KABILA SECURITY ADVISER DIES UNEXPECTEDLY IN SOUTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000926

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2010
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ZA
SUBJECT: KABILA SECURITY ADVISER DIES UNEXPECTEDLY IN SOUTH
AFRICA


Classified By: PolCouns DBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (C) Presidential adviser Samba Kaputo, a key figure in
Kabila-era politics, died in Johannesburg August 1,
reportedly of kidney failure. He was Kabila's national
security adviser during the Transition and a member of his
trusted inner circle. He had close connections with the
military and intelligence hierarchies and was a noted
hardliner on Kivu issues. His death leaves a major gap at
the Presidency and has generated furious speculation
regarding possible replacements. End summary.


2. (SBU) Guillaume Samba Kaputo, President Kabila's de facto
national security adviser, died unexpectedly August 1 in
Johannesberg, South Africa, where he had been flown the day
before for emergency medical treatment. He was 61. His
death leaves Kabila without one of his most powerful and
influential advisers and has set off intense speculation
about who will fill the gap.


3. (SBU) Prof Samba, as he was popularly known, was a former
academic and Mobutu education minister who had become one of
the Kabila era's key power-brokers. He was a native of Moba
in northern Katanga, Kabila's home region and that of many of
his inner circle. He was a hardliner often at odds with more
moderate advisers. However, he acted as Kabila's chief
negotiator during the presidential campaign and served as
presidential representative dealing with forces loyal to
former Vice President Bemba in the wake of violent clashes
last year.


4. (U) Leaked information indicating the cause of death as
kidney failure has appeared in the Kinshasa press. An August
2 account in the daily Le Palmares asserts Kaputo became
noticeably ill on Sunday July 29, and was medevaced to
Johannesburg on Kabila's plane late in the night of July 31,
dying while undergoing treatment at approximately 1045 local
time August 1.


5. (SBU) Kaputo has long been diagnosed as diabetic,
although he reportedly took care to monitor his condition and
maintain a prescribed diet regimen. Other members of the
presidential staff have told us he had appeared increasingly
fatigued in recent days, began missing appointments, and
generally showed signs of growing health problems. Foreign
Minister Mbusa Nyamwisi reported that Kaputo's hands and
wrists appeared swollen during recent meetings, a classic
sign of kidney malfunction that can accompany diabetes.
Kabila adviser Augustin Katumba indicated that by the
weekend, it appeared Kaputo was not eating, and Katumba
suggested that Kaputo had allowed his health to deteriorate
too far before seeking medical help. By Tuesday, July 31, an
alarmed Kabila reportedly arranged for Kaputo to be
transported to South Africa for medical treatment.
Inevitably, however, rumors have already been circulating in
Kinshasa of various versions of foul play involved in
Kaputo's death. An autopsy is being arranged in South Africa
as a part of the effort to put such stories to rest.


6. (SBU) Kaputo had officially resigned from his presidency
functions when elected to the National Assembly in 2006
elections, as required by the DRC constitution. The
presidency's official announcement of his death included news
of a July 28 decree nominating him to the same national
security position he had previously occupied. He had
recently resigned his Assembly seat to resume officially the
national security position, although neither the July 28
decree nor Kaputo's assembly resignation had been yet
officially announced. In fact, Kaputo had continued to act
as a presidential adviser on an unofficial basis without
interruption.


7. (C) Presidential Political and Diplomatic Counselor
Marcellin Cishambo told the Ambassador August 2 that Kaputo's
widow was traveling immediately from the U.S., where she had
been living, to South Africa. Following the autopsy, she
would accompany her late husband's body to Kinshasa, probably
this weekend. A funeral could be held as early as Monday,
August 6, although arrangements have not yet been finalized.


8. (C) Comment. It is impossible at this point to say who
may take Kaputo's place, but fallout from his death will
continue to be felt for some time. He had ties to many named
to key positions in the recent military and intelligence
reshuffle and was reportedly a major player in their
nominations. Their future influence is much harder to gauge

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with their patron now out of the picture. Kaputo was
well-known as a hardliner generally, and specifically
regarding issues related to Rwanda, and renegade General
Nkunda. It is too early to gauge, however, whether his
absence will shift the general tenor and balance of sentiment
within the presidency. For now, the presidency operation,
never particularly efficient, has effectively ground to a
halt as President Kabila and the inner circle of advisers
deal with the unexpected shock of Kaputo's death, and
required funeral and other arrangements. End comment.
MEECE