Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KINSHASA1016
2008-11-17 13:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

RWANDAN ARMED GROUP POLITICAL LEADERSHIP PUSHES FOR

Tags:  PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2787
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1016/01 3221348
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171348Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8790
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001016 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: RWANDAN ARMED GROUP POLITICAL LEADERSHIP PUSHES FOR
REPATRIATION VICE RELOCATION IN LETTER TO DRC GOVERNEMNT

REFS: A) KINSHASA 463 B) KINSHASA 630

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001016

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG
SUBJECT: RWANDAN ARMED GROUP POLITICAL LEADERSHIP PUSHES FOR
REPATRIATION VICE RELOCATION IN LETTER TO DRC GOVERNEMNT

REFS: A) KINSHASA 463 B) KINSHASA 630


1. (SBU) Post received a copy of a letter dated November 13 from
the National Congress for Democracy (CND -- "Congres national pour
la democratie" in French),which is a political umbrella for several
FDLR elements, to Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexis Thambwe Mwamba.
CND makes an open call to repatriate to Rwanda FDLR - RUD (an
FDLR-origin group known as "Rassemblement pour l'unite et la
democratie" in French) combatants and dependents. The RUD
participated in the disarmament and demobilization process launched
at the May 2008 Kisangani Conference in conjunction with the "Road
Map for the Disarmament of Rwandan Armed Groups in the Democratic
Republic of Congo." (ref A). The RUD combatants and dependents
entered a regroupment center in Lubero District (Kasiki town),North
Kivu in July, but have not been relocated within the DRC as outlined
in the Kisangani roadmap (ref B).


2. (SBU) The CND letter jettisons previous possibilities to
relocate RUD members and family within DRC under refugee status in
favor of repatriation to Rwanda. Dr. Felicien Kanyamibwa, who
signed the road map in May for CND and speaks as the political
leader of FDLR - RUD and FDLR - RPR ("Rassemblement du peuple
rwandais" in French) elements, makes a plea for the GDRC and
international community to urge Rwandan President Paul Kagame to
create conditions favorable to return, including an inter-Rwandan
dialogue (Note: the precondition of an inter-Rwandan dialogue for
repatriation of FDLR elements is a consistent FDLR demand and was
dismissed as "absurd" by DRC Ambassador-at-Large Seraphin Ngweg in
his remarks at the Kisangani Conference in May. End Note.) MONUC's
DDRRR office, in conjunction with a Congolese private businessman
close to former Foreign Affairs Minister Mbusa Nyamwisi, organized
the construction of the regroupment center for 67 combatants plus
dependents and the collection of 42 weapons from the group.


3. (SBU) Unofficial embassy translation follows.

Begin unofficial embassy translation:

Congres National pour la Democratie (CND) - National Democratic
Congress (NCD)

RUD/RPR


Telephone 001-201-794-6542, 001-201 9315209
e-mail: urunana@optonline.net
Fax: 001-201-794-6542
HOME URL: WWW.RUD-URUNANA.ORG

November 13, 2008

To:
His Excellency Mr. Alexis Tambwe Mwamba
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC

Professor Kaumba Lufunda Samajiku
Special Advisor to the Head of State of the DRC

Monsignor Matteo Zuppi
San'Egidio

CC:
His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon
UN Secretary-General

Dr. Jendayi Frazer
Assistant Secretary, U.S. State Department


H. E. Mr. Zhang Yesui
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to United Nations
Fax: 212-634-0042


H. E. Pierre Jacquemot
Ambassador of France in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Fax: 243-815-559-957


H. E. Vitaly Churkin
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United
Nations
Fax: 212-628-0252

Nicholas H. E. Cannon
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to Rwanda
Fax: 250-582044

Ambassador W. Stuart Symington

KINSHASA 00001016 002 OF 002


U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda
Fax: 250-596400

Ambassador H. E. Dr. M. S. Tsele
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of South Africa in the
DRC
Fax: 243-81555 4321

Bishop Kuye Ndondo
ECC

Subject: Combatants regrouped at Kasiki await the initiative of the
Government of the DRC to return home.

Earlier this year, the National Congress for Democracy (CND) and
Rwandan refugees engaged voluntarily in the Kisangani process with
the DRC Government, under the facilitation of the San'Egidio
Community and with the support of the international community. In
July 2008, the CND proceeded with the regrouping of RUD/RPR
combatants at Kasiki, Lubero Territory, North Kivu Province. The
introduction of the road map to the international community in
Kisangani on May 26, 2008, and this regrouping, followed by
disarmament, is for us a positive and strong signal that we sent to
the international community in the search for sustainable peace in
the region.

Against winds and tides and despite the huge obstacles that we have
faced, we have asked the international community that they proceed
with the identification of combatants and their dependents. The
Kasiki combatants have unequivocally expressed their wish to return
home, rather than the alternative which was presented as refugee
status in DRC territory. We prepared, in vain, to send an
exploratory team to visit Rwanda to assess in person the security
conditions that those who volunteer to return will face. This
initiative, reflecting the desire of combatants to return home, has
been sabotaged by several players.

The CND has thus resolutely entered into the Kisangani process.
Today, more than ever, the CND, together with the combatants and
their dependents, seeks the mobilization of the international
community to create all necessary conditions to enable the
repatriation of all those who wish to return home.

We call upon the Government of the DRC to seek all ways and means of
compelling General Paul Kagame to commit to receive his countrymen
in their own country and to ensure their basic human rights,
including security, in Rwanda.

We remain convinced that the best framework would be organizing an
inter-Rwandan dialogue to enable all refugees wherever they are to
return home.

Yours truly,

Felicien Kanyamibwa, PhD
Congrhs National pour la Democratie (CND) - National Congress for
Democracy (NCD)

End unofficial embassy translation.

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