US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1578

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001578 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: INCREASED TENSIONS WITHIN RCD EX-REBEL MOVEMENT 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Edward Bestic for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  Recent events have highlighted internal 
divisions within the RCD ex-rebel movement.  RCD "radicals," 
including virtually all the Rwandophones in the movement, 
want to quit or at least boycott the transitional government. 
 They have been pressuring "moderates" and other RCD members 
to travel to Goma, to particpate in memorial services for 
victims of the August 13 massacre of refugees in Burundi, and 
also to attend a general meeting of the party on August 23. 
We are examining the possible implications of a formal split 
in the RCD.  It would not be in our interest to allow the 
internal divisions of one ex-belligerent group to hold up the 
entire transition.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
Radicals vs. Moderates 
---------------------- 
2. (C) The Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) ex-rebel 
movement is facing a serious internal crisis.  "Radicals" who 
want to put the transition on hold (and possibly quit the 
government) are increasingly at odds with "moderates," who 
believe the RCD should stick with the transition and remain 
in government, despite the difficulties they have 
encountered.  Broadly, this cleavage corresponds to the 
group's ethnic makeup.  Virtually all RCD leaders of 
Rwandophone origin are in the "radical" camp, which includes 
parliamentary group leader Moise Nyarugabo and former RCD 
security-service chief Bizima Karaha.  In contrast, there are 
no prominent Rwandophones in the "moderate" camp, which 
includes figures such as RCD senior senator Dr. Emile Ilunga, 
education minister Joseph Mudumbi, defense minister 
Jean-Pierre Ondekane and economy minister Emile Ngoy.  It is 
unclear where RCD president Azarias Ruberwa stands.  Since 
the August 13 massacre in Burundi his rhetoric has been 
"radical," but one RCD source speculated that he is a hostage 
(literally), and Ruberwa's diplomatic adviser vigorously 
denied on August 19 that the RCD was on the verge of quitting 
the transitional government. 
 
 
Location, Location, Location 
---------------------------- 
3. (C) Over the past several days, the radicals worked hard 
to persuade or strongarm RCD moderates and fence-sitters into 
traveling to Goma, ostensibly to participate in weeklong 
mourning ceremonies for the victims of the August 13 massacre 
in Burundi, and also to attend a general meeting of the party 
on August 23.  Multiple sources reported that RCD officials 
in Goma and Bukavu purchased airline tickets for their 
colleagues in Kinshasa, to prevent them from using lack of 
money to travel as an excuse.  According to two separate 
sources, RCD authorities in Goma tried to physically restrain 
Mudumbi and one other official to prevent them from returning 
to Kinshasa, but they successfully bullied their way through. 
 (Note:  As of August 22, seven RCD ministers and 
vice-ministers were either in or en route to Goma.  They 
were: telecoms minister Gertrude Kitembo, womens affairs 
minister Faida Mwangilwa, parastatals minister Celestin 
Vunabandi, labor minister Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga, budget 
vice-minister Tresor Kapuku, international cooperation 
vice-minister Christian Kambinga, and interior vice-minister 
Tharcisse Habarugira.  Four remained in Kinshasa:  Mudumbi, 
Ondekane, Ngoy, and public works vice-minister Baudouin Banza 
Mukalay.  End Note.) 
 
4. (C) Ilunga told poloffs August 19 that he himself had 
received four phone calls that day, the first from "a person 
in Kigali" (NFI), urging him to travel to Goma.  He had 
refused to go several days earlier, because he thought it was 
"a ruse."  The radicals are planning something, he said, but 
the rest of the RCD is in the dark.  Ilunga, who was RCD 
president approximately 1999-2000, explained on August 18 the 
importance of physical location:  when RCD leaders were 
headquartered in Goma, they had to support whatever Kigali 
advised, out of fear for their personal safety.  Kigali's 
influence has lessened since the RCD moved to Kinshasa, 
however--beyond Rwanda's reach.  This distance enabled other 
RCD leaders to resist Ruberwa's demand in June that the 
movement quit the government.  South Kivu vice-governor 
Thomas Nziratimana told poloff August 22 that the party's 
leadership, aka the "College des Fondateurs," is scheduled 
meet at mid-day on August 23, after which Ruberwa will hold a 
press conference. 
 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
5. (C) If the "radical" wing decides to quit the government 
or suspend their participation, it could definitively split 
the RCD.  We are examining the possible implications of this 
and will report septel.  It would not be in our interest to 
allow the internal divisions of one ex-belligerent group to 
hold up the entire transition.  END COMMENT. 
MEECE