Cablegate: Accused Killers of North Kivu Trader Appear Before

VZCZCXRO7801
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0779 1910932
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 100932Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6474
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000779

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD PGOV KCRM CG
SUBJECT: ACCUSED KILLERS OF NORTH KIVU TRADER APPEAR BEFORE
MILITARY COURT

REF: KINSHASA 764

1. (SBU) The six accused killers of Kambale Kisoni, a
wealthy North Kivu businessman who had been designated by the
U.S. and UN for violating UN arms embargoes, appeared before
a military tribunal in Butembo July 6. Kisoni was shot and
killed in the city July 5 (reftel). The chief military judge
told MONUC's Radio Okapi three Kalashnikovs and one revolver
were recovered from the accused, but declined to give details
about the contents of the statements they made or the case
against them. As reported reftel, MONUC told us that the
suspects included two Ugandans, one Kenyan, and three people
of unidentified nationality. However, Agence France Presse
(AFP) reported July 7 that four of those arrested were
Ugandan, and two Kenyan.

2. (SBU) AFP also quoted an anonymous "high-level local
administrator" who said that, according to their passports
the six were traders, had admitted they killed Kisoni, and
were acting on the orders of someone else, reportedly a
Congolese. The administrator reported the unnamed mastermind
was being sought.

3. (SBU) A friend of Kisoni's in Butembo told us July 9 that
the population of the town was angry about the killing. He
said Kisoni was well-liked in the town, especially among
young people. He claimed the alleged killers had admitted in
court to being sent to kill Kisoni and to having already
received payment. However, they reportedly could not or
would not say who sent them to kill Kisoni or why.
MEECE

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