US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1995

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001995 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPKO, CG 
SUBJECT: DRC ARRESTS SUSPECT FOR MURDER OF BANGLADESHI 
SOLDIERS 
 
REF: KINSHASA 337 
 
Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (C) MONUC officials confirmed December 7 that soldiers of 
the Armed Forces for the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) 
arrested December 5 Justin Ngole Dalo, also known as Koliba, 
for the murder of nine MONUC Bangladeshi soldiers during an 
ambush in DRC's Ituri District in February 2005. Koliba was 
also sought on charges for his suspected involvement in the 
murder of civilians in the town of Gobu in January 2005. An 
Ituri prosecutor in May 2005 issued a warrant for Koliba's 
arrest on charges of murder, kidnapping and extortion. 
 
2. (C) Koliba was detained by FARDC troops in Bunia 
approximately three weeks ago and then transferred to 
Kinshasa. The intention behind transferring Koliba was 
apparently an attempt to work out a plea deal with the 
government. MONUC officials said Koliba's surrender and 
transfer were allegedly arranged by Armed Forces Chief of 
Staff Lt. Gen. Kisempia Sungilanga. Talks reportedly failed, 
however, and Koliba was arrested the afternoon of December 5 
in Kinshasa along with his chief escort, Niore. 
 
3. (C) Koliba is currently being held at the Makala prison in 
Kinshasa. MONUC officials said during questioning Koliba has 
admitted his involvement in some of the charges against him. 
He has also reportedly been giving government officials the 
names of others involved in those crimes. 
 
4. (C) Koliba has been the main suspect in the killing of 
nine MONUC Bangladeshi soldiers in February (reftel). During 
a routine patrol, a detachment of Bangladeshi troops was 
ambushed by militia from the Front for National Integration 
(FNI) in retaliation for the detention of 30 FNI cadres the 
day before. In addition, Koliba is suspected of planning the 
killing of a hundred civilians in the town of Gobu in 
January. That massacre triggered a larger wave of militia 
violence and killings in Ituri District and displaced 
thousands of people. 
 
5. (C) Comment: Koliba's arrest, though long overdue, is a 
welcome sign the GDRC and FARDC are bringing criminals to 
justice, underscoring the FARDC's efforts to curb the problem 
of militia violence in the eastern part of the country. End 
Comment. 
MEECE