Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KINSHASA1979
2004-10-25 08:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

KABILA FUMING AT BELGIAN FONMIN COMMENTS

Tags:  PREL CG BE RW 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001979 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014
TAGS: PREL CG BE RW
SUBJECT: KABILA FUMING AT BELGIAN FONMIN COMMENTS

REF: BRUSSELS 4517

Classified By: Poloff Edward Bestic for Reasons 1.4 B and D

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001979

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014
TAGS: PREL CG BE RW
SUBJECT: KABILA FUMING AT BELGIAN FONMIN COMMENTS

REF: BRUSSELS 4517

Classified By: Poloff Edward Bestic for Reasons 1.4 B and D


1. (C) SUMMARY: President Kabila has temporarily recalled
his ambassador from Brussels, as a sign of displeasure with
recent comments by the Belgian foreign minister. The ongoing
spat does us no good, because the USG and Belgium share many
of the same goals in the DRC. Still, the Belgian/DRC
relationship has long been characterized by strong if mixed
feelings on both sides, and bilateral relations will survive.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) In the wake of Belgian foreign minister De Gucht's
criticism of Congolese political leaders (reftel),President
Kabila's special adviser Andre Kapanga told polcouns October
21 the GDRC has decided to recall its ambassador in Brussels
for "indefinite consultations." According to Kapanga, Kabila
previously rejected the idea but decided on it because local
press reported that the Belgian ambassador in Kinshasa
publicly expressed support for De Gucht's statements in a
press interview on October 19. (Comment: One Kinshasa
newspaper ran an article claiming this, but it's unclear that
the Belgian ambassador actually did so. End Comment.)


3. (C) Kapanga told polcouns previously, on October 19, that
Kabila was furious at De Gucht's remarks and had railed that
the Belgians "lack respect for the Congo," and "want to treat
us as a colony, not a partner." The source said Kabila also
questioned rhetorically whether or not the DRC should
consider curtailing its cooperation with Belgium. Another
source told DCM separately that Kabila called one of his
ambassadors-at-large, Antoine Ghonda, the evening of October
16 to express his anger about De Gucht's remarks. The
Belgian ambassador told Ambassador October 20 he had already
had a "conversation" (as opposed to being convoked) with
Congolese foreign minister Raymond Ramazani and Kabila's
diplomatic adviser Andre Kapanga to talk about De Gucht's
"injurious" comments.


4. (U) Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt reportedly
telephoned Kabila on October 22 to express support for the
transition and presumably help smooth ruffled feathers, and
in return Kabila clarified that he was not "recalling" his
ambassador. (Note: Ramazani explained in an interview with
Radio Okapi the same day that the ambassador was merely
coming back for consultations, a "normal" diplomatic
procedure. End Note.) Also on October 22, Congolese
information minister Henri Mova Sakanyi issued a blistering
statement, accusing De Gucht of "racism" and likening him to
the Belgian comic-book hero Tintin. The Kinshasa press has
continued to cover the controversy. Pro-Kabila papers have
highlighted other Belgians' criticism of De Gucht, whereas
other dailies (several of which support opposition figure
Etienne Tshisekedi) have praised De Gucht for speaking "the
truth."


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

5. (C) Kabila is clearly miffed at De Gucht's comments, which
were particularly stinging since he lambasted the DRC while
in Rwanda. The decision to recall the Congolese ambassador
from Brussels probably reflects Kabila's thin skin (though
modest, he has bristled before at the notion he is not
presidential material),as well as a means of deflecting
criticism from internal opponents such as Tshisekedi.
Another possible explanation--advanced by Belgian
diplomats--is that some among Kabila's entourage are
deliberately seeking to create an issue in order to boost
their own standing. Because Belgium is a key U.S. partner in
the DRC's transition and shares many of the same goals, the
ongoing spat does us no good. Still, the Belgian/DRC
relationship has long been characterized by strong if mixed
feelings on both sides and bilateral relations will survive.
END COMMENT.
MEECE