US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1065

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001065 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, CASC, ASEC, KPKO, CG 
SUBJECT: 30 JUNE: KINSHASA CALM, BUT TENSE 
 
REF: KINSHASA 1053 
 
Classified By: Poloff Meghan Moore for Reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY. As of mid-day June 29, Kinshasa was calm but 
tense, with no security incidents reported. Post will 
continue to monitor closely the developing situation. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
More Monitoring 
--------------- 
 
2. (C) Police patrols continued overnight in Kinshasa on June 
28 without incident. Police observed, but did not attempt to 
disband a group of about 150 UDPS supporters who held a 
short, peaceful rally in Limete the evening of June 28. 
General John Numbi (Chief of the Air Force) told polcouns 
June 29 that about 60 'known troublemakers' were arrested the 
night of June 28 and security services visited a number of 
parliamentarians (mostly RCD/G due to a former alliance 
between the RCD/G and UDPS) at home during the early morning 
of June 29. Numbi said the arrests would continue. 
 
3. (SBU) Military elements started a cordon and search 
operation for weapons in Limete the morning of June 29, but 
there was no unusual military presence in Gombe.  Senior 
MONUC poloff told poloff June 29 that MONUC was closely 
monitoring the situation, with peacekeepers conducting hourly 
patrols in different areas of Kinshasa, a MONUC helicopter 
flying around the city, and about 700 Uruguayan soldiers 
located at the MONUC logistics base on the road to the 
airport. MONUC reported no security incidents. 
 
Military Matters 
---------------- 
 
4. (C) As scheduled, the three-day military 'show of force' 
ended the night of June 28. General Kisempia (FARDC Chief of 
Staff) officially closed the exercise by speaking to a large 
group of soldiers at Camp Kokolo June 28. Radio Okapi 
reported that Kisempia praised soldiers' performance during 
the exercise, told them they would be paid this month based 
on the new rank-based pay scale, would receive a raise 
starting July 20, and reminded them to stay off the streets 
from June 29-July 4. The soldiers then reportedly received 
bread, soft drinks and a small present. Numbi told polcouns 
June 29 that soldiers were confined to barracks starting the 
night of June 28, but were ready to be called in to back-up 
the police if necessary. 
 
5. (C) Numbi told polcouns June 29 that most soldiers in 
Kinshasa were paid June 28 and the rest would be paid by June 
30. He said the money was available, but the government's 
decision to implement the new rank-based pay scale had caused 
delays. Numbi said that salary payments to soldiers located 
outside Kinshasa would start June 29 and should finish by 
July 1. 
MEECE