Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA1779
2006-11-22 16:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
MEDIA REPORT MISTAKES TRIBAL CONFLICT FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO6773 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHKI #1779 3261624 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 221624Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5203 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 4589 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 001779
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREF KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT MISTAKES TRIBAL CONFLICT FOR
POLITICAL VIOLENCE
UNCLAS KINSHASA 001779
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREF KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT MISTAKES TRIBAL CONFLICT FOR
POLITICAL VIOLENCE
1. (U) Summary. A November 20 wire service report erred in
describing a conflict in Bolobo, 175 miles north of Kinshasa,
as fighting between Kabila and Bemba supporters. In fact,
the violence was a flare-up of a longstanding inter-tribal
dispute over land-use rights and had nothing to do with
national politics. The DRC Interior Minister has visited the
area and is attempting to promote community dialogue. End
summary.
2. (SBU) A November 20 Reuters dispatch described the flight
of over 2000 refugees from the DRC to the Republic of Congo
as the result of conflict between supporters of President
Joseph Kabila and Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba, the two
candidates in the October 29 DRC presidential election. The
source of the report, Jens Hesemann, spokesman for the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kinshasa, was
quoted by the reporter as saying, "They fled due to fighting
in Equateur province. From what we gather, it was between
supporters of the different presidential candidates." (Note:
Bolobo is not even in Equateur province, but is in Bandundu
province. End note.)
3. (U) In fact, as MONUC's Radio Okapi reported the day
before, the conflict was a flare-up of a longstanding dispute
over land-use rights between two tribes in Bolobo territory,
located on the Congo River approximately 175 miles north of
Kinshasa in Bandundu province. This was confirmed November
21 by the DRC Interior Ministry, which told us fighting
between the Banunu and Batende ethnic groups over forest,
fishing and other land rights had broken out on the night of
November 15 and lasted through November 19.
4. (U) Estimates of the number of people killed in the
violence range from six to 10, with some two dozen wounded,
primarily by arrows and machetes. Most of the victims were
Banunu, who comprise 60 percent of the population; the
Batende comprise some 30 percent and hold most customary
rights to use of desirable land. A doctor at Bolobo's
hospital told AFP more than 100 dwellings and two churches
were burned and many of the town's population of 15,000 fled,
most to the nearby forest.
5. (U) Hesemann confirmed to us that 1941 persons had
registered as refugees in the Republic of the Congo by
November 20. He said UNHCR's Brazzaville office had
dispatched an evaluation team to the area November 19, and
was sending a helicopter with supplies for vulnerable
refugees. He confirmed he was the source of Reuters story,
but said he was incorrectly quoted, saying he may have told
the reporter, "rumors were that the fighting had been sparked
by presidential politics."
6. (U) A delegation led by Interior Minister Denis Kalume
met with local dignitaries and officials in Bolobo November
19 and concluded an agreement to establish a community
"barza," or local parliament, to facilitate dialogue between
the two groups. Radio Okapi reported November 21 that Kalume
sacked the district commissioner and army commandant, and
instituted several other initiatives aimed at bringing the
two communities together. According to Kalume's deputy chief
of staff, the delegation returned to Kinshasa November 19 and
plans to issue a report tomorrow.
MEECE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREF KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT MISTAKES TRIBAL CONFLICT FOR
POLITICAL VIOLENCE
1. (U) Summary. A November 20 wire service report erred in
describing a conflict in Bolobo, 175 miles north of Kinshasa,
as fighting between Kabila and Bemba supporters. In fact,
the violence was a flare-up of a longstanding inter-tribal
dispute over land-use rights and had nothing to do with
national politics. The DRC Interior Minister has visited the
area and is attempting to promote community dialogue. End
summary.
2. (SBU) A November 20 Reuters dispatch described the flight
of over 2000 refugees from the DRC to the Republic of Congo
as the result of conflict between supporters of President
Joseph Kabila and Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba, the two
candidates in the October 29 DRC presidential election. The
source of the report, Jens Hesemann, spokesman for the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kinshasa, was
quoted by the reporter as saying, "They fled due to fighting
in Equateur province. From what we gather, it was between
supporters of the different presidential candidates." (Note:
Bolobo is not even in Equateur province, but is in Bandundu
province. End note.)
3. (U) In fact, as MONUC's Radio Okapi reported the day
before, the conflict was a flare-up of a longstanding dispute
over land-use rights between two tribes in Bolobo territory,
located on the Congo River approximately 175 miles north of
Kinshasa in Bandundu province. This was confirmed November
21 by the DRC Interior Ministry, which told us fighting
between the Banunu and Batende ethnic groups over forest,
fishing and other land rights had broken out on the night of
November 15 and lasted through November 19.
4. (U) Estimates of the number of people killed in the
violence range from six to 10, with some two dozen wounded,
primarily by arrows and machetes. Most of the victims were
Banunu, who comprise 60 percent of the population; the
Batende comprise some 30 percent and hold most customary
rights to use of desirable land. A doctor at Bolobo's
hospital told AFP more than 100 dwellings and two churches
were burned and many of the town's population of 15,000 fled,
most to the nearby forest.
5. (U) Hesemann confirmed to us that 1941 persons had
registered as refugees in the Republic of the Congo by
November 20. He said UNHCR's Brazzaville office had
dispatched an evaluation team to the area November 19, and
was sending a helicopter with supplies for vulnerable
refugees. He confirmed he was the source of Reuters story,
but said he was incorrectly quoted, saying he may have told
the reporter, "rumors were that the fighting had been sparked
by presidential politics."
6. (U) A delegation led by Interior Minister Denis Kalume
met with local dignitaries and officials in Bolobo November
19 and concluded an agreement to establish a community
"barza," or local parliament, to facilitate dialogue between
the two groups. Radio Okapi reported November 21 that Kalume
sacked the district commissioner and army commandant, and
instituted several other initiatives aimed at bringing the
two communities together. According to Kalume's deputy chief
of staff, the delegation returned to Kinshasa November 19 and
plans to issue a report tomorrow.
MEECE