Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KINSHASA1993
2004-10-27 09:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

RCD-GOMA STICKS UP FOR RENEGADE OFFICERS

Tags:  PGOV PINS PREL CG 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 001993 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL CG RW
SUBJECT: RCD-GOMA STICKS UP FOR RENEGADE OFFICERS

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001993

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL CG RW
SUBJECT: RCD-GOMA STICKS UP FOR RENEGADE OFFICERS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: A senior RCD-Goma leader complained to the
Ambassador that his faction had been excluded from the
DRC/Uganda/Rwanda tripartite process. He also said the two
renegade officers who led the May-June mutiny in Bukavu
should not be considered in the same league as other official
enemies such as the ex-FAR/Interahamwe. In our view, they
are both very clearly enemies not just of the transitional
government, but also of the Congolese civilian population.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Moise Nyarugabo, a leading member of the RCD-Goma
movement, told the Ambassador October 25 that President
Kabila's and Vice-President Bemba's factions had excluded the
RCD-Goma from the months-old trilateral DRC/Uganda/Rwanda
talks and process. Nyarugabo said he understood the draft
trilateral document includes a list of designated "negative
forces," such as the ex-FAR/Interahamwe, but complained that
renegade officers Gen. Laurent Nkunda and Col. Jules Mutebusi
should not be in the same category as the others. If they
are to be included, at least put them in a separate
paragraph, he argued. Also, Nkunda and Mutebusi are the only
ones on the list to be cited individually--if the document
names them, then other groups such as the FDLR should have
their leaders names specified as well. Nyarugabo added that
the RCD-Goma sent Jean-Marie Emungu (chief of staff to
RCD-Goma leader Azarias Ruberwa) to attend the October 25-26
round of tripartite talks in Kigali. In response, the
Ambassador pointed out that Nkunda and Mutebusi quite clearly
represented threats to the stability of the region and the
transition process. In addition, he noted, Nyarugabo's
objections seemed to be coming very late in the day, on the
eve of signature of the agreement and long after the draft
text had been prepared.


3. (C) COMMENT: Nkunda's and Mutebusi's troops raped and
pillaged their way through Bukavu in June 2004, and Nkunda
himself is widely reported to have been a leading figure in
the May 2002 Kisangani massacre. In our view, they are both
very clearly enemies not just of the transitional government,
but also of the Congolese civilian population. END COMMENT.
MEECE