US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA793

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000793 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPKO, PREF, CG 
SUBJECT: N. KIVU UPDATE 
 
Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1. SUMMARY. (C) The security situation in Rutshuru and 
Masisi, North Kivu has deteriorated in the past month. About 
1500 Congolese (mostly Tutsi) have fled Masisi for Rwanda in 
the past six weeks, and MONUC is concerned that targeted 
attacks against Nande by a mostly Hutu ex-ANC (RCD/G military 
wing) unit could lead to reprisal attacks. Minister of 
Regional Cooperation Mbusa Nyamwisi told poloff that the Mai 
Mai leader Jackson, operating in Rutshuru, worked closely 
with the FDLR. Nyamwisi alleged that about 9500 Rwandan 
troops had entered Rutshuru in early May and had started 
moving west. END SUMMARY. 
 
Masisi 
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2. (SBU) During MONUC's weekly diplomatic meeting May 10, 
UNHCR reported that about 1500 Congolese (mostly Tutsi) had 
left Masisi, North Kivu for a camp in Gisenyi, Rwanda since 
the beginning of April. A MONUC poloff said it was unclear 
whether these Tutsis were long-term Masisi residents or IDPs 
and/or refugees displaced several times in the past few 
years. Per UNHCR, most of these refugees fled areas near 
Mushaki (the site of an official Congolese military 
integration center) for three main reasons. Some said FARDC 
soldiers were stealing from and harassing civilians, some 
said they did not wish to participate in military 
integration, and others said they had heard rumors (started 
by RCD/G hardliner Bizima Karaha) that Tutsis would be 
targeted for attacks by the Interahamwe. UNHCR said it 
expects more Tutsi refugees from Masisi. MONUC poloff said 
that about 130 soldiers (mostly Tutsi) have deserted from 
Mushaki in the past several weeks. 
 
Rutshuru 
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3. (C) During MONUC's weekly diplomatic meeting May 10, MONUC 
poloff reported that the ex-ANC's 12th Brigade has been 
systematically attacking Nande businessmen and raping Nande 
women for the past several weeks in Rutshuru. (Note: The 
ex-ANC 12th Brigade is composed mostly of Hutu local defense 
forces that used to report to Governor Serufuli. The 
brigade's former commander, Col. Smith was recently replaced 
by Col. Mayunga. Smith's exact whereabouts are unknown, but 
he was reportedly re-deployed to Masisi. End note.) MONUC 
poloff said that Mai Mai leader Jackson is currently near 
Kiwanja, where he and his mostly Nande troops have been 
harassing civilians. Minister of Regional Cooperation Mbusa 
Nyamwisi (himself a Nande) told poloff May 11 that Jackson 
worked closely with FDLR units and had a number of FDLR 
members in his Mai Mai group. MONUC poloff and Nyamwisi were 
both concerned that if Jackson started revenge attacks or got 
otherwise involved, the situation in Rutshuru could rapidly 
deteriorate. Nyamwisi and his military advisor were also 
concerned about reports that Rwandan troops had entered 
Rutshuru under cover of the 12th brigade on May 7 and had 
started moving toward the west on May 9 to prevent FDLR 
members from repatriating to Rwanda (septel). During a 
meeting May 12, Nyamwisi hand-wrote a list of four locations 
housing about 9,500 Rwandan troops for poloff-- 1000 men in 
Rwaza, near Rugari; 1500 men in Kisigari near Bukima;  /- 
3500 men in Gichwera near Ntamugeyga;  /-3500 men near 
Runyoruzi near Jomba. (Note: His handwriting was hard to 
decipher. End note.) 
DOUGHERTY