US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1950

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001950 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KPKO, CG 
SUBJECT: ITURI UPDATE: FARDC CONTINUES ATTACKS ON MILITIAS 
 
 
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (C) Summary. The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic 
of Congo (FARDC), with logistical support from MONUC troops, 
are continuing their attacks on militia elements in Ituri and 
are achieving more operational successes. However, a new 
resurgence of MRC activity in the northern section of Ituri, 
near Uganda, is causing villagers to flee in advance of 
expected hostilities. MONUC sources say there will be 
military operations against this militia group within the 
next couple of days. End Summary. 
 
2. (C) During the week of November 21, approximately 700 
FARDC soldiers (with MONUC logistical support) conducted 
search-and-cordon missions around the town of Kabaga, about 
25 kilometers south of Bunia, to clean out the remnants of 
the militia group Congolese Revolutionary Movement (MRC). 
During several days of fighting, MONUC military officials 
report that between 60-70 militia were killed, while one 
FARDC soldier died. Officials say the operations dispersed 
the remaining MRC cadres in that area and greatly disrupted 
their movements. One MONUC official declared the operation as 
another successful mission by the FARDC in confronting the 
militia threat in Ituri. Troops in and around Kabaga are now 
being moved to face challenges elsewhere in the district. 
 
3. (C) At the same time, MONUC military officials report a 
growing threat from MRC elements led by Peter Karim. MONUC 
believes Karim's group, which has been concentrated recently 
around the Fataki-Masikini area about 50 kilometers north of 
Bunia, is being reinforced by the remnants of the Union for 
Congolese Patriots/Lubanga (UPC/L). MONUC reports that 
several meetings have taken place between the two groups 
recently, and within the past week, Karim's soldiers have 
been seen reinforcing their positions. MONUC also believes 
Karim's group, estimated to be between 500-800 strong, is 
reasonably well-armed, as there have been indications and 
reports of military resupply efforts and quite a bit of small 
arms trafficking near the border with Uganda. 
 
4. (C) Karim, a former battalion commander with the Front for 
National Integration, is part of a small group of hard-core 
fighters who chose not to enter the demobilization process. 
MONUC officials believe he is involved in the militia 
movement more for economic than political reasons. Officials 
say he is deeply involved in timber and mineral exploitation 
in the region and trades illegally across the border with 
Uganda in exchange for weapons and money. 
 
5. (C) MONUC further reports that Karim's group has been 
trying to secure a route from their base north towards the 
Mahagi territory bordering Uganda. According to MONUC, 
Karim's militia encountered November 22-23 some FARDC troops 
patrolling north of the town of Nioka. Several firefights 
broke out between the two groups, and one FARDC soldier has 
been killed in the fighting; MONUC has no reliable reports of 
militia deaths from these encounters. The FARDC has withdrawn 
direct contact with Karim as there are only 100 of its forces 
in the area at present. MONUC officials say Karim has 
retreated south towards Nioka. 
 
6. (C) In response, the FARDC (again with MONUC logistical 
support) is planning military operations against Karim. MONUC 
officials say operations will commence "in the next couple of 
days." Currently, FARDC troops who completed the operations 
in Kabaga are being transported north to the Mahagi 
territory. MONUC officials report the level of forces the 
FARDC will use will be "equal to the threat" being posed. 
 
7. (C) As a result of the skirmishes between Karim and the 
FARDC, in addition to exploitation by the militia, villagers 
from Nioka have been reportedly fleeing south from the area 
in significant numbers. MONUC officials could not say exactly 
how many had fled thus far, but did report a marked increase 
in the number of people evacuating the area during the past 
week. 
 
8. (C) Comment: Despite recent successes by FARDC and MONUC 
in Ituri, there is growing discontent among the local 
population that not enough is being done to protect them. 
Repeated displacements due to militia attacks, plus frequent 
preying on the local economies by the militias, is fueling 
anti-MONUC sentiment in particular, according to one MONUC 
source. But as events in Kabaga and elsewhere demonstrate, 
FARDC and MONUC are getting closer to breaking the back of 
the militia movement and establishing peace in the Ituri 
region. End Comment. 
DOUGHERTY