ONGOING FARDC OPERATIONS TO IMPROVE SECURITY IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001940

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2015
TAGS: MARR PGOV CG
SUBJECT: ONGOING FARDC OPERATIONS TO IMPROVE SECURITY IN
KATANGA


Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d.


1. (U) Despite some press reports suggesting otherwise, there
has been no significant increase in the number of internally
displaced persons in Katanga province, DRC. Ongoing
government military operations (which began over 6 weeks ago)
against Mai Mai elements headed by renegade leader Gideon
apparently are close to drawing to a close, with Gideon and
his remaining men (estimated at possibly 500-800) pretty much
contained in one area of the northern part of the province.
MONUC political officers (based in Lubumbashi, capital of
Katanga province) are not sure where the widely-quoted figure
of 50,000 persons supposedly displaced as a result of
fighting comes from, but say that the total number of
displaced likely is closer to 5,000 than 50,000.


2. (C) Comment: The operation against Gideon, a
particularly vicious and uncontrollable thug, is long
overdue. He and his men have been responsible for the rape
and murder of hundreds of Congolese citizens in northern
Katanga, and that number probably is considerably higher. It
was Gideon's men, for instance, who attacked workers from
Medecin Sans Frontiers and caused that organization to cease
operations in the province. The government (through the local
Vice Governer and the National Security Advisor) had tried to
negotiate Gideon's surrender, but when he temporarily held
one of the negotiators (a local priest) hostage, the talks
broke down and the government decided on military action.
The operation probably is being overseen by AIR FORCE
Commander General John Numbi, who has been in Lubumbashi for
at least the last ten days, and is the man considered by the
President to be responsible for military security in Katanga.
Eliminating Gideon would be an important step in stablizing
the province in the run-up to the DRC's first democratic
elections in 45 years, scheduled to take place early next
year.
DOUGHERTY