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Document Number: 1994KIGALI00792
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ACTION AF-01
KIGALI
INFO
COR-01
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SR-00
RPE-01
LOG-00
DODE-00
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00792
01 OF 03
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AMAD-01
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251044Z
CIAE-00 C-01
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293C60 251046Z /38
0 231613Z FEB 94.
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5794
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
USDA() YAOUNDE CM
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4//SAA//
C ONFIDENTIALSECTION 01 OF 03 KIGALI 00792
CONFIDENTIAL
KIGALI 00792 01 OF 03 251044Z
PAGE 02
C O R R E C T E D COPY (ADDED ADDRESSEES)
STATE FOR AF/C AND DSS/OP/AF
BUJUMBURA FOR RSO
YAOUNDE FOR DATT
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PINS, ASEC, PHUM, PGOV, RW
SUBJECT: INSECURITY ESCALATES; A KIGALI AND ELSEWHERE
REF: (A) KIGALI 784, (B) KIGALI 786
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Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: JOHN L. MILLS
DATE/CASE ID: 20 NOV 2002 200003723
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' 1. (LOU) SUMMARY. RWANDA'S FRAGILE PEACE IS UNDER
TREMENDOUS STRAIN WITH SCORES OF PEOPLE DEAD IN CIVIL
UNREST BOTH IN KIGALI AND ELSEWHERE IN THE WAKE OF
TWO POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS (REFTELS). GOVERNMENT
OFFICES AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES ARE VIRTUALLY CLOSED
DOWN IN KIGALI. THE PRESIDENT CONVOKED A
SWEARING-IN CEREMONY AND SET THE TERMS OF COMPROMISE
TO BREAK THE POLITICAL IMPASSE, BUT THE RPF VOWED NOT
TO PARTICIPATE FOLLOWING AN ATTACK ON A
UNAMIR-ESCORTED RPF CONVOY. WE HOPE RWANDANS CAN
MOVE THROUGH THIS VIOLENCE AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST
PRELIMINARY TO A MAJOR STEP ON THI OKJQALATES
2. ' (LOU) TENSIONS EVIDENT MORNING OF 2/22 FOLLOWING
ASSASSINATION OF PSD MINISTER AND POLITICIAN GATABAZI
(REF A) MOUNTED IN THE AFTERNOON WITH THE NEWS THAT
LEADER OF THE HUTU-EXTREMIST CDR PARTY HAD ALSO BEEN
KILLED (REF B). RWANDAN EMPLOYEES AND FRIENDS REPORT
KNOWING OF AT LEAST 25 DEATHS, AROUND TOWN AS WELL AS
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KIGALI 00792 01 OF 03 251044Z
INCIDENTS OF ROBBERY, RAPE, HOUSE BURNINGS, AND
ROADBLOCKS WITH BURNING TIRES. THE AGGRESSORS WERE
GENERALLY BANDS OF YOUTH -- SOMETIMES NUMBERING UP
TO 100. VICTIMS WERE PRIMARILY TUTSI, ALTHOUGH SOME
INCIDENTS INVOLVED PARTY CLASHES AND UNDOUBTEDLY
SCORE-SETTLING. TERRIFIED RWANDANS ARE ABANDONING
THEIR HOMES AND POSSESSIONS TO SEEK SAFETY IN CALMER
PARTS OF TOWN.
3. (U) MORNING OF 2/23,• EMBASSY LEARNED OF
DEMONSTRATIONS BY CDR MEMBERS IN NORTHERN TOWN OF
RUHENGERI THAT LEFT ONE CONFIRMED DEAD AND THREE
INJURED. BUTARE, HOME OF ASSASSINATED GATABAZI, ALSO
REPORTS UNREST. IN CYANGUGU, HOME OF ASSASSINATED
BUCYANA, HOMES WERE REPORTEDLY BURNING. KIBUNGO, IN
THE SOUTHEAST, REPORTS AN UNEASY CALM. MSF/B
REPORTED NUMEROUS ROADBLOCKS EN ROUTE FROM BURUNDI
REFUGEE CAMPS SOUTH OF KIGALI AFTERNOON OF 2/22.
4. (C) WITH TENSIONS MOUNTING AFTERNOON OF 2/22,'
AMBASSADOR ALERTED UN FORCE COMMANDER GENERAL
DALLAIRE TO OUR CONCERNS FOR POSSIBLE POLITICAL AND
ETHNIC CLASHES IN TOWN AND SUGGESTED TO PRESIDENTIAL
• ADVISORS THAT A PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT COULD BE
USEFUL IN CALMING THE POPULATION. AS EMBASSY
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PERSONNEL RECEIVED REPORTS OF VIOLENCE, THEY
CONTACTED BOTH THE GENDARMERIE AND THE UN FORCES TO
ALERT THEM TO THE LOCATION OF TROUBLE.
5. (U) KIGALI IS PRACTICALLY ABANDONED 2/23, WITH
FEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENCY AND
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KIGALI 00792 01 OF 03 251044Z
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PRACTIALLY NO PRIVATE BUSINESSES OPERATING. ONLY A
HANDFUL OF EMBASSY STAFF MADE IT TO WORK, SOME
BECAUSE THEY FELT SAFER AT WORK THAN AT HOME. AT THE
END OF THE DAY 2/23, THE UN FORCES REPORT ROADS OPEN
BUT VIOLENCE PERSISTS IN KIGALI NEIGHBORHOODS.
RPF CONVOY AMBUSHED .
6. (U) AN RPF COMMUNIQUE REPORTED THAT ITS CONVOY,
ESCORTED BY UN OBSERVER (UNARMED) FORCES, WAS
AMBUSHED EVENING OF 2/22 FIVE KMS OUTSIDE KIGALI ON
THE ROAD TO BYUMBA AND THE RPFS MULINDI HEADQUARTERS
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KIGALI 00792 02 OF 03 251045Z
OASY-00
COR-01 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 - C-01.
EUR-01
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293C7A 251046Z /38
O 231613Z FEB 94
. FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5795
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY
' USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
INFO LOG-00
DODE-00
TEDE-00
01C-02
SP-00
ASDS-01
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Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1994RIGALI00792
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Channel: n/a
Case Number: 200003723
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
USDAO YAOUNDE CM
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4//SAA//
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 KIGALI 00792
C O R R E C T E D COPY (ADDED ADDRESSEES)
CONFIDENTIAL
KIGALI 00792 02 OF 03 251045Z
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STATE FOR AF/C AND DSS/OP/AF
BUJUMBURA FOR RSO
YAOUNDE FOR DATT
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PINS, ASEC, PHUM, PGOV, RW
SUBJECT: INSECURITY ESCALATES; A KIGALI AND ELSEWHERE
ONE RPF SOLDIER WAS CRITICALLY WOUNDED AND ONE UNAMIR
OBSERVER WAS INJURED. TWO CONVOY VEHICLES WERE
DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE ABANDONED AT THE SITE. RPF
POLITICIANS, SCHEDULED TO COME TO KIGALI FOR THE
SWEARING IN CEREMONIES ANNOUNCED FOR TODAY, WERE •
NOT/NOT IN THE CONVOY, HAVING DECIDED AT THE LAST
MINUTE TO REMAIN IN MULINDI. THE RPF BLAMED THE
ATTACK ON GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS AND DEMANDED AN
EXPLANATION OF THE INCIDENT.
-
7. (U) THE RPF COMMUNIQUE SAID THE RPF COULD IN NO
WAY ASSOCIATE ITSELF WITH THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES
ORGANIZED BY HABYARIMANA AND HIS "ENTOURAGE". IT
ACCUSED PRESIDENT HABYARIMANA OF MASSACRING HIS OWN
PEOPLE AND CALLED HIM AND HIS PARTY MEMBERS
TERRORISTS. THE RPF SAID THAT "MR. HABYARIMANA", BY
REFUSING TO GUARANTEE NATIONAL UNITY, HAD
DISQUALIFIED HIMSELF AS FUTURE PRESIDENT OF THE
TRANSITION INSTITUTIONS.
ANOTHER ABORTED INSTALLATION CEREMONY
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KIGALI 00792 02 OF 03 251045Z
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8. (U) RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PRESIDENCY EVENING
2/22 CONVOKED ALL PARTIES TO SWEARING-IN CEREMONY AT
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10 AM THE NEXT DAY AND WENT ON TO SPECIFY HOW
MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS AND DEPUTY SEATS HAD BEEN
ALLOCATED (WE LATER LEARNED THAT FORMULAS WERE THOSE
PUT FORWARD AT COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT CHAIRED BY
PRESIDENT 2/21 AT WHICH ALL PARTY FACTIONS WERE
REPRESENTED, BUT NOT RPF.)
9. (LOU) DISAFFECTION WITH PRESIDENT'S FORMULAS WAS
EVIDENT BY MORNING LIGHT AND CEREMONY WAS DELAYED TO
2 PM. PRESIDENT ARRIVED AN HOUR LATER TO INFORM
GATHERED DIPLOMATS, CLERGY AND POLITICIANS FROM HIS
CIRCLE THAT, IN THE ABSENCE OF THE TWO PRIME
. MINISTERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER PARTIES, HE
COULD NOT PROCEED WITH INVESTITURE. AFTER REFERRING
TO MEETINGS HE HAD HELD WITH PRIME MINISTER DESIGNATE
AND UNDERSTANDING DERIVED FROM THOSE MEETINGS
REGARDING POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY, HE THANKED CLERGY AND DIPLOMATS, ESPECIALLY
THE SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE BOOH
BOOH, FOR THEIR ADVICE AND PATIENCE.
10. (U) HABYARIMANA THEN INDICATED HIS OPENESS TO
FURTHER SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO LAUNCH THE GOVERNMENT.
HIS BRIEF MESSAGE ENDED WITH A PLEA TO MEDIA TO TEACH
UNITY RATHER THAN DIVISION AND A CALL TO ALL
RWANDANS, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, REGION, OR ETHNIC
GROUP, TO KEEP STRIVING FOR PEACE. THE PRESIDENT'S
SUBSEQUENT REMARKS IN KINYARWANDA TRACKED CLOSELY
WITH HIS SPEECH IN FRENCH.
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KIGALI 00792 02 OF 03 251045Z
11. (C) IN A BRIEF ASIDE AFTER CEREMONIES, UN FORCE
COMMANDER DALLAIRE TOLD AMBASSADOR THAT ESCORTED RPF
CAR HAD BEEN ATTACKED EVENING 2/22 NOT BY RWANDAN
ARMY BUT BY PARTY MILITIA. RPF CAR WAS CARRYING
OFFICIALS WHO HAD TRAVELLED NORTH TO MEET DELEGATION
OF RPF DIGNITARIES COMING TO INSTALLATION CEREMONIES
BUT, HAVING MISSED THE RENDEZVOUS, WAS RETURNING TO
KIGALI. THE GENERAL SAID THE ATTACK WAS BY GUNFIRE
AND GRENADE; HE CONFIRMED CASUALTIES AS TWO WOUNDED.
COMMENT
12. (C) THE DELIBERATE ATTACK ON MINISTER GATABAZI
AND THE UN-ESCORTED RPF CONVOY ARE AGAIN EXAMPLES OF
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CONFIDENTIAL
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ACTION AF-01
KIGALI 00792 03 OF 03 251046Z
OASY-00
COR-01 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01
H-01
EUR-01 HA-09
EB-01
DOEE-00 DS-00
ADS-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
L-01
10-16
INR-00
SNP-00
PRS-01 P-01
PA-01
PM-01
OMB-01
USIE-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00
SS-00
SR-00
/044W
RPE-01
293C94 2510472 /38
0'231613Z FEB 94
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5796
INFO AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY
. AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY
' USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY.
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION GENEVA
USDA() YAOUNDE CM
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-SAA//
INFO LOG-00
DODE-00
TEDE-00
01C-02
SP-00
. ASDS-01
C ONFIDENTIALSECTION 03 OF 03 KIGALI 00792
.CORRECTEDCOPY (ADDED ADDRESSEES)
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02
KIGALI 00792 03 OF 03 2510462
STATE FOR AF/C AND DSS/OP/AF
BUJUMBURA FOR RSO
YAOUNDE FOR DATT
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PINS, ASEC, PHUM, PGOV, RW
SUBJECT: INSECURITY ESCALATES; A KIGALI AND ELSEWHERE
ESCALATING VIOLENCE JUST AS RWANDANS REACH A MAJOR
CROSSROADS ON THE ROAD TO PEACE. ALWAYS BEFORE
RWANDANS HAVE WORKED THROUGH THE VIOLENCE TO REACH A
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NEW COMMON UNDERSTANDING AS A BASIS FOR MOVING
FORWARD. WE HOPE THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BUT ARE
AWARE THAT WITH EACH MAJOR DECISION-POINT, THE STAKES
BECOME HIGHER FOR THOSE IN A POSITION TO LOSE OR GAIN
AS THE PROCESS MOVES FORWARD.
13. (C) WE ARE CONTINUING TO USE WARDEN AND RADIO
NETS TO INFORM ALL AMCITS OF THE SECURITY SITUATION.
WE HAVE INSTITUTED A TWICE-DAILY STATUS REPORTS VIA
RADIO TO THE OFFICIAL COMMUNITY AND ARE KEEPING THE
NON-OFFICIAL AMCITS ADVISED OF THE SAME INFORMATION
VIA THE WARDEN NET. THIS PRACTICE WILL BE MAINTAINED
UNTIL THE SITUATION STABILIZES.
RAWSON
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