PRESIDENT'S SON STUDYING IN CUBA?

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 003602 E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/17/08 TAGS: PINR PREL MASS CG CU SUBJECT: PRESIDENT'S SON STUDYING IN CUBA? CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF DENNIS HANKINS FOR REASON 1.5(B/D). ¶1. (C) ETIENNE RUSAMIRA (PROTECT),ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY ACTING CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO WE HAVE FOUND TO BE A GENERALLY RELIABLE SOURCE WITHIN THE GDROC, TOLD POL COUNS MAY 18 THAT PRESIDENT KABILA'S SON, "COMMANDANT" JOSEPH KAKA (AKA JOSEPH KABILA) DEPARTED KINSHASA DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY TO ATTEND A FIVE-MONTH MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAM IN CUBA. AN UNSPECIFIED ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF CONGOLESE MILITARY (OF KATANGAN BACKGROUND) ALSO REPORTEDLY WENT FOR TRAINING. ¶2. (C) COMMANDANT JOSEPH HAS BEEN THE ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE CONGOLESE ARMED FORCES. PRESIDENT KABILA HAS SOUGHT MILITARY TRAINING FOR HIS SON IN A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S. IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT, IF ANY, FORMAL MILITARY TRAINING JOSEPH HAS PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED. SIMPSON