US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1551

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001551 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, CG 
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION FIGURE TSHISEKEDI AND THE SUCCESSION 
QUESTION 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Edward Bestic for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  A top official in opposition figure Etienne 
Tshisekedi's political party, the UDPS, said some of 
 
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Tshisekedi's lieutenants are working to succeed him as party 
 
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leader.  The idea of "inheriting" the party is optimistic, 
since it is identified so closely with Tshisekedi and would 
likely shrink to a shadow of its former self if he dies or 
retires.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
A Brewing Succession Fight? 
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2. (C) "Union pour la Democratie et le Progres Social" 
Secretary-General Remy Masama-ma-Kiese told poloff 12 August 
 
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some party cadres including he himself are trying to position 
themselves to succeed UDPS leader Etienne Tshisekedi.  (Note: 
 Tshisekedi is over seventy, and is reportedly not in the 
best of health.  He rarely makes public appearances.  End 
Note.)  Masamba intends to organize a party congress in 
December 2004 or January 2005, which, if successful and 
well-managed, will boost his chances at succeeding 
Tshisekedi.  At present, he is desperately looking for money 
 
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to pay for the congress. 
 
3. (C) Masamba, who is from Bas-Congo rather than the Kasais 
like Tshisekedi, said the UDPS risked being accused of 
tribalism if Tshisekedi's successor is also a Kasaian, 
therefore he sees his non-Kasaian identity as a plus. 
Nonetheless, one of Masamba's main competitors for the job is 
Mr. Alexis Mutanda, director/editor of the newspaper "La 
Tempete des Tropiques" and the party's national secretary for 
relations with UDPS federations abroad.  Mutanda, a Kasaian, 
is in turn backed by Jonas Mukamba, a party elder and wealthy 
financier.  Masamba said the only one of Tshisekedi's sons 
who is politically active is Felix Tshisekedi, president of 
the UDPS federation in Belgium, but he apparently is not 
interested in succeeding his father. 
 
4. (C) As for Tshisekedi himself, Masamba said he is hoping 
to receive an invitation to travel to the U.S. to attend the 
Republican Party convention in September.  (Note:  Tshisekedi 
recently participated in a National Democratic Institute 
conference in the U.S. that coincided with the Democratic 
Party convention.  Virtually all local media reported that he 
traveled to attend the latter.  End Note.)  Long-term, 
Masamba speculated that the party leader could be persuaded 
or encouraged to become the Congo's "Mandela," a respected 
individual who does not hold public office but could 
nonetheless help bring peace throughout the region. 
(Comment:  This would be a stretch.  Tshisekedi has name 
recognition and some loyal supporters, but is seen as far too 
partisan and proud to ever be accepted as a neutral public 
figure.  Nor is it likely that Tshisekedi would ever 
willingly give up his long quest for national leadership. End 
Comment.) 
 
 
COMMENT 
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5. (C) The idea of "inheriting" the UDPS from Tshisekedi is 
optimistic, since the party is identified so closely with 
him.  If Tshisekedi were to retire or die, the party would 
likely shrink to a shadow of its former self.  Any 
non-Kasaian would have difficulty in maintaining the 
allegiance of the party's core Kasaian supporters.  END 
COMMENT. 
MEECE