VZCZCXRO3754
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0655 1640957
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130957Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6296
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 000655
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO MOPS ASEC PINR CG
SUBJECT: KABILA REPLACES KISEMPIA AS CHIEF OF CONGOLESE
DEFENSE FORCES
1. (U) Congolese military (FARDC) and Ministry of Defense
officials confirmed June 13 that President Joseph Kabila has
replaced FARDC Chief of Defense Forces General Kisempia
Sungilanga Lombe with General Dieudonne Kayembe Mbandankulu,
effectively immediately. Kabila made the announcement
overnight June 12-13 after presiding over a meeting of the
High Defense Council, immediately before departing on a
multi-day visit to South Africa.
2. (SBU) Kayembe, believed to be in his mid-50s, has been
serving as an officer without function with the FARDC since
2003. His last official posting was a brief tour as director
general of military intelligence (DEMIAP). A native of
Kananga, Western Kasai, Kayembe was raised in Katanga and
received military training in France at Saint-Cyr. A former
officer with the Armed Forces of Zaire (FAZ), he later become
a close and important military adviser to Laurent Kabila.
Kayembe was Vice Minister of Defense in 2001 when Kabila was
assassinated. He was named later that year as deputy chief of
staff of the army.
3. (SBU) Kabila also announced that FARDC Air Forces
Commander General John Numbi was moving to the position of
Police Inspector General, the highest-ranking police
position. Numbi has served as Air Forces Commander since
2001. Born in Katanga province, he went on to become the
operational commander of Laurent Kabila's forces in Maniema
in 1998, and was later named regional military commander for
Kabila in Katanga in 1999. Several human rights organizations
have accused him of committing violations during his military
career. He will replace General Daniel Katsuva, who had held
the position since April 2002, after having served as an
adviser to Laurent Kabila and an officer in the FAZ. General
Rigobert Masamba Musungu will take over as Air Forces
Commander.
4. (SBU) Comment: Kisempia's long-anticipated departure is
welcome as he was viewed by many as a major obstacle to
military reform efforts. Numbi had been mentioned as a
possible replacement for Kisempia, but there are many reasons
why he would have been a controversial choice. The
appointment as Police Inspector General, however, shows that
Numbi remains a powerful figure. Further reporting on these
changes will follow septel. End comment.
MEECE