BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT DISMISSES HIGH-LEVEL

S E C R E T BUJUMBURA 000290 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C AND INR E.O. 12958: DECL: 2017/04/17 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BY SUBJECT: BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT DISMISSES HIGH-LEVEL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OFFICIALS REF: 06 BUJUMBURA 669 Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Moller for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (U) President Pierre Nkurunziza, on April 12, replaced three high-ranking members of Burundi,s national intelligence service, the Securite National de Renseignments (SNR),including the Deputy General Manager and the Chief of Staff. The former principal advisor to the President, Zacharie Sagaga, took over as Deputy Chief from Colonel Leonidas Kiziba. Gervais Ndirakobuca, a former commandant in the armed forces, was installed as the new Chief of Staff following the dismissal of Colonel Jean-Bosco Ngendanganya. President Nkurunziza also named Leonard Ngendakumana to the post of Director for Interior Affairs for the SNR, popularly known as "Documentation". Adolphe Nshimirimana, the Chief of the SNR, remains in the top position. ¶2. (U) The replacement of Col. Kiziba comes as a surprise to many political observers as he is widely viewed as an intelligent, capable and communicative official. Although Sagaga is seen as open-minded and well versed on police issues, he is considered young, inexperienced and may be more reluctant than his predecessor to speak candidly. The new Chief of Staff, Ndirakobuca, is a CNDD-FDD member originally from Ngozi, the home of President Nkurunziza. ¶3. (S/NF) Comment: In August 2006, former SNR Deputy Chief Col. Kiziba (strictly protect) met confidentially with an embassy representative (reftel.) to express his belief that government reports of a coup attempt were completely fabricated, also implying the weakness of the case files against the plotters. During the same conversation, Kiziba confirmed reports of torture inflicted against the coup plot detainees. At the time, Kiziba repeatedly requested the strictest confidentiality for fear that his own life would be in jeopardy due to his concerns. ¶4. (S/NF) Notwithstanding his comments and candor, many believe that both Kiziba and former Chief of Staff Ngendanganya played key roles in the arrest, detention and torture of the suspected coup-plotters and journalists. Ngendanganya is reported to have been very pro-active in the prosecution of the detainees, such as fabricating evidence and attempting to add witnesses. The upheaval within the Documentation may demonstrate President Nkurunziza,s desire to address the injustices committed against several high-profile figures in 2006. Moreover, SNR chief Nshimirimana is a key ally of President Nkurunziza. The addition of Sagaga and Ndirakobuca would seem to bolster the President,s control over the future direction and actions of his national security service. End Comment. MOLLER