Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MASERU109
2009-04-22 11:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:
PRIME MINISTER SURVIVES APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
how-to------------------57BBE1 221130Z /38 O 221133Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY MASERU TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4101 INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY PRETORIA IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY MASERU
C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000109
DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EX, DS/IP/AF, AND DS/IP/ITA
PRETORIA FOR DATT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/22/2019
TAGS: ASEC PGOV CASC LT
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SURVIVES APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
CLASSIFIED BY: Elizabeth C. Power, Deputy Chief of Mission.
REASON: 1.4 (b)
-------------
Summary
-------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000109
DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EX, DS/IP/AF, AND DS/IP/ITA
PRETORIA FOR DATT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/22/2019
TAGS: ASEC PGOV CASC LT
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SURVIVES APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
CLASSIFIED BY: Elizabeth C. Power, Deputy Chief of Mission.
REASON: 1.4 (b)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 22, there was an apparent attempt on the life of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, whose residence borders Ambassador Nolan's residence. Despite heavy gunfire at the residence for approximately 30 minutes, the Prime Minister was unharmed.
Lesotho security forces are investigating the incident and are releasing very little information at this time. Post's EAC has met and confirms that our current security posture is adequate.
--------------
Gunfights across Maseru
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2. (C) At approximately 3:00 a.m., Ambassador Nolan awoke to the sound of heavy gunfire in the Prime Minister's residence, whose back yard borders the back yard of the CMR. RSO spent the next several hours gathering the following information: Several vehicles (the number reported varies),including a lightly armored vehicle, were stolen from the Ratjomose Military Barracks in Maseru. These vehicles were driven to the Prime Minister's residence, where they breached the perimeter gate. As the vehicles entered the gates, the Prime Minister's military guards opened fire on them; the vehicles moved around the entranceway and then departed the grounds. Gunfire continued at the Prime Minister's residence for about 30 minutes.
3. (U) At 3:45 a.m., gunfire was reported at Makoanyane Military Barracks, on the northern outskirts of Maseru. The same vehicles that had left the Prime Minister's residence were reported at the military base. Approximately one hour later, the RSO heard rapid gunfire at her residence on the western side
of town, where apparently the same assailants carjacked a taxi-bus and abandoned the military vehicle. The military police dispatched a helicopter and chased the taxi-bus to the northern part of town, exchanging fire with the vehicle's occupants. Eventually, two of the occupants were killed and the
one survivor was taken into police custody. Police have also taken several other suspects into custody. All gunfire ceased at approximately 8:00 a.m. Forensic investigations continue at the Prime Minister's residence. Two military vehicles, one of which contained 23 assault rifles and several boxes of
ammunition, have been found abandoned outside Maseru.
4. (C) Both Deputy Prime Minister Asao Lehohla and Minister of Communications (and LCD party leader) Mothethjoa Metsing have confirmed that the Prime Minister is alive and well, although
they did not indicate his current location. All suspects involved in these incidents were wearing military uniforms; however, at least one them was rumored to be dressed in a combination of LDF and South African military clothes. One of the suspects who was killed by police has been confirmed to be a
member of the LDF. The remaining suspects' relation to the Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF) is not clear at this time. Police report that the one suspect currently in custody does not speak Sesotho and may be a Zimbabwean national, while press reports indicated that one of the suspects is Mozambican and one is
South African.
--------------
Post Response
--------------
5. (C) Post convened an EAC meeting at 10:15 a.m. to discuss our security posture in light of these incidents. RSO reported that she is in regular contact with Security Unlimited, post's local guard contractor, and GOL security forces, although they are releasing very little information about the events and the status of their investigation. The situation seems to have stabilized, with no further shooting incidents reported, except to the north of town where the GOL continues to pursue suspects.
There is no indication that official or unofficial Americans are targets. Management Officer will revise and circulate post's telephone tree, and RSO will provide an update to the situation prior to staff leaving the Embassy at the end of the day. The official Embassy community has been advised of these events and advised to follow all normal security precautions, carrying their radios and cell phones at all times and reporting any unusual incidents to the RSO. The Consular Officer will clear a warden message for American citizens with CA/OCS/ACS. The EAC agreed that post's current security posture is
appropriate.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) There is no obvious connection between these events and today's elections in South Africa, except that the timing makes it more likely that South African security forces would be preoccupied internally and therefore less available to intervene in Lesotho, as happened in 1998 when the Prime Minister called in the South African military to help put down a coup attempt by the LDF. Although there were several unsuccessful attacks on GOL ministers in 2007, this is the first attack on the Prime
Minister since the 1998 coup attempt.
7. (U) Rumors are now flying wildly about who may have been behind this attack on the Prime Minister, with some implicating the political opposition and others claiming it may have been an internal LCD struggle for power. Post will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
NOLAN
DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EX, DS/IP/AF, AND DS/IP/ITA
PRETORIA FOR DATT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/22/2019
TAGS: ASEC PGOV CASC LT
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SURVIVES APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
CLASSIFIED BY: Elizabeth C. Power, Deputy Chief of Mission.
REASON: 1.4 (b)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 22, there was an apparent attempt on the life of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, whose residence borders Ambassador Nolan's residence. Despite heavy gunfire at the residence for approximately 30 minutes, the Prime Minister was unharmed.
Lesotho security forces are investigating the incident and are releasing very little information at this time. Post's EAC has met and confirms that our current security posture is adequate.
--------------
Gunfights across Maseru
--------------
2. (C) At approximately 3:00 a.m., Ambassador Nolan awoke to the sound of heavy gunfire in the Prime Minister's residence, whose back yard borders the back yard of the CMR. RSO spent the next several hours gathering the following information: Several vehicles (the number reported varies),including a lightly armored vehicle, were stolen from the Ratjomose Military Barracks in Maseru. These vehicles were driven to the Prime Minister's residence, where they breached the perimeter gate. As the vehicles entered the gates, the Prime Minister's military guards opened fire on them; the vehicles moved around the entranceway and then departed the grounds. Gunfire continued at the Prime Minister's residence for about 30 minutes.
3. (U) At 3:45 a.m., gunfire was reported at Makoanyane Military Barracks, on the northern outskirts of Maseru. The same vehicles that had left the Prime Minister's residence were reported at the military base. Approximately one hour later, the RSO heard rapid gunfire at her residence on the western side
of town, where apparently the same assailants carjacked a taxi-bus and abandoned the military vehicle. The military police dispatched a helicopter and chased the taxi-bus to the northern part of town, exchanging fire with the vehicle's occupants. Eventually, two of the occupants were killed and the
one survivor was taken into police custody. Police have also taken several other suspects into custody. All gunfire ceased at approximately 8:00 a.m. Forensic investigations continue at the Prime Minister's residence. Two military vehicles, one of which contained 23 assault rifles and several boxes of
ammunition, have been found abandoned outside Maseru.
4. (C) Both Deputy Prime Minister Asao Lehohla and Minister of Communications (and LCD party leader) Mothethjoa Metsing have confirmed that the Prime Minister is alive and well, although
they did not indicate his current location. All suspects involved in these incidents were wearing military uniforms; however, at least one them was rumored to be dressed in a combination of LDF and South African military clothes. One of the suspects who was killed by police has been confirmed to be a
member of the LDF. The remaining suspects' relation to the Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF) is not clear at this time. Police report that the one suspect currently in custody does not speak Sesotho and may be a Zimbabwean national, while press reports indicated that one of the suspects is Mozambican and one is
South African.
--------------
Post Response
--------------
5. (C) Post convened an EAC meeting at 10:15 a.m. to discuss our security posture in light of these incidents. RSO reported that she is in regular contact with Security Unlimited, post's local guard contractor, and GOL security forces, although they are releasing very little information about the events and the status of their investigation. The situation seems to have stabilized, with no further shooting incidents reported, except to the north of town where the GOL continues to pursue suspects.
There is no indication that official or unofficial Americans are targets. Management Officer will revise and circulate post's telephone tree, and RSO will provide an update to the situation prior to staff leaving the Embassy at the end of the day. The official Embassy community has been advised of these events and advised to follow all normal security precautions, carrying their radios and cell phones at all times and reporting any unusual incidents to the RSO. The Consular Officer will clear a warden message for American citizens with CA/OCS/ACS. The EAC agreed that post's current security posture is
appropriate.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) There is no obvious connection between these events and today's elections in South Africa, except that the timing makes it more likely that South African security forces would be preoccupied internally and therefore less available to intervene in Lesotho, as happened in 1998 when the Prime Minister called in the South African military to help put down a coup attempt by the LDF. Although there were several unsuccessful attacks on GOL ministers in 2007, this is the first attack on the Prime
Minister since the 1998 coup attempt.
7. (U) Rumors are now flying wildly about who may have been behind this attack on the Prime Minister, with some implicating the political opposition and others claiming it may have been an internal LCD struggle for power. Post will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
NOLAN