US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1729

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001729 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PREL, CG 
SUBJECT: SOUTH KIVU GOVERNOR ON ETHNIC TENSIONS, THREAT 
FROM FDLR 
 
 
Classified By: Poloff Edward Bestic for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  South Kivu's recently-appointed provincial 
governor told the Ambassador Sept. 8 he is trying to lessen 
ethnic tensions and arrange for Congolese Banyamulenge 
refugees to return to the Congo.  Mai-Mai and especially 
Rwandan FDLR guerillas continue to attack and prey upon South 
Kivu's civilian population.  In our view, the governor 
appears to have little influence and a poor grasp of the 
overall situation.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) This is the first in a series of cables on the 
Ambassador's Sept. 8-10 trip to the cities of Bunia, Bukavu 
and Goma in eastern Congo. 
 
 
Ethnic Tensions 
--------------- 
2. (C) South Kivu provincial governor Augustin Bulahimu told 
the Ambassador and poloff Sept. 8 his top priorities are 
promoting reconciliation between different ethnic groups and 
encouraging the return of Congolese refugees in neighboring 
countries.  This had been made more difficult by the 
Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD-Goma) ex-rebel movement's 
recent, short-lived decision to boycott the transitional 
government, which angered the local population and "reheated" 
the situation in Bukavu.  Nonetheless, Bulahimu said he met 
with Banyamulenge military figure Gen. Patrick Masunzu in 
Uvira recently to discuss the possibility of opening a safe 
corridor, allowing Congolese Banyamulenge refugees in Burundi 
to move into the Minembwe/Haut-Plateau area.  The two agreed 
to set up a small committee to identify returnees and 
ascertain that only Congolese citizens are admitted. 
 
 
Mai-Mai and FDLR Threats 
------------------------ 
3. (C) According to Bulahimu, the RCD-Goma had been too quick 
to accuse Congolese Mai-Mai groups of being behind the August 
13 Gatumba refugee camp massacre in Burundi.  The various 
Mai-Mai groups are a serious problem in South Kivu, however, 
and are notorious rapists.  Another security problem is the 
continued presence of Rwandan guerillas belonging to the 
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR, aka 
ex-FAR/Interahamwe), who likewise prey on the civilian 
population.  For example, FDLR forces attacked civilians near 
Walungu o/a Sept. 2, causing at least 2000 people to flee 
their homes.  World Food Program, World Vision, and U.N. OCHA 
workers are providing aid, but the people there are cold, 
hungry and without shelter--"a catastrophe" that gets no 
media coverage.  In contrast, the governor related that days 
earlier he told eight Rwandan families living near Bunyakiri 
they could remain where they are, since they are unarmed and 
pose no threat.  After all, he concluded, "we're not 
xenophobes." 
 
 
Bio Note 
-------- 
4. (C) Bulahimu said it was a surprise when GDRC 
Vice-President Arthur Z'Ahidi Ngoma, a friend from childhood, 
picked him for the job.  He reminisced at great length about 
his diplomatic career under the former (Zairean) government, 
and confessed that after so many years away from South 
Kivu--he left as a child in the 1960s--he is virtually a 
stranger in the province. 
 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
5. (C) The new governor is a fish out of water, and appears 
to have little influence and a poor grasp of the overall 
situation.  Nonetheless, at least he says the right things 
and in conversation with us avoided the kind of knee-jerk 
anti-Rwandan statements that are characteristic of many 
Congolese.  The governor's meeting and reported agreement 
with Gen. Masunzu is of note insofar as Masunzu is a 
well-known figure with a base of support within the 
Banyamulenge community, but is also hostile to Kigali and the 
RCD-Goma.  END COMMENT. 
MEECE