SITREP NO. 31: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 11, 0900 GMT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000164 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR AF/W, AF/EX, DS/IP/AF, CA/OCS PLEASE PASS ALSO TO PEACE CORPS PLEASE PASS ALSO TO AID/AFR TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF AFRICAN NATIONS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC AEMR CASC GV SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 31: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 11, 0900 GMT REF: CONAKRY 161 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- STAFFING OF EMBASSY PERSONNEL -------------- ¶1. (SBU) At 0600 hours, the Ambassador arrived at the embassy, escorted by the RSO. Roads between the Ambassador's residence and the embassy were blocked all day yesterday. The RSO also escorted other personnel critical for operations, i.e., IMO, CONS, and RAO, to the embassy. After 24 hours on duty, the DCM has returned home. All other personnel and family members remain at full standfast at their respective residences. The Ambassador briefed American personnel about the situation by radio at 0815 hours. -------------- SITUATION ON THE GROUND -------------- ¶2. (U) Much debris (concrete blocks, stones, garbage, logs, etc.) remains in the streets following yesterday's violent protests. The areas most affected include Route du Prince, the main four-lane axis through Miniere, Hamdallaye, Kipe, Bambetto, Cosa, and Nongo. As was the case yesterday, barricades have been erected this morning on Route du Prince, on Taouyah Road, and in the vicinity of the airport. The streets remain clear, however, from Bellevue Circle to Kaloum, i.e., downtown Conakry, at the tip of the peninsula. ¶3. (U) There have no large disturbances so far this morning. There is almost no vehicular traffic. All stores and shops remain closed. ¶4. (U) Contrary to internet media reports, as of 0900 hours, the military has not/not deployed heavy equipment at key points around the city to dissuade protesters. ¶5. (U) As of 0900 hours, the security forces (police and gendarmes) have not positioned personnel at key intersections but have deployed some vehicles on patrol. ¶6. (C) Yesterday afternoon, February 10, Minister of Information Boubacar Yacine Diallo halted broadcasts by Radio France Internationale (RFI) on local FM, claiming that RFI reports were inciting violence. The government pulled the plug on RFI after the radio station reported that President Lansana Conte's bodyguards had killed two students as his motorcade attempted unsuccessfully to leave town. RFI and other news reports are available by shortwave and the internet. The government's efforts to control the flow of information reflect its authoritarian heritage dating back to the days of Sekou Toure. The government's efforts to control information are largely futile given the population's access to alternative sources of information. ¶7. (U) The airport remains open, but few flights are operating. Air France canceled its flight yesterday. We do not yet know the status of its flight tonight. -------------- POLITICAL UPDATE -------------- ¶8. (C) It remains uncertain whether yesterday's protests and looting will flare up again today. Most observers are focusing instead on tomorrow, Monday, February 12, and expect large demonstrations and perhaps another mass protest march as on January 22. ¶9. (C) On February 9, former Prime Minister Sidya Toure, a key opposition leaders, told the Ambassador that neither the opposition political parties nor the labor unions control the protesters. He claimed that, out of desperation, the people have now taken things into their own hands and are not being controlled or manipulated. He insisted that the people want regime change, i.e., President Conte's departure. They will not be satisfied, he said, with lesser changes, such as a new prime minister and a new council of ministers. Sidya Toure echoed a sentiment that we are hearing more and more: Conte must go; he must resign or he will eventually be deposed. ¶10. (C) French Ambassador Jean-Michel Berrit told the CONAKRY 00000164 002 OF 002 Ambassador on February 10 that France remains very worried about the deteriorating situation in Guinea but has limited influence here. He intimated -- but did not say so outright -- that France would not object to President Conte's ouster, be it by constitutional means or by the military. -------------- SECURITY POSTURE -------------- ¶11. (U) The U.S. Mission remains under Authorized Departure for eligible family members. ¶12. (C) Post remains at full standfast. All USG personnel and private American citizens have been advised to remain at home, except for the handful of personnel at the embassy. We have no reports of Amcits in trouble as of this writing. No Americans or other expatriates have been targeted, though several Lebanese-owned stores were looted yesterday. ¶13. (C) We are monitoring events closely. Post management is in frequent contact with core EAC members. We are reviewing our security posture on an ongoing basis. MCDONALD