VZCZCXRO5458
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0005 0120801
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 120801Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0027
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE
SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

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