SOUTH KIVU GOVERNOR ON ETHNIC TENSIONS, THREAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001729

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL CG
SUBJECT: SOUTH KIVU GOVERNOR ON ETHNIC TENSIONS, THREAT
FROM FDLR


Classified By: Poloff Edward Bestic for Reasons 1.5 B and D


1. (C) SUMMARY: South Kivu's recently-appointed provincial
governor told the Ambassador Sept. 8 he is trying to lessen
ethnic tensions and arrange for Congolese Banyamulenge
refugees to return to the Congo. Mai-Mai and especially
Rwandan FDLR guerillas continue to attack and prey upon South
Kivu's civilian population. In our view, the governor
appears to have little influence and a poor grasp of the
overall situation. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) This is the first in a series of cables on the
Ambassador's Sept. 8-10 trip to the cities of Bunia, Bukavu
and Goma in eastern Congo.


Ethnic Tensions
--------------

2. (C) South Kivu provincial governor Augustin Bulahimu told
the Ambassador and poloff Sept. 8 his top priorities are
promoting reconciliation between different ethnic groups and
encouraging the return of Congolese refugees in neighboring
countries. This had been made more difficult by the
Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD-Goma) ex-rebel movement's
recent, short-lived decision to boycott the transitional
government, which angered the local population and "reheated"
the situation in Bukavu. Nonetheless, Bulahimu said he met
with Banyamulenge military figure Gen. Patrick Masunzu in
Uvira recently to discuss the possibility of opening a safe
corridor, allowing Congolese Banyamulenge refugees in Burundi
to move into the Minembwe/Haut-Plateau area. The two agreed
to set up a small committee to identify returnees and
ascertain that only Congolese citizens are admitted.


Mai-Mai and FDLR Threats
--------------

3. (C) According to Bulahimu, the RCD-Goma had been too quick
to accuse Congolese Mai-Mai groups of being behind the August
13 Gatumba refugee camp massacre in Burundi. The various
Mai-Mai groups are a serious problem in South Kivu, however,
and are notorious rapists. Another security problem is the
continued presence of Rwandan guerillas belonging to the
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR, aka
ex-FAR/Interahamwe),who likewise prey on the civilian
population. For example, FDLR forces attacked civilians near
Walungu o/a Sept. 2, causing at least 2000 people to flee
their homes. World Food Program, World Vision, and U.N. OCHA
workers are providing aid, but the people there are cold,
hungry and without shelter--"a catastrophe" that gets no
media coverage. In contrast, the governor related that days
earlier he told eight Rwandan families living near Bunyakiri
they could remain where they are, since they are unarmed and
pose no threat. After all, he concluded, "we're not
xenophobes."


Bio Note
--------------

4. (C) Bulahimu said it was a surprise when GDRC
Vice-President Arthur Z'Ahidi Ngoma, a friend from childhood,
picked him for the job. He reminisced at great length about
his diplomatic career under the former (Zairean) government,
and confessed that after so many years away from South
Kivu--he left as a child in the 1960s--he is virtually a
stranger in the province.


COMMENT
--------------

5. (C) The new governor is a fish out of water, and appears
to have little influence and a poor grasp of the overall
situation. Nonetheless, at least he says the right things
and in conversation with us avoided the kind of knee-jerk
anti-Rwandan statements that are characteristic of many
Congolese. The governor's meeting and reported agreement
with Gen. Masunzu is of note insofar as Masunzu is a
well-known figure with a base of support within the
Banyamulenge community, but is also hostile to Kigali and the
RCD-Goma. END COMMENT.
MEECE