PLAUSIBLE REPORTS OF FOREMR ULIMO/LURD MILITIA

S E C R E T CONAKRY 000160

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR AF/W, AF/EX, DS/IP/AF, INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ASEC CASC PINS GV
SUBJECT: PLAUSIBLE REPORTS OF FOREMR ULIMO/LURD MILITIA

REF: CONAKRY 157

Classified By: Political Officer Jessica Davis Ba. Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (S) Post has been working to verify persistent rumors in
Conakry that former ULIMO and/or LURD fighters have been
recruited by Conte confidante Aicha Conneh, widow of LURD
leader Sekou Conneh, to combat direct threats to Conte and
his regime. Poloff spoke with Marguerite Guilavogui
(strictly protect),President of the Macenta branch of the
Mano River Women for Peace Network, who told us that three
truckloads of men, allegedly recruited on the Liberia-Guinea
border, have made their way to Conakry. Guilavogui is a
retired teacher and was program manager for two successful
Embassy Democracy and Human Rights Funds grants to conduct
activities to mitigate conflict and strengthen the capacity
of the women's network. There are ethnic ties between the
Muslim Mandingo in Macenta and on the Liberian side of the
border, and Guineans were among the pool of ULIMO and LURD
recruits. Macenta still plays host to many former ULIMO and
LURD fighters who have settled there.


2. (S) Guilavogui said that groups of former combatants left
from the Liberian side of the border on or about February 6,
after being recruited by Conneh. On their way into Guinea,
the men reportedly raided three villages, with the village of
Wozalowazo (sp?) suffering the greatest damage. The men
broke down the doors to houses, took money and valuables, and
in some cases beat the residents. The men reportedly arrived
in Macenta the night of February 7 at which time they
refueled and assembled provisions, including additional fuel
in plastic containers. Guilavogui said that although fuel is
scarce in Macenta, the men worked with relatives and former
compatriots now living in Macenta, who obtained the
cooperation of military officers to get supplies. She said
that she heard from colleagues that the men arrived in
Conakry and are being housed in two villas owned by Conneh in
Enta, a neighborhood in the close-in suburbs that was the
site of some of the fiercest clashes between security forces
and demonstrators in each of the last three general strikes.


3. (S) Guilavogui told Poloff that in order to preserve
peace, she and others have tried to convince local Guinean
relatives of the purported mercenaries that "it will do no
good to protect these men, because even though you are their
relatives, you will be their first victims." Guilavogui was
hesitant to talk with us about the situation because "The
entire city of Macenta is under threat from militias loyal to
Conneh." She observed that during the January strike,
Macenta was the only municipality where there were no marches
because the community was frightened of militia leaders.
Asked whether she knows if they would target union leaders,
Guilavogui replied that the men "will do what the lady with
the money asks."

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COMMENT
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4. (S) The alleged presence of former ULIMO or LURD
mercenaries has been a topic of speculation in Conakry for
the last two days. Guilavogui's information is plausible,
and corroborates a call made to poloff by CNTG leader
Rabiatou Serah Diallo Wednesday night. Not everyone agrees,
however. DATT reports that senior military leaders staunchly
denied any involvement of Liberian mercenaries or Guinea
Bissau in the internal affairs of Guinea. We will continue
to dig into this story which, if true, has serious
implications.


MCDONALD