US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1993

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001993 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PREL, CG, RW 
SUBJECT: RCD-GOMA STICKS UP FOR RENEGADE OFFICERS 
 
Classified By: Poloff Edward Bestic for Reasons 1.5 B and D 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  A senior RCD-Goma leader complained to the 
Ambassador that his faction had been excluded from the 
DRC/Uganda/Rwanda tripartite process.  He also said the two 
renegade officers who led the May-June mutiny in Bukavu 
should not be considered in the same league as other official 
enemies such as the ex-FAR/Interahamwe.  In our view, they 
are both very clearly enemies not just of the transitional 
government, but also of the Congolese civilian population. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) Moise Nyarugabo, a leading member of the RCD-Goma 
movement, told the Ambassador October 25 that President 
Kabila's and Vice-President Bemba's factions had excluded the 
RCD-Goma from the months-old trilateral DRC/Uganda/Rwanda 
talks and process.  Nyarugabo said he understood the draft 
trilateral document includes a list of designated "negative 
forces," such as the ex-FAR/Interahamwe, but complained that 
renegade officers Gen. Laurent Nkunda and Col. Jules Mutebusi 
should not be in the same category as the others.  If they 
are to be included, at least put them in a separate 
paragraph, he argued.  Also, Nkunda and Mutebusi are the only 
ones on the list to be cited individually--if the document 
names them, then other groups such as the FDLR should have 
their leaders names specified as well.  Nyarugabo added that 
the RCD-Goma sent Jean-Marie Emungu (chief of staff to 
RCD-Goma leader Azarias Ruberwa) to attend the October 25-26 
round of tripartite talks in Kigali.  In response, the 
Ambassador pointed out that Nkunda and Mutebusi quite clearly 
represented threats to the stability of the region and the 
transition process.  In addition, he noted, Nyarugabo's 
objections seemed to be coming very late in the day, on the 
eve of signature of the agreement and long after the draft 
text had been prepared. 
 
3. (C) COMMENT:  Nkunda's and Mutebusi's troops raped and 
pillaged their way through Bukavu in June 2004, and Nkunda 
himself is widely reported to have been a leading figure in 
the May 2002 Kisangani massacre.  In our view, they are both 
very clearly enemies not just of the transitional government, 
but also of the Congolese civilian population.  END COMMENT. 
MEECE