Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUJUMBURA267
2009-06-10 15:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bujumbura
Cable title:
GOVERNMENT FINALLY REGISTERS SINDUHIJE'S MSD PARTY
how-toP 101536Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1542 INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUJUMBURA 000267
LONDON, PARIS, PLEASE PASS TO AF WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BY
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT FINALLY REGISTERS SINDUHIJE'S MSD PARTY
REF: A. 08 BUJUMBURA 46
B. 08 BUJUMBURA 478
C. BUJUMBURA 122
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia N. Moller for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUJUMBURA 000267
LONDON, PARIS, PLEASE PASS TO AF WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BY
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT FINALLY REGISTERS SINDUHIJE'S MSD PARTY
REF: A. 08 BUJUMBURA 46
B. 08 BUJUMBURA 478
C. BUJUMBURA 122
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia N. Moller for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (U) On June 8 the Minister of Interior registered Alexis
Sinduhije's Movement for Solidarity and Democracy (MSD) as a
political party. The requisite documents were signed by MSD
Secretary General Audette Ntahiraja instead of MSD President
Alexis Sinduhije, who is in Europe. Sinduhije, former
journalist and president of a popular radio station, created
MSD on February 18, 2008.
2. (C) COMMENT: After over a year of apparently spurious
delays, the registration surprised journalists, political
parties and the international community. Many observers
found it interesting that the registration occurred with no
publicity and seemed deliberately timed to coincide with
Sinduhije's travels (he has been in Belgium since June 5) in
order to minimize public reaction and mute Sinduhije's
effective publicity machine. Sinduhije was reportedly
instrumental in the ruling CNDD-FDD party's 2005 victory and
some believed the GoB would avoid registering MSD until after
the 2010 elections for fear Sinduhije will again have an
election victory, this time at the CNDD-FDD's expense.
Instead, the party was registered, but with a whisper rather
than a bang, certainly not the preferred mode for
publicity-loving Sinduhije. END COMMENT.
MOLLER
LONDON, PARIS, PLEASE PASS TO AF WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BY
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT FINALLY REGISTERS SINDUHIJE'S MSD PARTY
REF: A. 08 BUJUMBURA 46
B. 08 BUJUMBURA 478
C. BUJUMBURA 122
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia N. Moller for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (U) On June 8 the Minister of Interior registered Alexis
Sinduhije's Movement for Solidarity and Democracy (MSD) as a
political party. The requisite documents were signed by MSD
Secretary General Audette Ntahiraja instead of MSD President
Alexis Sinduhije, who is in Europe. Sinduhije, former
journalist and president of a popular radio station, created
MSD on February 18, 2008.
2. (C) COMMENT: After over a year of apparently spurious
delays, the registration surprised journalists, political
parties and the international community. Many observers
found it interesting that the registration occurred with no
publicity and seemed deliberately timed to coincide with
Sinduhije's travels (he has been in Belgium since June 5) in
order to minimize public reaction and mute Sinduhije's
effective publicity machine. Sinduhije was reportedly
instrumental in the ruling CNDD-FDD party's 2005 victory and
some believed the GoB would avoid registering MSD until after
the 2010 elections for fear Sinduhije will again have an
election victory, this time at the CNDD-FDD's expense.
Instead, the party was registered, but with a whisper rather
than a bang, certainly not the preferred mode for
publicity-loving Sinduhije. END COMMENT.
MOLLER