COMMENTS BY KINSHASA RESIDENTS ON THE ASSASSINATION OF LAURENT-DESIRE KABILA, AND RESENTMENT OF ANGOLAN TROOPS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06692061
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 18, 2017
• Case Number: F-2016-00031
• Publication Date: February 20, 2001

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TO: NINA NAVY YARD WASHINGTON DC, DIRNSA,
ANCHORY FT GEORGE G MEADE MD, SECSTATE WASHDCHINR/DSITA/SCT//,
DIA WASHINGTON DC, JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC, DA WASHINGTON DC,
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASH DC//0IPR//,
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JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK//DOA//, US SURVEY DIV SHAPE BE,
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UTAIS RAMSTEIN AS GE//INO//, COMUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//,
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USCINCSOC INTEL OPS CEN MACDILL AFB, COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2//,
USCINCJFCOM NORFOLK VA, JFIC NORFOLK VA, CINCLANTFLT NORFOLK VA,
COMMARFORLANT.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE
REPORT CLASSSECRET--NOFORN
DIST: 20 FEBRUARY 2001
COUNTRY: CONGO(K)/ANGOLA
SUBJ: COMMENTS BY KINSHASA RESIDENTS ON THE ASSASSINATION OF
LAURENT-DESIRE KABILA, AND RESENTMENT OF ANGOLAN TROOPS
DOI:
SOURCE:
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SUMMARY: MANY CONGOLESE VIEWED THE DEATH OF DROC PRESIDENT
LAURENT-DESIRE KABILA AS AN UNFORTUNATE NECESSITY -- HE HAD DONE
NOTHING IN THREE YEARS TO HELP THE CONGOLESE PEOPLE, EITHER
POLITICALLY OR ECONOMICALLY, AND HIS PASSING WOULD CLEAR THE WAY
FOR A NEW ORDER TO ASSUME CONTROL AND TO END THE WAR. THERE WAS
SOME RESENTMENT AMONG CONGOLESE RESIDENTS OF KINSHASA OF THE
ARRIVAL OF ANGOLAN AND ZIMBABWEAN TROOPS TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN
KINSHASA, BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT THE ALLIES WERE TRYING TO
DIRECT THE COURSE OF EVENTS. SEVERAL THEORIES WERE CIRCULATING IN
KINSHASA ABOUT THE MOTIVE FOR THE ASSASSINATION, THE MOST
PROMINENT BEING REVENGE BY NATIVES OF KIVU PROVINCE. IN THE VIEW
OF ONE OBSERVER, MOST CONGOLESE BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
BODYGUARD WAS NOT THE ASSASSIN, AND THERE IS MUCH SPECULATION
ABOUT WHO MAY HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE MURDER BUT NO GENERAL CONSENSUS
ON THE INSTIGATORS OF THE ASSASSINATION.
TEXT:
1.
2. A GROUP OF MIDDLE-CLASS RESIDENTS
OF KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DROC), SAID THAT
MANY CONGOLESE VIEWED THE DEATH OF DROC PRESIDENT LAURENT-DESIRE
KABILA AS AN UNFORTUNATE NECESSITY -- HE HAD DONE NOTHING IN THREE
YEARS TO HELP THE CONGOLESE PEOPLE, EITHER POLITICALLY OR
ECONOMICALLY, AND HIS PASSING WOULD CLEAR THE WAY FOR A NEW ORDER
TO ASSUME CONTROL AND TO END THE WAR. MOST KINSHASA RESIDENTS
WERE INDIFFERENT TO THE PRESIDENT'S DEATH, VIEWING IT AS AN
INTERNAL CONFLICT AMONG ARROGANT KATANGAN MEMBERS OF THE
PRESIDENT'S ENTOURAGE. COMMENT: MOST PEOPLE STAYED HOME
DURING THE PRESIDENT'S FUNERAL; THE MASSES OF MOURNERS WERE
COMPOSED OF YOUNG BEGGARS WHO HAD BEEN FED BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE
HOLIDAYS AT THE END OF 2000.) BUT SOME CONGOLESE COMMENTATORS
WERE CONCERNED THAT THE ASSASSINATION HAD OPENED UP THE CONGO TO A
"CLIMATE OF VIOLENCE"; I.E., NO PREVIOUS CONGOLESE LEADER HAD BEEN
KILLED IN OFFICE, AND THIS ASSASSINATION SET A DANGEROUS
PRECEDENT. IN THE DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING KABILA'S DEATH, SOME
OBSERVERS FEARED THAT A GENOCIDE WOULD BE UNLEASHED, SUCH AS IN
RWANDA FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT JUVENAL HABYARIMANA IN
1994.
3. SOME FORMER ZAIRE ARMED FORCES (EX-FAZ) OFFICERS RESENTED
WHAT THEY VIEWED AS THE ATTEMPT BY PRESIDENTIAL AIDE-DE-CAMP EDDY
((KAPEND)) TO USURP POWER WHEN HE APPEARED ON TELEVISION LATE 16
JANUARY DENYING THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS DEAD AND CALLING FOR CALM
ON THE PART OF THE MILITARY AND POLICE. THESE EX-FAZ OFFICERS
BELIEVED THAT COLONEL KAPEND HAD NO RIGHT TO ISSUE ORDERS TO
CONGOLESE ARMED FORCES (FAC) GENERALS, OR TO SPEAK IN THE NAME OF
THE PRESIDENT. NEVERTHELESS, CALM REIGNED IN KINSHASA, IN THE
TRADITIONAL CONGOLESE SPIRIT OF RESPECT FOR THE DEAD AND OBSERVING
A DECENT PERIOD OF MOURNING. COMMENT: CONTRIBUTING TO
THE SENSE OF CALM, THERE WERE RUMORS THAT MANY FAC SOLDIERS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE AT CAMP KOKOLO, HAD BEEN DISARMED THE DAY BEFORE,
ON 15 JANUARY.)
4. ANGOLAN AND ZIMBABWEAN TROOPS ARRIVED QUICKLY TO MAINTAIN
ORDER, BUT MANY CONGOLESE RESIDENTS OF KINSHASA RESENTED THE
ANGOLAN AND ZIMBABWEAN TROOPS, WHOM THEY FELT WERE TRYING TO
DICTATE THE COURSE OF EVENTS IN THE DROC; SOME EXPRESSED THE HOPE
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THAT KABILA WOULD TELL ANGOLA AND ZIMBABWE TO STOP PURSUING THE
MILITARY OPTION TO THE DROC CRISIS. FURTHER FUELING RESENTMENT OF
THE SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) ALLIES WERE REPORTS THAT
JOSEPH KABILA, WHO IS REPORTED NOT TO LIKE KATANGANS, MOVED OUT
ALL THE KATANGANS WHO WERE LIVING AT THE OAU CITY II TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE ANGOLAN AND ZIMBABWEAN TROOPS WHO ARRIVED IN MID-LATE
JANUARY. COMMENT: CONGOLESE CITIZENS QUESTION WHY ANGOLAN
TROOPS ARE NECESSARY, SINCE THE ANGOLANS ARE NO BETTER SOLDIERS
THAN THE CONGOLESE; AFTER ALL, THE ANGOLAN ARMED FORCES HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO DEFEAT UNITA DESPITE CONSTANT FIGHTING FOR 25 YEARS.)
5. THE MAN
ACCUSED OF KILLING PRESIDENT KABILA, RACHID KASEREKA, WAS SECOND
IN COMMAND OF THE PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS. RACHID WAS A NATIVE OF
KIVU PROVINCE AND REPORTEDLY WAS RECRUITED PERSONALLY BY
LAURENT-DESIRE KABILA IN 1996 IN BUKAVU OR GOMA.COMMENT:
RACHID'S MOTIVE FOR THE ATTACK IS NOT KNOWN, BUT MAY COME TO LIGHT
THROUGH THE INVESTIGATIONS OF THE INQUIRY COMMISSION.) RACHID WAS
SAID TO HAVE SERVED WITH COMMANDANT ANSELME MASASU NINDANG, WHO
WAS ARRESTED IN OCTOBER 2000 FOR COUP PLOTTING AND SUBSEQUENTLY
EXECUTED. ACCORDING TO ONE ACCOUNT, MORE THAN 400 YOUNG KIVU
SOLDIERS WERE EXECUTED FOR SUPPORTING MASASU. THE MOST RECENT
EXECUTIONS WERE SAID TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE NO LATER THAN 15 JANUARY,
IN THE PRESENCE OF LAURENT-DESIRE KABILA AND RACHID; RACHID
REPORTEDLY PLEADED IN VAIN WITH KABILA TO SPARE THE MEN.
ACCORDING TO MIDDLE-CLASS KINSHASA RESIDENTS, THE MOST PROMINENT
THEORY IN CIRCULATION IS THAT RACHID AND OTHER KIVU NATIVES SOUGHT
REVENGE FOR THE EXECUTION OF MASASU AND HIS COLLABORATORS. THIS
THEORY IS SUPPORTED BY REPORTS OF DESERTIONS BY APPROXIMATELY 20
KIVU NATIVES SERVING IN THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (ANR),
WHO HAD LONG COMPLAINED OF MISTREATMENT BY ANR OFFICERS WHO WERE
KATANGA PROVINCE NATIVES. COMMENT: RACHID ALSO
REPORTEDLY SERVED WITH FORMER FAC CHIEF OF STAFF JAMES
((KABAREBE)). KABARABE DESERTED THE DROC IN JULY 1998 AND IS
CURRENTLY RWANDAN DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF AND THE CHIEF OF MILITARY
INTELLIGENCE.)
6. ANOTHER RUMOR HOLDS THAT RACHID WAS ACTING ON BEHALF OF
CONGOLESE LIBERATION MOVEMENT (MLC) LEADER JEAN-PIERRE ((BEMBA)),
WHO HOPED TO MOVE IN AND CAPTURE KINSHASA. REPORTEDLY, BEMBA'S
PLANS WERE THWARTED BY THE QUICK ACTION OF ANGOLA TO MOVE IN
TROOPS TO CONTROL THE CITY. COMMENT:
THERE IS NO SOLID INFORMATION ON THE MOTIVE, AND
THIS SEEMS ONE OF THE LESS CREDIBLE ONES. THE INQUIRY COMMISSION
HOPES TO HAVE COMPLETED ITS INVESTIGATION BY 6 MARCH.)
7. THE HEAD OF THE DROC PRESIDENTIAL GUARD UNIT IS MAJOR
((MUTUPAYI)) (FNU), AN EX-FAZ OFFICER AND A NATIVE OFICASAI
PROVINCE WHO GREW UP IN LUBUMBASHI. HE REPORTEDLY IS THE ONLY
EX-FAZ OFFICER TO HAVE SERVED IN THE SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY
GROUP (GSSP) WHO REMAINED IN THE UNIT AFTER IT WAS INCORPORATED
INTO THE KINSHASA DEFENSE FORCE (FORCES D'INTERVENTION DE LA
SECURITE (FIS), FORMERLY KNOWN AS FORCES D'INTERVENTION DE LA
CAPITAL (FIC).)
8.
9. THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LAURENT-DESIRE KABILA HIT
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THE CONGOLESE POPULATION LIKE A SHOCKWAVE. AFTER THE FIRST NEWS
ARRIVED, INFORMATION CIRCULATED QUICKLY ON THE DETAILS OF THE
PRESIDENT'S MURDER. DESPITE DROC GOVERNMENT ASSERTIONS THAT
PRESIDENT KABILA DIED ON 18 JANUARY IN HARARE OF WOUNDS SUFFERED
DURING THE ATTACK ON HIM, THE POPULATION IS WELL AWARE THAT KABILA
WAS ACTUALLY KILLED IN HIS OFFICE IN KINSHASA BEFORE NOON ON 16
JANUARY. MOST PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME DROC SECURITY OFFICIALS,
BELIEVE THAT RACHID KASEREKA, A MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT'S CLOSE
PROTECTION DETAIL, WAS NOT THE ASSASSIN, AS WAS REPORTED IN THE
PRESS. THEY ALSO DO NOT THINK THE ASSASSIN, WHOEVER HE WAS, ACTED
ALONE, AND THERE IS MUCH SPECULATION ABOUT WHO MAY HAVE BEEN
BEHIND THE MURDER BUT NO GENERAL CONSENSUS ON THE INSTIGATORS OF
THE ASSASSINATION.
10. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER, HOWEVER, IS THAT THE CONGOLESE
PEOPLE WERE RELIEVED: TO MOST OF THE POPULATION, PRESIDENT KABILA
WAS A ROADBLOCK TO PEACE, SECURITY, AND TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COUNTRY. THE TRANSPORTATION AND FUEL SITUATION PROBLEMS
REMARKABLY IMPROVED IN THE DAYS AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S DEATH, AND
THE LARGEST "CONCERN" AMONG THE PEOPLE SEEMED TO BE THAT YOUNG
PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA MIGHT HAVE A TUTSI MOTHER, AND THAT THIS
WOULD FACE HIM WITH PROBLEMS WITH REGARD TO KEEPING THE COUNTRY
UNITED. THE OVERALL FEELING AMONG THE POPULATION WAS THAT JOSEPH
KABILA MIGHT SECRETLY BE WILLING TO SEE THE DROC PARTITIONED INTO
THREE OR FOUR INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES.
POC:
COMMENTS, EVALUATIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS WELCOME.
ACQ:
DISSEM:
USUN, US SURVEY DIVISION SHAPE, USCINCEUR,
EUCOM JAC, CINCUSAREUR, CINCUSAFE, CINCUSNAVEUR, COMSIXTHFLT,
USCINCSOC, JSOC, USCINCTRANS, USCINCJFCOM, JFIC, CINCLANTFLT,
COMMARFORLANT
WARNING: REPORT CLASSSECRET--NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN
NATIONALS.
4-99.
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