Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA918
2006-06-09 11:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT KABILA'S MOTHER SPEAKS OUT

Tags:  PGOV PINR KPKO KDEM CG ELECTIONS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3483
PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHKI #0918 1601126
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091126Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4087
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000918 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KPKO KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KABILA'S MOTHER SPEAKS OUT


UNCLAS KINSHASA 000918

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KPKO KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KABILA'S MOTHER SPEAKS OUT



1. (U) Summary: In a rare public interview, President
Kabila's mother, Mama Sifa Maanya, sought to dispel rumors
regarding the President's origins, saying unequivocally that
Kabila is her son by birth. Speaking to the Belgian newspaper
"Le Soir," Sifa described the struggles and sacrifices she
and her family made on behalf of the Congo. Sifa said despite
the years spent in exile -- necessary for their own
protection -- the Kabila clan never stopped fighting for the
liberation of the country from the despotism of Mobutu.
Moreover, Sifa said she and Kabila's father, Laurent,
instilled in their son Joseph a love for his country and the
will to unify and bring peace to it. End summary.


2. (U) In an interview published June 2 in the Belgian
newspaper "Le Soir" (reprinted in several Kinshasa
newspapers),Mama Sifa Maanya, the mother of President Joseph
Kabila, defended her son against persistent rumors that he is
not truly "Congolese." Sifa said Kabila and his twin sister,
Jaynet, were born in 1971 while she and her husband (and
future DRC president) Laurent, were living in the village of
Wimbi along Lake Tanganyika while leading the rebellion
against Mobutu. Sifa said accusations that Kabila is
"Rwandan" are truly hurtful to her, but added that it is not
her place "to go on television" to respond to these
allegations. Nonetheless, Sifa said Kabila is definitely her
child (and is, therefore, "Congolese"),the same as Jaynet
and her other children.


3. (U) Sifa took the opportunity as well to defend the memory
of Laurent and the sacrifices the two of them made for the
Congo. Sifa said Laurent dedicated 40 years of his life to
liberate his country, only to be assassinated by his own
countrymen. As for her own contributions, Sifa said she spent
32 years of her own life with Laurent and dedicated herself
to her family and the struggle against Mobutu. She asked
rhetorically how anyone, knowing what she endured for the
Congo, could say she too was Rwandan.


4. (U) Sifa spoke in detail about the years of sacrifice she
and her family made while living in the bush and in exile
while fighting against the Mobutu regime. Sifa said that they
lived a simple life, living in camps without electricity,
sometimes forced to eat nothing but grass, and not having
much clothing to wear. Sifa said she and her family were able
to survive, however, by farming and fishing, while she
herself sold vegetables in the local markets. All the while,
Sifa said she remained with Laurent to combat injustice and
to continue the struggle against Mobutu. It was only after
being chased by Mobutu's forces during the late 1970s the
Kabila family decided it needed to flee to Tanzania and
continue the rebellion in exile.


5. (U) While in exile, Joseph was sent to the French School
in Dar es-Salaam and later to university in Uganda. Sifa said
Kabila later cut his studies short to join his father to help
prepare for the coming war against Mobutu. During this time
outside the DRC, Sifa said she taught her children to love
their country and respect their family, as well as the
principles of honor, modesty and humility. Sifa said these
were the values behind their revolution to combat injustice
in the Congo.


6. (SBU) Comment: The interview with Mama Sifa, who rarely
makes public appearances or statements, is another effort by
the Kabila campaign to set the record straight regarding the
President's origins. Sifa did not, however, present any
definitive proof that Joseph was born on Congolese soil. Nor
does Sifa say outright that she is Congolese herself.
Nonetheless, in presenting the story of the Kabilas' long
fight against Mobutu, under the worst of conditions, Sifa
imparts upon Joseph the impeccable credentials of a true
Congolese revolutionary. End comment.
MEECE