WikiLeaks’s Secret Documents Point to US Concerns over Divisions Kagame’s Inner circle, Terrorism, Repression, and Chinese Influence
WikiLeaks’s Secret Documents Point to US Concerns over Divisions Kagame’s Inner circle, Terrorism, Repression, and Chinese Influence
WikiLeaks’s Secret Documents Point to US Concerns over Divisions Kagame’s Inner circle and Repression
Photo: Ms. Victoire Ingabire, one of the opposition leader imprisoned in Rwanda.
The US State Department’s secret documents leaked by WikiLeaks and obtained by AfroAmerica Network show that the US Embassy in Rwanda was asked to collect information on Rwandan political and military leaders and opposition figures and groups. The requested information in a memo from Secretary of State to the Embassies in Kampala, Bujumbura, Rwanda and Kinshasa sent on April 16, 2009, covered the following areas:
I. Regional Issues
A. Democratization and Political Stability
1) Leadership Dynamics (DEPS)
2) Rebel and Militia Groups (SRCC)
3) Democracy and Governance (DEPS)
4) Political Opposition (DEPS)
B. Military and Security
1) Military Developments (FMCC)
2) Weapons Procurement (FMCC)
3) Police and Paramilitary Forces (CINT)
4) GRPO can provide text of this issue.
5) Support to US Military Contingency Planning (HREL)
6) Terrorism (TERR)
C. Societal Challenges
1) Refugees (DEMG)
2) Human Rights and War Crimes (HRWC)
3) Infectious Disease and Health (HLTH)
4) Food Security and Agriculture (FOOD)
5) Economic Stability (ECFS)
D. External Relations
1) Regional Relations (SRCC)
2) International Relations (FPOL)
E. Overarching Issues
1) Media Structure and Availability (INFR)
2) Information Systems and Telecommunications
Infrastructure (INFR)
II. Country-Specific Issues
A. Mineral Resources (ENVR)
B. Genocidal Legacy Issues (HRWC)
Rwanda mostly came at the top of the priority. Among the key issues for which the US diplomats had to collect information were:
• Government attitudes and intentions toward Tutsi survivors, Tutsis operating outside the power elite, Hutus, returning Hutu fighters/refugees, and Twa.
• Indications of increased ethnic tensions that could spark renewed violence.
•Government plans and intentions to counter ethnic violence or genocide; identification of government officials encouraging violence.
•Information on policies concerning human rights, democratization, political inclusion, reconciliation, land ownership and tenancy, and political prisoners.
•Public attitudes toward traditional judicial courts (gacaca) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
•Information on participation in human rights abuses, including extra judicial killings by Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF); paramilitary, including local defense forces; police, security forces; or Tutsi civilians against Hutus.
•Divisions within President Kagame's inner circle and his party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
•Public attitudes toward the FDLR and subgroups; links between those groups and supporters outside the Great Lakes Region.
Also, the documents show concerns for the US regarding the possible infiltration of refugees in the Great Lakes Region by terrorist groups, especially Hizballah and Gulf-based groups:
•Extent to which ethnic, tribal, religious and regional fragmentation could serve to attract international terrorist groups.
•Evidence of transit and safe haven by transnational and regional terrorist groups.
•Vulnerability of populace to Islamic extremism.
•Evidence of domestic terrorist groups.
•Indications of funding from Gulf-based financiers or NGOs.
The documents also show a general concern about Chinese influence in the region, especially in the exploitation of mineral, oil, and other natural resources:
• Details on mining of diamonds, copper, cobalt, uranium, other minerals, and oil extraction: number and location of mines, production statistics and revenue generated, and extent of control given to China and other foreign governments, companies or consortiums; export statistics.
© AfroAmerica Network, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010