Résumé
In his fax dated on April 7th 1994 to Marrack Goulding, Under-secretary general of the United Nations for political affairs, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Special representant of the Secretary general for Burundi, told he was warned of the crash/attempt on Wednesday 6 April at 9:30 p.m. (2:30 New York time). This accident was not directed to the Burundi President. Unlike his colleage in Rwanda, he organized on the spot a meeting with the speaker of the Parliament, the Prime minister, the Army chief of staff to avoid a political vacuum.
Commentaire
The Burundian Army chief of staff, Jean Bikomagu, didn't take part to the Dar Es-Salaam summit which addressed Burundi political situation. This summit was not an excuse to lure the President Habyarimana into a trap.
Citation
FROM :
DATE: 7.4.94
REFRESENTANT SPECIAL DE O,N.U
PHONE NO. : 257212852
é
OUTGOING FAX
Ref BU/SRSG/0141
TO: MR. MARRACK GOULDING
_— ——
— —— —
FROM: aA. OLD ABDALLAH
USG/DPA RSSG |
UN HQ NY BUJUMBURA Atk
| vax No: 121-212-963 50 65 PAX No: (257) 21 28 68 {office}
TEL No: (257) 21 28 67 (office)
(257) 22 52 22 (hotel)
ATTN:
cc: MR. K ANNAN
121-212-953 92 22
MR. H. KITANNI
1-212-963 21 55
SUBJECT: SITRHY No 015/94
e, ——
No OF PAGRS: 3
1. The tragic disparitien at Kigali airport of both Burundi and Rwanda
presidents in the later plane has af course overyhadewed all other
mulional evennn.
two Burundi Cabinet members {B.
Planification and of Information respectively)
evawmun of-the Falcon 59 jet.
save time, President Cyp
With them alco disappeared eix officials including
ang Simbizi, Ministers ox
and three French
in order to
Ciza
Tt is unfortunate that,
vien Nearyamira of Burundi chosed, at the last
minute, to travel on tne modern Rwandese presidential jer rather than
his chartered low. speed plane.
2. informed of the crash/attempt on Wednesday 6 April at 9:30 p.m.
(2:30 New York time), I immediacely called J. C. Aime to qive him first hand
news; I called later 1:00 a.m. (6:00 p.m. New York time) with further
details on the situation and briefing on action taken by the mission
in close cooperation with the Government to maintain peace and order
throughout the country.
3. By coincidence this W
all political partie
document fiirmali sing
cooperation.
ednesday 6 April starled with the signature by
g members of
their January-Fehruery agreements on political
The signature, which tock place under my tlaismansnip,
che coalition Government of a
was hailed by all participants and observers as a major achievement
able to bring tranquility and peace to Burundi.
After signing the
document, politica] Leaders rushed Lo the airport to welcome back the
President who
convened by Tanzania at Dar ¢€5 Salam.
addreya Burundi. political
teft early thal morning for a
subregional summit
The summit was precisely to
situation (see STTREP 413 and 14) and
reginnal cooperalion zor peace in that country,
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un
2.
The summit recommended inter alin a viedt to Burnnai by participating
countries (Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda) foreign ministers and OAU
fo evaluate and assess the Bituation Tt roespmeuded a.So an OAU
Oheervora tLeslon dp Burundi composed of African troops,
The real Causes of Kigali airport tragedy are not known yet though it
Seens certain that the Presidential plane waa shot at white it touched
down, There are ne survivor among tne Li Passengers, tn this
Connection, the body of Burundi. Presidéent has been identified, 7
called on mY Colleague sxsq in Rwanda ts help trangler Co Bujumbura
hig remaing an those of his Lwo compatriots. In Burundi we wore the
first informed of the tragic situation and with my miasion colleaque
We went on the Spot fn the opnaker of the Parliament reftidence ty
discuas measuraag -to be taken and how to addressy the whole Situation.
Prime Minister, Minister o£ Defense and Azmy Chiet ul scazr wera
pvecont. 4, avoid political vaccum (as in October 1993) and any
disturbances, the Group decided the following:
a) Establishment Of a small commitres tc follow-up the situation
Composed of: Speaker of the House (Hutu) and leader of country
main political Party; Prime Minister (Tutsi) Frem the main
Opposition party; Minister Of Defense (Tucai) ; Agmy Chiet of
atazf (Tutai); Head of internal Intelligence (Hutu) leader of thr
Majority in the Parliament (Hutu). the Committee is chaired by
the Speakor of the House and coastitutional interim Butcesser of
the Prosident;
bh) immediate message, at 23:00 Poem, (4:00 p.m. N¥ time) on LV/Radiv
by Chairman of the fcllow-up Commitree Draparing public opinion
to the tragic news ang Calling for peace and coaheration;
G) Official announcement. of the disappearance of the Preaident and
his two ministers. The message addressed to public opinien tx
that fhe tragic avent Ly accidental, not directed to the
President and. happened outside Burundi. Therefnre no group
should be singled out ag author or accomplice of the tragedy;
a) Meeting of the follow-up Committee at Army Readquarters to make
direct calls to provincial civilian governors and Military camns
rommanderc roqueatiuy Lhem cto cooperate for a peaceful message
CO population;
2} Convening of a Council of ministers at 8:00 a.m. on 7 April for
briefing and joint misaions of high level Government officials
and military officers te ruval populations;
£) Convening of National security Council headed by Prime Minister
in the absence of the President to Bddrecae gieilial security iaouce
aunt cohabitation among communities;
We spent all this time, from 2:20 p.m. to 2730 a.m. with the follow-up
Committee supporting and encouraging them for wise and swift action.
hem
1" a i: < interview to international press
lesen oe acy peELL, after inte a. €:00 a.m. and wa: WM004907
briefed Our colleagnern af tho UN syeten
Giplemats al 19:05 am rnenen.. ot
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en evening events by Chairman of fol
Extended
we eee weet ON OL
ey -_
1n “
low-up Commir se on-possec-evening “fi
it
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or
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FROM : REPRESENTANT SPECIAL TE O.N.U PHONE NO, : 257z12e6e PRS T|
As. Jt. Gooibine . Fax Bur /SRSG/0 1/4)
weeteteees. He recognized the mission For ite active presence during
this difficult time,
In this briefing he noted that the Government is in charge and
functionning and the Parliament also, He reiterated as a leitmotiv
that the tragie events were not intended to kill Burundi President,
that it was an accident outside country borders and therefore the
situation should not to be exploited for criminal Purposes,
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The gravity of the situation in Rwanda where the President guard and |
other armed factiona are killing all personalities perceived as |
adversaries to Pregident Habyarimana is of real concern to ua. Though
the situation ip completely calm in the canital and in the contryside, |
the micsion ig soriously worried by a contagion coming from the North. |
We are thus multiplying contacts at all levels, civilian and military
to avoid cr minimize posaible explosion. Though not the only one to
be watched, tha behaviour of Tutsi refugees from Rwanda and living in
Burundi could serve as a detonant to an uncontrolable crisis. |
I
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A. Ould Abdallah
SRSG - “T998 A
a
7 April 1994
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