ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER, WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS, BLASTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KINSHASA 001249

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS KWMN CG RW
SUBJECT: ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER, WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS, BLASTS
RWANDA AT MEETING WITH P-3 +2 AND MONUC

1. (SBU) Summary: Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba convened a
snap meeting of P-3 + 2 ambassadors and MONUC on October 25.
Lubamba, a member of the micro-party "UDEMO" (Union of Democratic

Mobutistes) delivered a rambling statement condemning Tutsi
politician Azarias Ruberwa, criticized renegade Tutsi general and
insurgency leader Laurent Nkunda, and asked for increased foreign
assistance to deal with gender-based violence in the east of the
DRC. At the end of the meeting he distributed a highly-inflammatory
statement (paras 8 and 9 below) criticizing Rwanda. The statement
did not receive significant press coverage in the DRC. Lubamba was
clearly acting without instructions, as he has done in the past.
End summary.

2. (U) Late October 24 Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba called
Charge to say he was convening a meeting of the P-3 + 2 ambassadors
and MONUC for the following day at noon. (Note: Lubamba was acting
in the absence of Foreign Minister Antipas Mbusa, who had departed
for the U.S. with President Joseph Kabila in connection with
Kabila's October 26 visit with President Bush. End note.) Charge
asked why he was being convened; Lubamba replied he would explain at
the meeting, which was attended by the ambassadors of France, the
United Kingdom and Belgium, plus the charges of the United States
and South Africa. MONUC was represented by a political counselor.


3. (SBU) Lubamba introduced the chief of staff of the minister of
humanitarian affairs, representing his boss who, Lubamba said, was
in the hospital, as well as a medical expert on gender based
violence. After the introductions, he began the meeting with a
rambling monologue referring to recent statements in the U.S. by
Azarias Ruberwa Manywa, a prominent Tutsi politician who served as
vice president in the transitional government. Ruberwa, Lubamba
stated, had shown he was disloyal to his country by criticizing
President Kabila publicly while in the U.S. Lubamba then criticized
Nkunda, repeating the much-used argument that Congolese Tutsis were
not persecuted; in fact, Lubamba emphasized, some of the DRC's most
prominent and powerful people are Tutsis. He then spoke on the
subject of gender based violence and its effect on victims and their
children, asking for increased foreign assistance to deal with the
problem. The medical expert added to Lubamba's statement with
comments on physical and psychological aspects of the issue.

4. (SBU) Attendees were invited to make comments. The French and
Belgian ambassadors thanked the acting minister for his invitation
and reassured him their governments were outraged over the
atrocities in the east and were working with the GDRC to end the
conflict. U.S. Charge stated the U.S. was actively engaged in
efforts to end the violence and that President Kabila's meeting with
President Bush the following day was testimony to the importance the
U.S. attaches to ending the conflict and human rights abuses. He
then said that in democracies like the United States public opinion
was an important component in the formulation of foreign policy.
Efforts to obtain greater funding for victims of gender based
violence in the east might be compromised if, as some human rights
organizations were saying, many gender based crimes were committed
by the DRC's own military forces. He referred to Amnesty
International's latest report, released the previous day, which
maintains that most gender based crimes in the DRC are carried out
by the army. The U.K. ambassador picked up on this, also
emphasizing the importance of taking measures to reduce perpetration
of these crimes by the FARDC.

5. (SBU) The meeting ended at 1:50 pm. The acting minister then
called in the press, approximately 30 persons in all, which had been
waiting outside the room, and asked attendees to remain with him as
he spoke to the media. He then handed out a statement (paras 8 and
9). All diplomats excused themselves politely and left the room
stealthily before Lubamba's press conference began. The event and
the statement were not given significant coverage in Kinshasa's
media.

6. (SBU) Note: Alain Lubamba is a member of UDEMO ("Union des
Democrates Mobutistes"),a micro-party with one senator (the senate
has 108 members) and 9 deputies (that chamber has 500). The party
is headed by Minister of State for Agriculture, Francois-Joseph
Nzanga Mobutu, a son of the former dictator. Younger brother
Albert-Philippe Mobutu Giala Kassa is a deputy. Although the party
is small, some observers affirm its presence in the Kabila
government is a powerful symbol of reconciliation between supporters
of the late dictator and those who fought to oust him under Laurent
Kabila, father of the current president. End note.

7. (SBU) Comment: Lubamba similarly convened the diplomatic corps
on September 15 during the absence of President Kabila and Foreign
Minister Mbusa to attend the UN General Assembly. At that meeting
he condemned the UN Security Council press statement of September 12
which called on "all parties to comply with international law."
Lubamba claimed that the UN statement gave Nkunda equal status with
the GDRC. He also handed out a statement he drafted criticizing the
UN, which was covered in the local media. It was later confirmed
that Lubamba's action on September 15 was not authorized by the
presidency or the foreign minister. UN Special Representative and
MONUC chief William Swing (pls protect) told charge October 24 he

KINSHASA 00001249 002 OF 005


1. (SBU) Summary: Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba convened a
snap meeting of P-3 + 2 ambassadors and MONUC on October 25.
Lubamba, a member of the micro-party "UDEMO" (Union of Democratic
Mobutistes) delivered a rambling statement condemning Tutsi
politician Azarias Ruberwa, criticized renegade Tutsi general and
insurgency leader Laurent Nkunda, and asked for increased foreign
assistance to deal with gender-based violence in the east of the
DRC. At the end of the meeting he distributed a highly-inflammatory
statement (paras 8 and 9 below) criticizing Rwanda. The statement
did not receive significant press coverage in the DRC. Lubamba was
clearly acting without instructions, as he has done in the past.
End summary.

2. (U) Late October 24 Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba called
Charge to say he was convening a meeting of the P-3 + 2 ambassadors
and MONUC for the following day at noon. (Note: Lubamba was acting
in the absence of Foreign Minister Antipas Mbusa, who had departed
for the U.S. with President Joseph Kabila in connection with
Kabila's October 26 visit with President Bush. End note.) Charge
asked why he was being convened; Lubamba replied he would explain at
the meeting, which was attended by the ambassadors of France, the
United Kingdom and Belgium, plus the charges of the United States
and South Africa. MONUC was represented by a political counselor.

would not attend Lubamba's meeting that day because of the Acting
Minister's inaccurate statement of September 15. Charge has
discussed Lubamba's unauthorized grand-standing with other
diplomats, who have agreed to complain to Foreign Minister Mbusa.
End comment.

8. (U) Following is original French text of Acting Foreign
Minister's statement.
Begin French text:
REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO
MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES ET DE LA COOPERATION
INTERNATIONALE
COMMUNICATION DU MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES ET DE LA
COOPERATION INTERNATIONALE AUX CHEFS DE MISSIONS DIPLOMATIQUES DU
P3+2 ACCREDITES EN RDC SUR LA SITUATION SECURITAIRE A L'EST DE LA
REPUBLIQUE
DEPUIS L'ORGANISATION DES ELECTIONS DEMOCRATIQUES, LIBRES ET
TRANSPARENTES EN REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO, LE GOUVERNEMENT
S'EST FIXE COMME OBJECTIF ULTIME, LA REFONDATION DE L'ETAT COMME
CHEVAL DE BATAILLE DE LA RECONSTRUCTION NATIONALE APRES DE LONGUES
ANNEES DE TURBULENCES POLITIQUES.
ALORS QUE TOUS LES EFFORTS DEVAIENT ETRE CENTRES ET MOBILISES VERS
CE NOBLE OBJECTIF, L'INSECURITE A L'EST DE LA RDC, TELLE UNE EPINE
DANS LE PIED, DECONCENTRE ET IMPOSE PAR CONSEQUENT AU GOUVERNEMENT
CONGOLAIS L'OBLIGATION DE RESTAURER L'AUTORITE DE L'ETAT. CETTE
RESTAURATION PASSE PAR LA SECURISATION DES POPULATIONS CIVILES
DUREMENT MEURTRIES.
C'EST DANS CETTE OPTIQUE QUE LE CHEF DE L'ETAT A SEJOURNE
DERNIEREMENT AU NORD KIVU POUR SE RENDRE COMPTE DE L'EVOLUTION DE LA
SITUATION. PRENANT SES RESPONSABILITES EN MAINS EN SA QUALITE DE
GARANT DE L'UNITE NATIONALE ET DE L'INTEGRITE TERRITORIALE, II A
REAFFIRME SA DETERMINATION A PACIFIER L'EST DE LA REPUBLIQUE PAR
TOUS LES MOYENS, EN PROTEGEANT CONSEQUEMMENT TOUTES LES COMMUNAUTES
SANS DISCRIMINATION AUCUNE.
II IMPORTE DE RAPPELER QUE LE GENERAL DECHU NKUNDA S'EST REBELLE
PENDANT QU'IL EXERCAIT LES FONCTIONS DE COMMANDANT DE REGION
MILITAIRE ET AU MOMENT OU SA COMMUNAUTE ETAIT REPRESENTEE AU SOMMET
DE L'ETAT EN ASSUMANT LES FONCTIONS DE VICE PRESIDENT EN CHARGE DE
LA COMMISSION POLITIQUE, DEFENSE ET SECURITE ET CELA N'A MEME PAS
FAIT OMBRAGE AU CANDIDAT ORIGINAIRE DE SA COMMUNAUTE AUX ECHEANCES
PRESIDENTIELLES QUI A OBTENU LA 6EME PLACE SUR UNE LISTE DE 33
CANDIDATS.
CECI EST UN DEMENTI PROBANT S'IL EN ETAIT BESOIN DE L'ARGUMENTAIRE
DE LA MINORITE ETHNIQUE QUE JUSTIFIERAIT LA MUTINERIE DE MONSIEUR
NKUNDA ET LES EXACTIONS AUXQUELLES IL SE LIVRE.
PAR AILLEURS, IL IMPORTE DE RELEVER QUE LE SCORE LE PLUS ELOQUENT DU
MEMBRE DE LA COMMUNAUTE TUTSI AUX ELECTIONS PRESIDENTIELLES A ETE
INSCRIT DANS LA PROVINCE ORIENTALE ET CELLE DU KATANGA PENDANT QUE
DANS LE FIEF DE MINEMBWE, LE RESULTAT A ETE LE PLUS FAIBLE.
PAR CONTRE, EN EVOQUENT LE CALVAIRE DE LA MINORITE TUTSI, IL SERAIT
UTILE DE RELEVER QUE MONSIEUR NKUNDA EST ACTUELLEMENT INSTALLE DANS
LE TERRITOIRE DE RUTSHURU A FORTE CONCENTRATION DES POPULATIONS HUTU
CONGOLAIS ET QU'IL Y A LIEU D'ETRE PREOCCUPE PAR DES EXACTIONS
AUXQUELLES CES POPULATIONS SONT ASSUJETTIES AU JOUR LE JOUR PAR LES
INSURGES. IL EST A CRAINDRE QU'UN GENOCIDE S'Y DEROULE EN VASE CBS
AU REGARD DES FAUSSES COMMUNES QU'ON N'Y A DECOUVERTES IL Y A PEU.
PAR AILLEURS, PLUSIEURS MEMBRES DE LA COMMUNAUTE TUTSI EXERCENT DES
FONCTIONS IMPORTANTES DANS DIVERSES INSTITUTIONS DU PAYS. C'EST LE
CAS NOTAMMENT DE ME MOISE NYARUGABO ELU SENATEUR A KINSHASA, ALORS
QUE SA TRIBU NE DISPOSE D'AUCUN DEPUTE PROVINCIAL. LES CONGOLAIS ONT
PREFERE VOTER UTILE.
DU RESTE, SUR PLUS DE 450 TRIBUS REPERTORIEES EN RDC, SEULES 147
SONT EFFECTIVEMENT REPRESENTEES A L'ASSEMBLEE NATIONATE. TOUT COMPTE
FAIT, 203 TRIBUS Y SONT ABSENTES, DONC NON REPRESENTEES. IL CONVIENT
DE RELEVER EGALEMENT QUE LE NOMBRE DES OFFICIERS GENERAUX ET

KINSHASA 00001249 003 OF 005


1. (SBU) Summary: Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba convened a
snap meeting of P-3 + 2 ambassadors and MONUC on October 25.
Lubamba, a member of the micro-party "UDEMO" (Union of Democratic
Mobutistes) delivered a rambling statement condemning Tutsi
politician Azarias Ruberwa, criticized renegade Tutsi general and
insurgency leader Laurent Nkunda, and asked for increased foreign
assistance to deal with gender-based violence in the east of the
DRC. At the end of the meeting he distributed a highly-inflammatory
statement (paras 8 and 9 below) criticizing Rwanda. The statement
did not receive significant press coverage in the DRC. Lubamba was
clearly acting without instructions, as he has done in the past.
End summary.

2. (U) Late October 24 Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba called
Charge to say he was convening a meeting of the P-3 + 2 ambassadors
and MONUC for the following day at noon. (Note: Lubamba was acting
in the absence of Foreign Minister Antipas Mbusa, who had departed
for the U.S. with President Joseph Kabila in connection with
Kabila's October 26 visit with President Bush. End note.) Charge
asked why he was being convened; Lubamba replied he would explain at
the meeting, which was attended by the ambassadors of France, the
United Kingdom and Belgium, plus the charges of the United States
and South Africa. MONUC was represented by a political counselor.

SUPERIEURS DE LA COMMUNAUTE TUTSI DANS L'ARMEE NATIONALE, DEPASSE
CELUI QUE POSSEDENT TOUTES LES TRIBUS REUNIES DU NORD ET SUD KIVU.

LE SOUTIEN APPORTE AU GENERAL DECHU CACHE MAL, UNE STRATEGIE DEVANT
CONTINUER A SERVIR DE FONDS DE COMMERCE AU POUVOIR RWANDAIS POUR
JUSTIFIER SES AGRESSIONS RECURRENTES CONTRE LA RDC.
EN EFFET, DEPUIS 1994 LE RWANDA EST INCAPABLE D'ASSEOIR UN ETAT
DEMOCRATIQUE. C'EST LA TRIBU TUTSI QUI DETIENT LES RENES DU POUVOIR
SANS PARTAGE AVEC LE FALLACIEUX ARGUMENT DE RECHERCHER LES
GENOCIDAIRES ALORS QUE TOUS LES HUTU NE DEVRAIENT NULLEMENT ETRE
MELES A LA FOLIE MEURTRIERE DE 1994 DU SEUL FAIT D'EXPRIMER LEURS
AMBITIONS POLITIQUES.
C'EST DE CETTE INCAPACITE D'INSTAURER UN ETAT DE DROIT QUE DECOULE
TOUT CET ARGUMENTAIRE DE PROTECTION DE LA MINORITE TUTSI. RAISON
POUR LAQUELLE, LA RDC DEMANDE A LA COMMUNAUTE INTERNATIONALE DE
PRENDRE TOUTES SES RESPONSABILITES AUX FINS D'EXERCER DES FORTES
PRESSIONS SUR IE POURVOIR MONOLITHIQUE DE KIGALI POUR QU'IL OUVRE LE
JEU DEMOCRATIQUE ET PERMETTE AINSI A TOUS LES RWANDAIS DE RETOURNER
CHEZ EUX, ET DE TROUVER PAR IE DIALOGUE LES SOLUTIONS AUX PROBLEMES
DE LA GESTION DU POUVOIR D'ETAT QUI S'Y POSE AVEC ACUITE.
S'Y PRENDRE AUTREMENT HYPOTHEQUERAIT POUR LONGTEMPS LA CHANCE DE
VOIR S'INSTALLER LA PAIX DURABLE DANS LA REGION. CAR, LA MAJORITE
HUTU MISE A L'ECART DE LA GESTION DU POUVOIR D'ETAT N'AURA D'AUTRE
CHOIX QUE LE RECOURS A LA FORCE, CE QUI CONSTITUERAIT UN SERIEUX
RECUL.
FAIT A KINSHASA, LE 25 OCTOBRE 2007
End French text


9. (U) Following is unofficial Embassy translation into English of
original French text

Begin unofficial translation

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION TO THE HEADS OF P3+2 DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS ACCREDITED TO
THE DRC, ON THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE
REPUBLIC

SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF DEMOCRATIC, FREE AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS
IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET FOR
ITSELF AS ITS ULTIMATE GOAL THE RESTORATION OF THE STATE AS THE
ENGINE OF NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION AFTER LONG YEARS OF POLITICAL
TURBULENCE.

WHILE ALL EFFORTS MUST BE FOCUSED ON, AND MOBILIZED AROUND, THIS
LOFTY GOAL, INSECURITY IN THE EAST OF THE DRC, LIKE A THORN IN THE
FOOT, INTERFERES AND THEREFORE REQUIRES THE CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT TO
RESTORE STATE AUTHORITY. THIS RESTORATION MUST INVOLVE ENSURING THE
SAFETY OF CIVILIAN POPULATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN SEVERELY HARMED.

WITH THIS IN MIND, THE PRESIDENT RECENTLY VISITED NORTH KIVU TO SEE
FOR HIMSELF HOW THE SITUATION IS EVOLVING. ASSUMING HIS
RESPONSIBILITIES AS GUARANTOR OF NATIONAL UNITY AND TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY, HE REAFFIRMED HIS DETERMINATION TO PACIFY THE EAST OF THE
REPUBLIC BY ALL NECESSARY MEANS, BY PROTECTING THEREFORE ALL
COMMUNITIES WITHOUT ANY DISCRIMINATION WHATSOEVER.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECALL THAT DEPOSED GENERAL NKUNDA BEGAN HIS
REBELLION WHEN HE WORKED AS A REGIONAL MILITARY COMMANDER AND WHEN
HIS COMMUNITY WAS REPRESENTED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF THE
GOVERNMENT, WITH ONE OF THEIR OWN HAVING ASSUMED THE OFFICE OF VICE

KINSHASA 00001249 004 OF 005


1. (SBU) Summary: Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba convened a
snap meeting of P-3 + 2 ambassadors and MONUC on October 25.
Lubamba, a member of the micro-party "UDEMO" (Union of Democratic
Mobutistes) delivered a rambling statement condemning Tutsi
politician Azarias Ruberwa, criticized renegade Tutsi general and
insurgency leader Laurent Nkunda, and asked for increased foreign
assistance to deal with gender-based violence in the east of the
DRC. At the end of the meeting he distributed a highly-inflammatory
statement (paras 8 and 9 below) criticizing Rwanda. The statement
did not receive significant press coverage in the DRC. Lubamba was
clearly acting without instructions, as he has done in the past.
End summary.

2. (U) Late October 24 Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba called
Charge to say he was convening a meeting of the P-3 + 2 ambassadors
and MONUC for the following day at noon. (Note: Lubamba was acting
in the absence of Foreign Minister Antipas Mbusa, who had departed
for the U.S. with President Joseph Kabila in connection with
Kabila's October 26 visit with President Bush. End note.) Charge
asked why he was being convened; Lubamba replied he would explain at
the meeting, which was attended by the ambassadors of France, the
United Kingdom and Belgium, plus the charges of the United States
and South Africa. MONUC was represented by a political counselor.

PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF THE POLITICAL, DEFENSE AND SECURITY
COMMISSION; THIS DID NOT EVEN WEAKEN THE CHANCES OF A CANDIDATE FROM
HIS COMMUNITY IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, WHO FINISHED SIXTH IN A
LIST OF 33 CANDIDATES.

THIS DISPROVES THE ARGUMENTS OF THE ETHNIC MINORITY THAT WOULD
JUSTIFY MR. NKUNDA'S MUTINY AND THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE CARRIED OUT BY
HIM.

IN ADDITION, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE LARGEST NUMBER OF
VOTES FOR THE TUTSI CANDIDATE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WAS IN
THE ORIENTALE AND KATANGA PROVINCES, WHILE IN THE MINEMBWE
STRONGHOLD, HE RECEIVED THE SMALLEST NUMBER OF VOTES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN INVOKING THE HARDSHIPS OF THE TUTSI
MINORITY, IT IS WORTH POINTING OUT THAT MR. NKUNDA IS CURRENTLY
DEPLOYED IN THE RUTSHURU TERRITORY, WHERE THERE IS A HIGH
CONCENTRATION OF CONGOLESE HUTUS, AND THAT THERE IS REASON FOR
CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE ABUSES TO WHICH THESE POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN
SUBJECTED ON A DAILY BASIS BY THE INSURGENTS. IT IS FEARED THAT
GENOCIDE IS BEING CARRIED OUT THERE, IN LIGHT OF RECENTLY DISCOVERED
COMMON GRAVES.

FURTHERMORE, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE TUTSI COMMUNITY HOLD IMPORTANT
POSITIONS IN SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. THIS IS THE CASE
WITH MOISE NYARUGABO, ELECTED TO THE SENATE FROM KINSHASA, ALTHOUGH
HIS TRIBE HAS NO MEMBERS IN THE LOWER CHAMBER. THE CONGOLESE
PREFERRED TO CAST A USEFUL VOTE.

MOREOVER, WITH MORE THAN 450 TRIBES IN THE DRC, ONLY 147 ARE
REPRESENTED IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. ALL TOLD, 203 TRIBES ARE
ABSENT, THUS UNREPRESENTED. IT SHOULD BE ALSO NOTED THAT THE NUMBER
OF GENERALS AND SENIOR OFFICERS FROM THE TUTSI COMMUNITY IN THE
NATIONAL ARMY EXCEEDS THAT FROM ALL THE TRIBES OF NORTH AND SOUTH
KIVU COMBINED.

THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE DEPOSED GENERAL POORLY HIDES A STRATEGY
USED BY RWANDA'S POWER STRUCTURE TO JUSTIFY REPEATED AGGRESSIONS
AGAINST THE DRC.

INDEED, SINCE 1994 RWANDA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CREATE A DEMOCRATIC
STATE. THE TUTSI TRIBE HOLDS THE REINS OF POWER WITHOUT SHARING
THEM, USING THE FALLACIOUS ARGUMENT THAT IT IS PURSUING THOSE WHO
COMMITTED GENOCIDE, BUT HUTUS SHOULD NOT ALL BE MIXED UP WITH THE
MURDEROUS FOLLY OF 1994 SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY EXPRESS THEIR POLITICAL
AMBITIONS.

IT IS THIS INABILITY TO ESTABLISH THE RULE OF LAW FROM WHICH FLOWS
THIS ARGUMENT OF PROTECTING THE TUTSI MINORITY. THIS IS WHY THE DRC
IS ASKING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ASSUME ITS FULL
RESPONSIBILITY TO STRONGLY PRESSURE THE MONOLITHIC POWER STRUCTURE
IN KIGALI SO IT WILL OPEN UP THE DEMOCRATIC GAME AND ALLOW ALL
RWANDANS TO RETURN HOME, AND TO FIND, THROUGH DIALOGUE, SOLUTIONS TO
THE PROBLEM OF MANAGING POLITICAL POWER, A PROBLEM WHICH ACUTELY
EXISTS THERE.

DOING OTHERWISE WOULD JEOPARDIZE FOR A LONG TIME A CHANCE TO ACHIEVE
LASTING PEACE IN THE REGION. BECAUSE THE HUTU MAJORITY, WHICH HAS
BEEN EXCLUDED FROM STATE POWER, WILL HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO USE
FORCE, WHICH WOULD CONSTITUTE A SERIOUS REVERSE.

ISSUED IN KINSHASA, OCTOBER 25, 2007

End unofficial translation

KINSHASA 00001249 005 OF 005


1. (SBU) Summary: Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba convened a
snap meeting of P-3 + 2 ambassadors and MONUC on October 25.
Lubamba, a member of the micro-party "UDEMO" (Union of Democratic
Mobutistes) delivered a rambling statement condemning Tutsi
politician Azarias Ruberwa, criticized renegade Tutsi general and
insurgency leader Laurent Nkunda, and asked for increased foreign
assistance to deal with gender-based violence in the east of the
DRC. At the end of the meeting he distributed a highly-inflammatory
statement (paras 8 and 9 below) criticizing Rwanda. The statement
did not receive significant press coverage in the DRC. Lubamba was
clearly acting without instructions, as he has done in the past.
End summary.

2. (U) Late October 24 Acting Foreign Minister Alain Lubamba called
Charge to say he was convening a meeting of the P-3 + 2 ambassadors
and MONUC for the following day at noon. (Note: Lubamba was acting
in the absence of Foreign Minister Antipas Mbusa, who had departed
for the U.S. with President Joseph Kabila in connection with
Kabila's October 26 visit with President Bush. End note.) Charge
asked why he was being convened; Lubamba replied he would explain at
the meeting, which was attended by the ambassadors of France, the
United Kingdom and Belgium, plus the charges of the United States
and South Africa. MONUC was represented by a political counselor.


BROCK