BURUNDI: TAPE REVEALS RADJABU PLANS FOR ARMED

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000306 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C AND INR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BY SUBJECT: BURUNDI: TAPE REVEALS RADJABU PLANS FOR ARMED REBELLION ¶1. (SBU) Burundi,s Minister of the Interior, Major General Evariste Ndayishimiye, is investigating reports that former CNDD-FDD party president, Hussein Radjabu, is organizing an armed rebellion against President Pierre Nkurunziza,s government. In Bubanza province, Burundian security forces have already arrested a number of people and seized their weapons in response to accusations of local insurrection. The Interior Ministry continues to investigate this evolving story. ¶2. (SBU) On April 24, African Public Radio announced the existence of a three hour recording of a Radjabu speech given to representatives of CNDD-FDD,s demobilized soldiers, in which he expressed his desire to start an armed rebellion. The objective of the insurrection would be to tarnish the image of Nkurunziza,s government and to create a launch point for Radjabu,s own CNDD-FDD party wing in preparation for the next elections in 2010. APR delivered a copy of the recording to the Securite National de Renseignments (SNR), Burundi,s intelligence service. APR will also air the tape in its entirety over several broadcasts through the day. ¶3. (SBU) Radjabu,s address detailed plans to install five "Kagabos", or deputy wise men, in various collines (villages) throughout Burundi. The goal of the Kagabos is to promulgate Radjabu,s plans amongst the people, door to door, and to recruit followers who will "save the CNDD-FDD party from those who are destroying it." Radjabu characterized the Tutsi CNDD-FDD members as "opportunists" with no party conviction, charging that they lied to Nkurunziza,s government with the intent to destroy the ruling party. Radjabu is encouraging the Kagabos to defy local authorities, promising to use other loyalists in each colline to threaten any police who may try to arrest them. ¶4. (SBU) The Ministry of the Interior is also investigating the existence of weapons caches throughout the country created by CNDD-FDD members loyal to Radjabu. Local authorities throughout Burundi claim that Radjabu followers working in the Burundi,s intelligence service, previously known as "Documentation", have been distributing and hiding weapons throughout the provines in preparation for an armed rebellion. In particular, four months ago, the governor of Karuzi informed officials that Radjabu had authorized a weapons cache within his district. At a CNDD-FDD party meeting in Bujumbura a week later, responding to direct questioning from Radjabu in front of a stadium audience, the governor recanted his earlier statements. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The reports of Radjabu's plans for rebellion have been widely reported by the local media, however; we have yet to confirm the details with the Ministry of Interior. We will provide additional information as we learn more about this developing story. End Comment. MOLLER