Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY164
2007-02-11 08:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  PGOV PINS ASEC AEMR CASC GV 
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VZCZCXRO4154
OO RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0164/01 0420843
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 110843Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0630
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHFT/GOLFCO MSGBN AMCONGEN FRANKFURT GE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2/J5// IMMEDIATE
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
-----------------------------

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