Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01KINSHASA300
2001-01-17 13:33:00
SECRET
Embassy Kinshasa
how-toO 171333Z JAN 01 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8743 INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY
S E C R E T KINSHASA 000300
KUALA LUMPUR PLEASE PASS TO AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL CG
SUBJECT: GDRC CLAIMS KABILA ALIVE
CLASSIFIED BY CDA BARRIE WALKLEY FOR REASONS 1.5(B)(D)
S E C R E T KINSHASA 000300
KUALA LUMPUR PLEASE PASS TO AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL CG
SUBJECT: GDRC CLAIMS KABILA ALIVE
CLASSIFIED BY CDA BARRIE WALKLEY FOR REASONS 1.5(B)(D)
1. (U) THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS WAS SUMMONED TO THE OAU VILLAGE
EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON OF JANUARY 17. PRESIDENTIAL CHEF DE
CABINET GEORGES BUSE PRESIDED OVER THE MEETING AND READ A
SHORT COMMUNIQUE; HE WAS FLANKED BY GENERAL EDDY KAPEND AND
KABILA ADVISOR AND COUNSEL JEAN MBUYU.
2. (U) BUSE SAID KABILA WAS WOUNDED IN THE JANUARY 16
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, GIVEN INITIAL MEDICAL TREATMENT IN
KINSHASA AND THEN FLOWN "OUT OF THE COUNTRY" FOR ADDITIONAL
MEDICAL TREATMENT, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DOCTOR AND THE MINISTER
OF HEALTH. (NOTE: BUSE DID NOT IDENTIFY THE DESTINATION, BUT
EVERYONE ASSUMES IT TO HAVE BEEN HARARE.)
3. (U) THE GDRC HAD THIS MORNING DECIDED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION OF MINISTERS, BUSE SAID, THAT UNTIL KABILA IS ABLE TO
RETURN, HIS SON -- GENERAL JOSEPH KABILA -- WOULD ACT AS
COMMANDER IN CHIEF AND HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT.
4. (U) BUSE SAID THE GDRC URGED CALM AND A RETURN TO
NORMALCY. THE GDRC CONSEQUENTLY HAD TAKEN TWO DECISIONS: THE
AIRPORTS WILL BE REOPENED AND THE CURFEW RELAXED (NEW CURFEW
HOURS ARE TO BE 2200-0500).
5. (U) BUSE CONCLUDED HIS REMARKS BY SAYING THE GDRC WISHES
KABILA A PROMPT RECOVERY.
6. (U) AT THE END OF THE MEETING, THE DIPS WERE LINED UP AND
IN WALKED JOSEPH KABILA TO SHAKE EVERYONE'S HAND. CHARGE
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT HIS HAND ON KABILA'S
SHOULDER; HE DID NOT APPEAR INJURED IN ANY WAY (CONTRARY TO
SOME RUMORS THAT HE HAD BEEN SHOT).
7. (S) WHEN CHARGE WAS WALKING OUT, HE WAS APPROACHED
SEPARATELY BY JEAN MBUYU AND VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ILUNGA AWAN. BOTH DISCREETLY SAID THAT JOSEPH KABILA SEEKS A
PRIVATE MEETING WITH CHARGE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING (TIME
NOT YET IDENTIFIED) AND ASKED THAT THIS BE KEPT IN
CONFIDENCE.
8. (C) COMMENT: IT IS DIFFICULT AT THE MOMENT TO DETERMINE
THE TRUTH. IS KABILA ALIVE, OR IS THIS SIMPLY A CYNICAL GDRC
LINE DESIGNED TO EARN ADDITIONAL TIME FOR MANEUVER?
9. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: WHATEVER THE TRUTH ABOUT KABILA'S
CONDITION, THE CHOICE OF JOSEPH KABILA AS INTERIM HEAD OF
GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO BE AN ASTUTE MOVE. NO DOUBT THOSE
BEHIND THE SCENE SEE HIM AS A MALLEABLE FIGUREHEAD WHO IS
PRESENTABLE TO THE PEOPLE (AND WHO, FOR THE TIME BEING AT
LEAST, MAKES POSSIBLE A PUBLIC PAPERING-OVER OF THE SERIOUS
MILITARY AND POLITICAL SPLITS IN THE GDRC).
WALKLEY
KUALA LUMPUR PLEASE PASS TO AMBASSADOR WILLIAM LACY SWING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL CG
SUBJECT: GDRC CLAIMS KABILA ALIVE
CLASSIFIED BY CDA BARRIE WALKLEY FOR REASONS 1.5(B)(D)
1. (U) THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS WAS SUMMONED TO THE OAU VILLAGE
EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON OF JANUARY 17. PRESIDENTIAL CHEF DE
CABINET GEORGES BUSE PRESIDED OVER THE MEETING AND READ A
SHORT COMMUNIQUE; HE WAS FLANKED BY GENERAL EDDY KAPEND AND
KABILA ADVISOR AND COUNSEL JEAN MBUYU.
2. (U) BUSE SAID KABILA WAS WOUNDED IN THE JANUARY 16
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, GIVEN INITIAL MEDICAL TREATMENT IN
KINSHASA AND THEN FLOWN "OUT OF THE COUNTRY" FOR ADDITIONAL
MEDICAL TREATMENT, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DOCTOR AND THE MINISTER
OF HEALTH. (NOTE: BUSE DID NOT IDENTIFY THE DESTINATION, BUT
EVERYONE ASSUMES IT TO HAVE BEEN HARARE.)
3. (U) THE GDRC HAD THIS MORNING DECIDED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION OF MINISTERS, BUSE SAID, THAT UNTIL KABILA IS ABLE TO
RETURN, HIS SON -- GENERAL JOSEPH KABILA -- WOULD ACT AS
COMMANDER IN CHIEF AND HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT.
4. (U) BUSE SAID THE GDRC URGED CALM AND A RETURN TO
NORMALCY. THE GDRC CONSEQUENTLY HAD TAKEN TWO DECISIONS: THE
AIRPORTS WILL BE REOPENED AND THE CURFEW RELAXED (NEW CURFEW
HOURS ARE TO BE 2200-0500).
5. (U) BUSE CONCLUDED HIS REMARKS BY SAYING THE GDRC WISHES
KABILA A PROMPT RECOVERY.
6. (U) AT THE END OF THE MEETING, THE DIPS WERE LINED UP AND
IN WALKED JOSEPH KABILA TO SHAKE EVERYONE'S HAND. CHARGE
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT HIS HAND ON KABILA'S
SHOULDER; HE DID NOT APPEAR INJURED IN ANY WAY (CONTRARY TO
SOME RUMORS THAT HE HAD BEEN SHOT).
7. (S) WHEN CHARGE WAS WALKING OUT, HE WAS APPROACHED
SEPARATELY BY JEAN MBUYU AND VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ILUNGA AWAN. BOTH DISCREETLY SAID THAT JOSEPH KABILA SEEKS A
PRIVATE MEETING WITH CHARGE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING (TIME
NOT YET IDENTIFIED) AND ASKED THAT THIS BE KEPT IN
CONFIDENCE.
8. (C) COMMENT: IT IS DIFFICULT AT THE MOMENT TO DETERMINE
THE TRUTH. IS KABILA ALIVE, OR IS THIS SIMPLY A CYNICAL GDRC
LINE DESIGNED TO EARN ADDITIONAL TIME FOR MANEUVER?
9. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: WHATEVER THE TRUTH ABOUT KABILA'S
CONDITION, THE CHOICE OF JOSEPH KABILA AS INTERIM HEAD OF
GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO BE AN ASTUTE MOVE. NO DOUBT THOSE
BEHIND THE SCENE SEE HIM AS A MALLEABLE FIGUREHEAD WHO IS
PRESENTABLE TO THE PEOPLE (AND WHO, FOR THE TIME BEING AT
LEAST, MAKES POSSIBLE A PUBLIC PAPERING-OVER OF THE SERIOUS
MILITARY AND POLITICAL SPLITS IN THE GDRC).
WALKLEY