63. Memorandum From Harold
Horan of the National Security Council Staff to the
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1
2
Washington, August 9, 1973
SUBJECT:
- Burundi Problem—A Response of African Leadership
Attached is an information memorandum (Tab I) to you from State reviewing
recent developments concerning Burundi, some of which I have reported as
briefing items.
The memorandum makes two essential points. First, the leaders of
Tanzania, Rwanda and Zaire have all promised assistance in guaranteeing
the security of Burundi’s borders against further incursions by
dissident Hutu refugees in their countries. The Government of Burundi
has consistently maintained that the killings of Hutu inside Burundi
have been the result of threats and attacks by these refugees against
the Tutsi. Hopefully, State’s memorandum observes, in return for
guaranteeing the security of Burundi’s borders, its neighbors will
demand that the Government of Burundi find a non-violent solution to its
ethnic problems.
Secondly, President Mobutu’s
leadership in recent meetings with the others was critical and has added
to his stature in Africa.
[Page 2]
Tab I
Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the
Department of State (Pickering) to the President’s Assistant for National
Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Washington, August 8, 1973
Subject:
- Burundi Problem—The Response of African Leadership
In accordance with our policy to persuade African leaders and the
OAU to take responsibility for
finding a lasting political solution to the genocidal conflict in
Burundi, we approached various African leaders on the problem of
Burundi and have received generally favorable responses. President
Mobutu of Zaire invited
Presidents Micombero of Burundi, Habyalimana of Rwanda and Secretary
General Ekangaki of the OAU to a meeting in Goma, Zaire, to
discuss the problems of tribal strife and border friction. The
result of the meeting was a general agreement by the three countries
to work together to ease border tensions and to attempt to find a
non-violent solution to the ethnic strife. Both Rwanda and Zaire
have taken steps to prevent Hutu refugees from making armed
incursions into Burundi.
Following the meeting at Goma, President Mobutu accompanied President
Micombero to Dar Es Salaam for a meeting with President Nyerere. The purpose of this
meeting was to resolve the problem between Burundi and Tanzania
resulting from recent strikes by the Burundi Army against Hutu
refugees in Tanzanian border villages. Bands of refugee rebels had
been making raids into southern Burundi. As a result of the strikes
into Tanzania, however, Tanzanian dockworkers had been boycotting
all goods bound to or from Burundi. At the meeting, the Burundi
Government acceded to Tanzanian demands that the GOB admit it had
violated Tanzanian territory, apologize, and pay compensation to the
victims. In return, the Tanzanian Government agreed to end the
boycott and to move the remaining refugees to a resettlement camp
away from the border.
[Page 3]
The role of President Mobutu
in these meetings was critical as he not only initiated and hosted
the meeting at Goma, but accompanied the Burundi delegation to Dar
and dictated Burundi’s acceptance of Tanzanian demands over the
objection of Burundi’s Foreign Minister. The Government of Zaire has
been very concerned about the Burundi problem and has indicated that
in its opinion, the long term solution for the problem in Burundi
must involve gradual democratization of the political/social
structure with guarantees for the Tutsi minority to prevent a
massacre by the majority Hutu. The GOZ has emphasized its intent to work with the
Government of Rwanda and Burundi to push economic development in the
area thus alleviating some of the economic and social stresses
underlying the ethnic strife.
President Mobutu’s
initiatives overshadowed the visits of Secretary General Ekangaki of the OAU and a mission representing
President Gowon of Nigeria,
present President of the OAU.
Although the role of this OAU
representation was rather passive in the meetings, their presence
served to underscore the concern of African leadership with the
problems of Burundi. The leaders of Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zaire all
promised their assistance in guaranteeing the security of Burundis
borders against further incursions by dissident refugees in their
countries. The Government of Burundi has consistently maintained
that the killings of Hutu inside Burundi have been the result of
threats and attacks by rebel Hutu in neighboring states. Hopefully,
in return for guaranteeing the security of Burundi’s borders, the
African leaders will demand as a quid pro quo efforts by the
Government of Burundi to find a non-violent solution to its ethnic
problems.
