VZCZCXRO8013
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0897/01 2911054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171054Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8621
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000897 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS PHUM CG
SUBJECT: Prominent Banyamulenge Criticizes Nkunda 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Enoch Ruberangabo Sebineza, a prominent 
Banyamulenge leader, recently told post that Nkunda's actions were 
in fact creating anti-Tutsi sentiment throughout the Kivus.  Nkunda 
was thus putting Congolese Tutsis at risk, rather than protecting 
the community, as he constantly claimed his role was.  Sebineza 
maintains that Rwanda is supporting the CNDP, although Kigali should 
realize that instability in the Kivus is not in its interest. 
Sebineza said that Amani should be pursued, but, perhaps, at two 
different speeds and with different elements for North and South 
Kivu.  Sebineza said that influential Congolese Tutsis continue to 
live in the DRC and to cooperate with their Hutu compatriots.  End 
Summary. 
 
Nkunda Fanning Extremism on Both Sides 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On October 15, PolCouns and Poloff met with Enoch 
Ruberangabo Sebineza, a Banyamulenge from the Uvira region and a 
prominent member of South Kivu civil society.  Sebineza presented a 
communique, in which the "Banyamulenge Community" condemned the 
"declaration of war" issued by CNDP leader Laurent Nkunda.  The 
communique maintained that Nkunda has endangered the interests of 
Congolese Tutsis; he has encouraged extremists on both sides; and he 
has exacerbated divisions between North and South Kivu.  The 
communique also reiterates support for the Amani Process and calls 
on the CNDP to return to the process. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Sebineza conceded that the Banyamulenge Tutsi community in 
the Kivus is split between those who look to Rwanda to protect their 
interests and others, like himself, who believe Rwanda is 
complicating the situation.  The interests of the Banyamulenge, in 
Sebineza's view, are not necessarily aligned with the interests of 
Rwanda. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Nkunda's words and actions, according to Sebineza, are 
fanning the fires of Tutsi and Hutu extremists, especially in North 
Kivu.  He has created "one million Hutu Congolese" IDP's.  Hutu 
extremists are increasingly viewing the FARDC-CNDP conflict as a 
"Tutsi War."  Nkunda's intransigence and combativeness is therefore 
harming the Banyamulenge community, rather than protecting it, as 
Nkunda constantly claimed he was doing.  Tutsi extremism was 
breeding anti-Tutsi sentiment. 
 
Rwanda Supporting CNDP 
---------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Sebineza said it was obvious that Rwanda was supporting 
the CNDP.  Sebineza maintained that, when Colonel Jules Mutebusi and 
Nkunda left Bukavu in 2004, Mutebusi left with 200 fighters for 
Gikongoro, Rwanda.  After the Gikongoro barracks were dismantled, 
Mutebusi began "lending" fighters and officers, such as Major Elias 
Rubibi and Colonel Eric Ruhorimberea, to the CNDP.  Additionally, 
Sebineza claimed that injured CNDP combatants are regularly treated 
in Rwanda.  Sebineza added that around 80% of the Kigali 
Presidential Guard were from the Masisi region, Congolese Tutsis who 
fought in the 1997-2003 wars, then went to Rwanda. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In Sebineza's view, it was not in Rwanda's interests to 
allow a "Somali-type" situation to exist in the Kivus.  Rwanda could 
achieve its security objectives without supporting the CNDP.  The 
international community, according to Sebineza, should put much more 
pressure on Kigali to stop its support for the CNDP.  The GDRC, for 
its part, should concentrate more on reforming the FARDC. 
 
Different Speeds for Amani in North and South Kivu 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Sebineza said that the Amani Program had weaknesses, but 
he underscored that there was no other alternative but to push 
forward with it.  He noted that there had been more progress with 
implementing Amani in South Kivu, where the origin of the rebel 
groups was indigenous, than in North Kivu, where foreign involvement 
had encouraged rebel activity.  In Sebineza's view, Amani should not 
be discarded, but, perhaps, it should be adapted to the particular 
circumstances of North and South Kivu.  This would allow for two 
different speeds for implementation of Amani. 
 
Congolese Hutu-Tutsi Cooperation 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Sebineza said that there are numerous examples of 
Hutu-Tutsi cooperation in the DRC.  Eugene Serafuli, former North 
Kivu Governor and currently President of the National Electricity 
Company (SNEL-Societe Nationale d'Electricite), is a Hutu with 
connections to PARECO.  However, he chose Leon Muheto, a Tutsi with 
CNDP connections and also a cousin of CNDP spokesman Rene Abandi, as 
 
KINSHASA 00000897  002 OF 002 
 
 
his deputy.  Sebineza claimed that there are "four Tutsi generals" 
living in Kinshasa, as well as several senators (Edouard 
Mwangachuchu and Moise Nyarugabo).  Sebineza asked rhetorically if 
Nkunda was really fighting for the rights of Tutsis. 
 
Biographical Note 
----------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Sebineza has been an active figure in inter-Congolese 
dialogue.  He served as a parliamentarian for three years and was an 
unsuccessful candidate for a Senate seat.  He told us that he has 
been living in Kinshasa since January 2008, after the Goma Accords 
were signed.  He also lived in Kinshasa during the 2003-2006 
transition period.  He is now President of the Societe Siderurgique 
de Maluku (SOSIDER), a steel manufacturing company. 
 
¶10. (SBU) A MONUC contact said that Sebineza is a member of the 
Badamurwa clan, a minor clan that also includes Zebede Gasore (FRF) 
and Alexis Gisaro (RCD-G).  According to our contact, Sebineza has 
always played "an ambiguous game," for a time supporting the FRF. 
However, at the January Goma Conference, the GDRC successfully wooed 
Sebineza and Bizima Karaha to its side, isolating Azarias Ruberwa, 
Moise Nyarugao, and the Basinzira clan. 
 
BROCK