbusa 
Nyamwisi. A MONUC mission to Minova met a Mai Mai commander 
from the Beni-Butembo area in N. Kivu who said he had been 
tasked by General Padiri, based in Kisangani, to help the 4th 
brigade of the N. Kivu military region ensure that Mabe had 
control over the S. Kivu military region. The N. Kivu 4th 
brigade commander, who identified his brigade as a 
'nationalist unit' whose objective was to ensure the 
territorial integrity of the DRC, told the team that he had 
decided to attack Nkunda last week because Nkunda's troops 
killed a trader and his family in Minova. It is unlikely that 
a written order from Kisempia instructing notoriously 
ill-disciplined Mai Mai to follow Obedi will improve the 
dynamic, or regain control of what might is a volatile 
situation. 
MEECE