US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1754

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001754 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, CG, PRM 
SUBJECT: 20,000 CIVILIANS FLEE ADVANCING FARDC TROOPS 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1600 
 
Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) Summary. Seventeen to 20,000 people (mostly Hutu) fled 
the area around Minova September 10-13 because they were 
afraid they would be attacked by advancing troops loyal to 
South Kivu military commander Mabe for having supported 
Nkunda. There is no evidence of ethnic cleansing or 
large-scale targeted attacks on Rwandaphone populations in 
northern S. Kivu. End Summary. 
 
2. (C) On September 17, OFDA rep told poloff that OCHA 
estimates 17,000-20,000 (mostly Hutu) IDPs arrived in and 
around Ngungu, Masisi territory, N. Kivu (15 km west of 
Minova) over the past several days. A Western observer who 
interviewed IDPs in Ngungu on September 16 told poloff there 
were about 3,500 families or 15,000-20,000 IDPs. The vast 
majority came from the area of Minova September 10-13. 
Several IDPs (including a number who were originally 
displaced in July) told her they fled because they were 
afraid of reprisal attacks from Mabe's troops for having 
supported Nkunda. The IDPS also said they would like to 
return home as soon as security conditions permit. Local 
authorities told her there were no known attacks on civilians 
during the recent Mabe advance. 
 
Comment 
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3. (C) As of late August, OCHA estimated there were over 1 
million IDPs in N. and S. Kivu (Reftel). In July, fighting in 
and around Kalehe (30km south of Minova) displaced about 
35,000 people. The 5,000 mostly Hutu Rwandaphones went north 
towards Minova, in Nkunda's territory. The other 30,000 
non-Rwandaphones went south behind Mabe's lines. Congolese 
armed groups have a well-deserved reputation for reprisal 
attacks on civilian groups who were perceived as aiding and 
abetting the 'enemy,' and reprisal attacks could have 
occurred as Mabe's troops advanced if the civilians had 
stayed in place. There is no evidence, however, of ethnic 
cleansing or large-scale targeted attacks on Rwandaphone 
populations in northern S. Kivu. 
MEECE