US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1834

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001834 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPKO, CG 
SUBJECT: 5TH INTEGRATED BRIGADE MISSION AGAINST FDLR IN 
VIRUNGA CONTINUES 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 01831 
     B. KINSHASA 01814 
 
Classified By: PolOff TJNaber, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (C)  The FARDC 5th Integrated Brigade is continuing 
operations in its mission to remove FDLR rebels from Virunga 
National Park, North Kivu.  Launched October 31 as part of 
Operation North Nexus (reftel), this was the first military 
action involving an integrated FARDC brigade in the Kivus. 
To date, FARDC forces have apprehended 13 FDLR and destroyed 
five militia camps in Busesa and Mazindanga.  According to 
MONUC Eastern Division Military Headquarters, 45 FDLR have 
fled the park and subsequently engaged in looting near 
Kanyabayonga. 
 
2. (C)  The 13 captured FDLR militia will be screened by a 
MONUC DDRRR team.  According to MONUC, if the team determines 
that the soldiers are indeed foreign military and if the 
soldiers want to voluntarily repatriate, MONUC will escort 
them to the Rwandan border.  If they are not voluntary 
repatriants however, the GDRC must either detain them or 
forcibly repatriate them to Rwanda. 
 
3. (C) The MONUC DDRRR chief also reported to poloff that in 
a previous action in Hambo, South Kivu October 30-31, 18 FDLR 
prisoners arrested by the FARDC without MONUC DDRRR 
coordination said they were unwilling to voluntarily 
repatriate. 
 
4. (C)  Comment:  If the current operation, which is expected 
to continue at least two weeks, is successful in apprehending 
more FDLR prisoners, the GDRC will face the challenge of what 
to do with them.  FARDC is the only military element in DRC 
authorized to forcibly disarm militia. (MONUC may only use 
force to protect civilians.)  The GDRC cannot rely on MONUC 
to repatriate unwilling prisoners, nor can these prisoners, 
who are foreign soldiers, be integrated into FARDC ranks. 
End comment. 
MEECE