Cablegate: Contested Tribal Chief Succession Leads to Ethnic

VZCZCXRO0177
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0997 3091636
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051636Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0284
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE IMMEDIATE 0141

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000997

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL CG
SUBJECT: CONTESTED TRIBAL CHIEF SUCCESSION LEADS TO ETHNIC
VIOLENCE, COP KILLERS, AND CROSS-BORDER IDPS

1. (U) SUMMARY: The killings last week of 47 policemen in
Equateur Province stemmed from an intra-tribal argument
between competing clans' candidates for tribal chieftain.
Since then, some 16,000 refugees who fear continued ethnic
violence or reprisals by the national police have fled into
Congo-Brazzaville and other areas in the DRC. The GDRC
remains conspicuously silent on their response raising fears
of police brutality in quelling the conflict. END SUMMARY.

BACKGROUND

2. (U) The district government of Gemena, South Ubangi
District, Equateur Province, recognized a member of the
Banzaya clan as interim tribal chief in Dongo, a village 230
km from Gemena. The Enyele clan, a constituent of the same
tribe opposed the GDRC-recognized chieftain who fled the area
after fighting broke out. Members of the Congolese National
Police (NPC) escorted the duly-recognized chieftain back to
his tribe. In response to the chieftain's return with armed
policemen, an Enyele and former FARDC captain, Nyamuka Ebele,
led Enyele clan members in armed combat killing 47 policemen
on October 29. (Comment: While the Enyele-Banzaya conflict
reportedly dates to 1946, some sources say Enyele combatants
included demobilized youth who were demoralized at poor
prospects after civilian reintegration. End Comment.)

3. (U) Non-combatants fled the area fearing continued ethnic
violence or police reprisals. Interim Administrator Bienvenu
Longi told UN Radio Okapi that refugees fled to
Langi,Republic of Congo; and other South Ubangi cities of
Libenga and Kungu. The Enyele clan kept control of Dongo and
began a march toward Kungu.

4. (U) South Ubangi District Deputy Commissioner Willy
Isekusu called in NPC reinforcements and Kinshasa deployed
the elite Rapid Intervention Police (PIR) who flew to Gemena
on November 1 to join mobilized NPC forces. The GDRC has
maintained silence regarding subsequent actions taken,
results achieved, and casualties on either side.

RESPONSES BY MONUC and GDRC

5. (SBU) On November 3, South Ubangi District Commissioner
Jean-Baptiste Lumbwe, called for negotiations and sent a
delegation to Dongo to meet with local leaders including the
juju priest Udjain. UN Head of Office in Equateur Province
capital Mbandaka, Guriane Ndiaye, and Acting Governor Bienda
went to Gemena to diffuse the situation. Another GDRC
mission is reportedly en route.

6. (SBU) Fearing reprisals by the NPC and PIR for the
deaths of 47 officers, MONUC deployed military observers on
November 4. The observers failed in an overland approach
from Gemena due to bad roads, and are attempting a river
barge movement and considering a helicopter mission.

7. (SBU) Comment: Already under international pressure for
alleged atrocities by government forces in eastern DRC, the
lack of public statements by GDRC authorities causes Post to
fear new human rights violations in the northwestern DRC. End
Comment.
GARVELINK

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