South African Diplomat Shot

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000005

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/12
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL OFDP CG
SUBJECT: South African Diplomat Shot

CLASSIFIED BY: Willaim J. Garvelink, Ambassador, STATE, Embassy
Kinshasa; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) Summary: Elements of the Republican Guard shot South
African diplomat Maryse Ash early morning December 4, as she
departed the GDRC Presidential Compound. She sustained direct and
indirect wounds from small-arms fire. Ash was stabilized first in
a Kinshasa hospital, then evacuated on December 6 for further
medical treatment in South Africa. While the assault brought
short-term tension to the SA-DRC bilateral relationship, the attack
in the heart of the peaceful diplomatic quarter reinforces the need
for vigilance on the part of USG personnel in Kinshasa. End
summary.




2. (C) How could this happen? In her account to South African
officials, Ash contested GDRC reports that she drove through a
checkpoint barrier. Some sources suggest she was driving under the
influence of alcohol and inadvertently approached too close to a
Republican Guard roadblock. Realizing where she was, she quickly
hit the brakes and shifted gears into reverse possibly waking or
startling guards at the roadblock who immediately opened fire.
Another plausible scenario suggested by other analysts is the
guards took the opportunity of Ash's miscue to protest salary
arrears in an incident which immediately grabbed the attention of
the GDRC and expatriate community (Note: The incident was not
covered in Congolese press but was covered in South African media.
End note). Ms. Ash, who has a right-hand drive vehicle, said she
believes she would have been killed had she been driving a
left-hand drive vehicle based on the location of bullet impacts on
her car (Note: DRC is a left-hand drive country. End note). The
government of the Republic of South Africa reportedly expressed
their views in the strongest terms to the GDRC. Boniswa
Ramalebana, First Secretary at the South African Embassy in
Kinshasa, told us it was necessary for the South Africans to
strongly protest the attack, lest "the DRC think they can attack
any diplomats with impunity."




3. (C) Injuries: Ash, a political officer in her late 20s and one
week from departing for her next assignment, sustained serious
facial wounds from broken glass and shattered debris from her
vehicle, which sustained heavy damage from multiple bullets. In
addition to those indirect injuries, a bullet grazed her face.
After returning to South Africa, she underwent plastic surgery to
repair facial injuries on December 7. Doctors indicated that,
although her injuries were not life threatening, she will suffer
permanent scarring.




4. (C) Comment: Damage to the SA-DRC bilateral relationship is
apparently short-lived, but the break in discipline by the DRC's
elite Republican Guard was surprising. The incident itself
underscores a potential danger to expatriates traveling in
Kinshasa's Gombe district. Although it is generally crime-free,
the presence of armed Republican Guard elements at selected
locations around GDRC facilities and the lack of clear rules of
engagement can make movement in the area hazardous. Considering
that Ms. Ash was attacked while likely in a vehicle with diplomatic
plates -- which are easily distinguishable from regular plates --
reveals either a troubling lack of attention to detail or blatant
disregard for diplomatic status on the part of GDRC security
forces. The U.S. Embassy has advised its employees to remain
vigilant and cautious when traveling in the vicinity of GDRC
facilities, particularly at night. End comment.
GARVELINK