Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUJUMBURA356
2009-07-27 14:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bujumbura
Cable title:  

RADJABU'S UPD PARTY GAINING GROUND

Tags:  PHUM PGOV BY 
pdf how-to read a cable
P 271403Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1614
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUJUMBURA 000356 


LONDON, PARIS, PLEASE PASS TO AF WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV BY
SUBJECT: RADJABU'S UPD PARTY GAINING GROUND

REF: A. 08 BUJUMBURA 177

B. BUJUMBURA 103

Classified By: CDA JoAnne Wagner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUJUMBURA 000356


LONDON, PARIS, PLEASE PASS TO AF WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV BY
SUBJECT: RADJABU'S UPD PARTY GAINING GROUND

REF: A. 08 BUJUMBURA 177

B. BUJUMBURA 103

Classified By: CDA JoAnne Wagner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Despite apparent attempts by the ruling
CNDD-FDD to sideline former party president Hussein Radjabu,
including evicting him from the party and subsequently
imprisoning him for 13 years for "threatening state security"
(ref A),Post assesses that Radjabu continues to exert
political influence. His party, the Union for Democracy -
Trustworthy (UPD-Zigamibanga),continues to grow in
popularity and Radjabu seems determined to use this influence
through the UPD party to challenge President Nkurunziza and
the CNDD-FDD in the 2010 elections. END SUMMARY.

BACKGROUND
--------------


2. (U) Hussein Radjabu fought in the bush with President
Pierre Nkurunziza and Chief of Intelligence Adolphe
Nshimirimana, reportedly appointing them to the roles in the
CNDD-FDD that they parlayed into their current positions. In
2002, he created the UPD-Zigamibanga as a strategic
alternative when, before beginning demobilization, the
CNDD-FDD was still negotiating political party registration.
The UPD was considered a back-up power center should
negotiations fail, but when the CNDD-FDD was registered in
2003, the UPD became inactive. Radjabu, however, became the
shadowy power behind Nkurunziza's throne.


3. (U) In February 2007, the CNDD-FDD party congress ousted
Radjabu, a move most observers believe was to strengthen
Nkurunziza's control of the party. Police arrested Radjabu
and a group of his supporters in April 2007, charging them
with "threatening state security." In April 2008, Radjabu
was found guilty and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment (ref
A); subsequent appeals have been denied. After the trial,
Radjabu's lawyer, Prosper Niyoyankana, claimed the trial did
not proceed according to the rule of law, but according to
the goals of the ruling party. He stated, "In this case, the
judges are tools for the ruling party like a pen in the hands
of a writer."


4. (C) After his ouster from CNDD-FDD, Radjabu reactivated
the UPD in early 2007. The UPD's president is Radjabu's
cousin Mohamed Feruzi, but Radjabu is openly acknowledged as
the party's true leader. The UPD's representative in Makamba
province, Egide Ndayizeye, referred to Radjabu as the party's

"advisor," informing PolOff during a June 24 meeting that
"Father Radjabu" remains very active from jail.

MUSLIM SUPPORT
--------------


5. (C) Ndayizeye also informed PolOff that despite Radjabu's
Muslim faith, the UPD is not a Muslim political party,
although it enjoys strong support in Burundi's small,
moderate Muslim community. Nevertheless, in the past Radjabu
has reportedly courted and received monetary support from
donors in Islamic nations such as Saudi Arabia, Libya, the
Sudan and Iraq (ref B).

2010 ELECTION
--------------


6. (C) UPD Spokesperson Chevineau Mugwengezo (who is both a
Muslim and a Ganwa - a descendent of Burundi's royal
families) told EmbOff on July 15 that the "UPD is gaining
ground all over the country." Egide Ndayizeye claims people
are turning from the CNDD-FDD because of the party's failure
to fulfill its promises and to the UPD because the party
promises development, peace and reconciliation. Ndayizeye
stated that since the UPD's July 2008 start in Makamba
province, the party's popularity has grown to over 80% in
Nyanza-Lac and 70% in Makamba, the province's two largest
cities. Nyanza-Lac is also the fourth-largest city in
Burundi. Avocats Sans Frontieres' Adrien Nifasha, who claims
no party affiliation, confirmed to PolOff on June 24 that the
UPD is definitely active and drawing support, particularly
away from the CNDD-FDD, but also stated that UPD is not yet
"deep in the population."


7. (C) Ndayizeye assured PolOff that the UPD will have a
presidential candidate for 2010 and that this person has been
chosen within the party, but smiled secretively and refused
to share a name. He said it is too early to publicize this
information.

COMMENT
--------------


8. (C) Until his 2007 eviction from CNDD-FDD, Radjabu was
considered Burundi's real leader, and was also reportedly
behind some of the party's dirtiest deeds (corruption,
assassination and terror, according to news reports).
Sources indicate that Radjabu has never forgiven his former
bushmates and colleagues for his expulsion and cares more
that Nkurunziza's CNDD-FDD falls from power than that UPD
achieves any significant electoral victories for itself.
There are rumors that the UPD will seek political party
alliances in order to consolidate power against the CNDD-FDD
for the 2010 elections. While the likelihood of such
alliances remains unclear, various interlocutors fear that
Radjabu is in charge of the UPD from jail and that he is
willing to use whatever means necessary to achieve his
political goals. Radjabu's 13-year sentence was harsher than
most observers expected, leading to speculation that
President Nkurunziza's administration used its influence to
sideline and silence Radjabu (ref A) before the 2010 election
process moves into high gear. It seems, however, that it
will take more than jail to sideline Radjabu or his "back-up
plan" UPD party. END COMMENT.

Wagner