US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1940

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