DEATH OF KINSHASA PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY VICE PRESIDENT AND

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000569 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM CG SUBJECT: DEATH OF KINSHASA PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY VICE PRESIDENT AND MLC MEMBER DANIEL BOTETI LOLEKE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The vice-president of the Kinshasa provincial legislature, a member of the main opposition party "Mouvement pour la Liberation du Congo (MLC)" was killed at a roadblock early July 6 in the Ma Campagne quarter of Kinshasa. Four men have been detained by the national police in connection with the attack. MLC leadership has suspended its participation in the national assembly, Senate, and provincial assemblies and called on the Government to investigate Republican Guard (presidential guard) units in the Ma Compagne area. The shooting occurred near the location of the May 2008 attack that wounded Senator Adolphe Onusumba. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) MLC provincial deputy and vice president of the Kinshasa provincial assembly Daniel Boteti Loleke of Equateur died from gunshot wounds sustained early on July 6 as he was returning home from a wedding ceremony. Kinshasa provincial assembly deputy Martin Fayulu and Boteti personal assistant Cito Mondombele told us July 7 that Boteti was driving home with a bodyguard when the car approached a large rock in the road in Ma Campagne. Boteti stopped the car, and the bodyguard exited the vehicle to move the obstacle. Armed men in military uniforms approached the vehicle and there was an exchange of gunfire between the bodyguard and assailants, injuring one attacker. The identity and affiliation of the attackers has not been confirmed, although the MLC suspects elements of the Republican Guard (the President's own protective service). Boteti attempted to flee and his body was found approximately 100 meters from the car with multiple gunshot wounds. ¶3. (SBU) The police inspector for the city of Kinshasa, General Jean de Dieu Oleko, ordered an investigation and four suspects have been detained. He also attributed the frequency of attacks in the location (close to the where Senator Adolphe Onusumba was attacked in May 2008) as a function of the geography of the road that is well suited to ambush. ¶4. (SBU) Francois Muamba, Secretary General of the MLC, called July 6 for the removal of Republican Guard units from Ma Campagne, investigation and prosecution of the suspects, and accountability for those in the chain of command. Muamba suspended MLC participation in the national assembly, Senate, and provincial assemblies indefinitely until the Government opens an investigation of the Republican Guard units. Roger Lumbala of the opposition party RCD-N (Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie - National in French) called for fair and balanced pursuit of justice. ¶5. (SBU) According Mondombele, Boteti was at loggerheads with the president of the provincial assembly and MLC member Roger Nsingi. The latter is currently under a pending resignation order from MLC leadership, following a controversial order he signed two months ago for a provincial deputy to question a Lebanese businessman. The assistant said that Nsingi viewed Boteti as a possible successor. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: The similarity of the Onusumba and Boteti shootings undermines tenuous claims that security is not a problem in areas of Kinshasa patrolled by the Republican Guard. The MLC's insistence on the involvement of Republican Guard units and insistence that this force be singled out for an investigation represents an attempt to gain political advantage by accusing President Kabila and his forces even before an investigation is opened. The threat of public disclosure of an MLC rift between Nsingi and Boteti could drive the MLC insistence on investigation of the Republican Guard units. We note finally that the absence of the MLC in parliamentary deliberations during the current special session of the national Parliament may delay the adoption of critical decentralization legislation. End comment. GARVELINK