STATUS OF DROC COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06692057
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 18, 2017
• Case Number: F-2016-00031
• Publication Date: March 5, 2001

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SEC
hT
CIA
TO: PRIORITY WHITE HOUSE, STATE RCl//INR/DSITA//,
SSO DIA//DHO-CSR//, JOINT STAFF, DA IDHS, ONI, CNO,
CMC//CIE/CIC/CIZ//, SSO USAF, SSO NAIC, SSO NGIC//HCS//,
SSO REDSTONE, MCIA QUANT, JWAC//J2//, DIRNSA,
FBI//ISD/NSD/OHLSON//, DOJ CMD CTR, DIRNACIC, SSO USEUCOM,
JAC MLSWTH, SY SEC SHAPE, SSO USAREURHAEAGB-ISD//, SSO USAFE,
CINCUSNAVEUR, COMSIXFLT, SSO USTRANS, SSO CINCSOC//SOIO-IN-SSO//,
SSO JSOC//FT BRAGG NC//, USCINCJFCOM, JFIC,
CINCLANTFLT//NORFOLK VA//, COMMARFORLNT//NORFOLK VA//.
SECRET
SERIAL: PASS: UEXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR, WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM;
STATE: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, INR AND AS/DS; DIA:
EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR, DIA AND PASS NWS (DIRECTOR ONLY);
NMJIC: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR INTELLIGENCE; DA:
EXCLUSIVE FOR DAMI; ONI: EXCLUSIVE FOR ONI-22; CNO: EXCLUSIVE FOR
N2 (CNO IP)/ONI-26; CMC: EXCLUSIVE FOR CIE; CSAF: EXCLUSIVE FOR
IN; NAIC: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE SSO; NGIC: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE SSO;
MSIC: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE SSO; MCIA: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE SSO; JWAC:
EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE; NSA FOR ZKZK 00 ZRL DE
(EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR, NSA); FBI: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION; JUSTICE: EXCLUSIVE
FOR THE COUNSEL FOR INTELLIGENCE POLICY, OIPR;,NACIC: EXCLUSIVE
FOR THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL COUNTERINTELLIGENCE CENTER; EXCLUSIVE
FOR USCINCEUR; EXCLUSIVE FOR THE COMMANDER EUCOM JAC; US SURVEY
DIVISION SHAPE (EXCLUSIVE FOR THE COMMANDER); EXCLUSIVE FOR
CINCUSAREUR; EXCLUSIVE FOR CINCUSAFE; EXCLUSIVE FOR CINCUSNAVEUR;
EXCLUSIVE FOR COMSIXTHFLT; EXCLUSIVE FOR USCINCTRANS; EXCLUSIVE
FOR USCINCSOC; EXCLUSIVE FOR THE COMMANDER JSOC; EXCLUSIVE FOR
USCINCJFCOM; EXCLUSIVE FOR THE COMMANDER JFIC; EXCLUSIVE FOR
CINCLANTFLT; EXCLUSIVE FOR COMMARFORLANT.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE
SE
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REPORT CLASSSECRE T-
EXCLUSIVE DISSEMINATION TO ADDRESSEES LISTED AT END OF REPORT
DIST: 5 MARCH 2001
COUNTRY: CONGO(K)/ZIMBABWE/ANGOLA
SUBJ: STATUS OF DROC COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE
ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT
DOI:
SOURCE:
SUMMARY: NONE.
TEXT:
1.
2
ZIMBABWE WAS PLAYING THE MAJOR ROLE IN DIRECTING THE
ACTIVITIES OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DROC)
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE ASSASSINATION OF DECEASED DROC
PRESIDENT LAURENT-DESIRE KABILA. A ZIMBABWEAN MILITARY
INTELLIGENCE GENERAL WAS HEAD OF THE COMMISSION AND A NUMBER OF
ZIMBABWEAN PERSONNEL HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO IT AS INVESTIGATORS.
THE ZIMBABWEANS ON THE COMMISSION WERE BEHIND BOTH THE ORDERS TO
ARREST CONGOLESE ARMED FORCES (FAC) GROUND FORCES COMMANDER
COLONEL EDDY ((KAPEND)) ON 18 FEBRUARY 2001 AND ALSO THE
SUBSEQUENT ACCUSATIONS INDICATING KAPEND WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT IN
A PERCEIVED PLOT TO ASSASSINATE LAURENT KABILA. THE DATE FOR THE
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COMMISSION'S INITIAL FINDINGS,
OFFICIALLY SLATED TO BE ANNOUNCED ON 8 MARCH 2001, MAY BE
POSTPONED.
3. THE COMMISSION HAD ORDERED
KAPEND'S ARREST NOT ONLY DUE TO ITS SUSPICION OF HIS HAVING HAD A
KEY ROLE IN THE ASSASSINATION, BUT ALSO BECAUSE HARARE SUSPECTED
THAT KAPEND WAS INTENDING TO MOUNT A SIMILAR OPERATION TO REPLACE
NEW DROC PRESIDENT JOSEPH ((KABILA)). THE ZIMBABWEANS BELIEVED
THAT KAPEND WAS HIGHLY AMBITIOUS, DANGEROUS, AND CAPABLE OF
MOUNTING A COUP DUE TO HIS DISLIKE FOR JOSEPH KABILA, HIS HAVING
STOCKPILED WEAPONS AT THE MARBLE PALACE, AND HIS COMMAND OF THE
LOYALTY OF MANY FAC TROOPS. 20MMENT:
KAPEND HAD GIVEN HIS
TENTATIVE SUPPORT TO A PLOT BY FAC COMMANDANT CALVIN ((KANDOLO))
TO OVERTHROW THE REGIME OF JOSEPH ((KABILA)) IN LATE JANUARY
2001.)
4. THE COMMISSION WAS
HOLDING KAPEND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ARRESTS AND SUBSEQUENT
EXECUTIONS OF ELEVEN LEBANESE EXPATRIATES FOLLOWING THE
ASSASSINATION. THE COMMISSION NOTED THAT THESE EXECUTIONS WERE
CARRIED OUT WITHOUT NOTIFYING JOSEPH KABILA BEFOREHAND, WITHOUT
BENEFIT OF A TRIAL, AND WITHOUT ANY CREDIBLE EVIDENCE INDICATING
THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ASSASSINATION.
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THE COMMISSION BELIEVED THAT KAPEND HAD ORDERED THESE ARRESTS IN
AN ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT ATTENTION AWAY FROM HIS OWN SUSPECTED ROLE
IN LAURENT KABILA'S DEATH.
5. THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE
INDICATING CONTACT BEFORE AND AFTER THE ASSASSINATION BETWEEN A
U.S. OFFICIAL AND SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS PRESENTLY UNDER ARREST IN
CONNECTION WITH THE ASSASSINATION, BUT HARARE BASICALLY DID NOT
BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT.
SOME CONGOLESE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF A U.S. OR BELGIAN HAND BEHIND.THE DEATH OF
FORMER PRESIDENT KABILA, ALTHOUGH THE ZIMBABWEANS WHO WERE
DIRECTING THE COMMISSION WERE NOT INTERESTED AT PRESENT IN
PURSUING THIS LINE OF INQUIRY. �AS A RELATED MATTER, PRESIDENTIAL
ADVISOR FOR SECURITY NONO ((LUTULA)) WAS UNDER CLOSE SCRUTINY BY
THE COMMISSION FOR WHAT WERE VIEWED AS HIS RECKLESS STATEMENTS
ALLEGING THE INVOLVEMENT OF AN UNNAMED FOREIGN HAND IN THE
ASSASSINATION. COMMENT:
LUTULA WAS UNDER ARREST AT THE ORDER OF THE
COMMISSION; HE WAS BEING QUESTIONED ON HIS ACTIONS BEFORE AND
AFTER THE ASSASSINATION.)
6. REGARDING WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED DURING THE SHOOTING OF
THE FORMER PRESIDENT, ZIMBABWEAN INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED THAT
RASHID ((KASEREKA)), THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICIALLY IDENTIFIED AS THE
ASSASSIN, HAD IN FACT NOT KILLED THE PRESIDENT. THE KILLING WAS
PURPORTEDLY CARRIED OUT BY TWO UNNAMED INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SAID
TO BE STILL AT LARGE (NFI). KABILA WAS SHOT FIVE TIMES--FIRST
THROUGH THE NECK, SUBSEQUENTLY TWICE IN THE LEG AS HE ROSE TO FLEE
AND THEN FINALLY WAS FINISHED OFF WITH TWO BULLETS IN HIS TORSO.
THE ASSASSINS THEN KILLED KASEREKA, WHO HAD WITNESSED THE
SHOOTING.
7. AS OF LATE FEBRUARY 2001 ANGOLA HAD AGREED TO ALLOW
ZIMBABWE TO TAKE THE LEAD IN DIRECTING THE INVESTIGATION,
PURPORTEDLY BECAUSE OF ZIMBABWE'S MUCH HEAVIER ENGAGEMENT IN THE
DROC. THERE WERE TWO ANGOLAN MEMBERS ON THE COMMISSION.
COMMENT: ALTHOUGH KAPEND WAS AN ANGOLAN FAVORITE TO ASSUME THE
PRESIDENCY FOLLOWING LAURENT KABILA'S DEATH, LUANDA HAS NOT
INDICATED THAT IT IS DISTRESSED AT KAPEND'S RECENT ARREST.)
8.
9. THE INVESTIGATING
COMMISSION WAS EXPECTING TO SUBMIT ITS REPORT TO NEW DROC
PRESIDENT JOSEPH ((KABILA)) AS SCHEDULED 8 MARCH. ONCE THE DROC
PRESIDENT RECEIVED THE FINDINGS OF THE COMMISSION, HE WOULD DECIDE
WHAT, IF ANY, FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE REQUIRED, AND WHAT
ANNOUNCEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE ABOUT THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE
INVESTIGATION. THE ZIMBABWEAN HEADING THE DROC MIXED COMMISSION
WAS GENERAL (FNU) ((CHEDONDO)), THE CHIEF OF THE EXTERNAL
DEPARTMENT OF ZIMBABWEAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
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POC:
COMMENTS, EVALUATIONS AND RE( UIREMENTS WELCOME.
!
ACQ:
DISSEM: SENT TO BRUSSELS, DAR ES SALAAM; GENEVA, HARARE,
KAMPALA, KIGALI, KINSHASA, LONDON, LUANDA, LUSAKA, NAIROBI,
OTTAWA, PARIS, PRETORIA, ROME; (PRINCIPAL OFFICERS ONLY), USUN
(AMBASSADORS ONLY), US SURVEY DIVISION SHAPE (EXCLUSIVE FOR THE
COMMANDER), EXCLUSIVE FOR USCINCEUR, EXCLUSIVE FOR THE COMMANDER
EUCOM JAC, EXCLUSIVE FOR CINCUSAREUR, EXCLUSIVE FOR CINCUSAFE,
EXCLUSIVE FOR CINCUSNAVEUR, EXCLUSIVE FOR COMSIXTHFLT, EXCLUSIVE
FOR USCINCSOC, EXCLUSIVE FOR JSOC, EXCLUSIVE-FOR USCINCTRANS,
EXCLUSIVE FOR USCINCJFCOM, EXCLUSIVE FOR JFIC, EXCLUSIVE FOR
CINCLANTFLT, EXCLUSIVE FOR COMMARFORLANT.
WASHINGTON DISSEM:
TO WHSITRM:
TO STATE:
TO DIA:
TO NMJIC:
INTELLIGENCE
TO ARMY:
TO NAVY:
EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR, WHITE HOUSE
SITUATION ROOM
EXCLUSIVE FOR THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY,
INR AND AS/DS
EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR, DIA
EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF
FOR INTELLIGENCE
EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF NAVAL
INTELLIGENCE
TO MARINE CORPS: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF
INTELLIGENCE '
TO AIR FORCE: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR, ISR
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TO NSA: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR, NSA
TO FBI: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,
NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION
TO JUSTICE:
EXCLUSIVE FOR THE COUNSEL FOR INTELLIGENCE
POLICY, OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE POLICY AND.
REVIEW
TO NACIC: EXCLUSIVE FOR THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL
COUNTERINTELLIGENCE CENTER
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ALL PORTIONS CARRY CLASSIFICATION AND CONTROLS OF
OVERALL DOCUMENT.
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