Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY167
2007-02-12 05:41:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
SITREP NO. 33: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 12, 0630 GMT
how-toVZCZCXRO4435 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHRY #0167 0430541 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 120541Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0635 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2/J5// IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHFT/GOLFCO MSGBN AMCONGEN FRANKFURT GE IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T CONAKRY 000167
SIPDIS
NOFORN
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: 02/12/2017
TAGS: AEMR PINS ASEC PGOV CASC GV
SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 33: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 12, 0630 GMT
REF: A. CONAKRY 166
B. CONAKRY 165 AND PREVIOUS
C. AMB/OPSCENTER TELCON
D. 02/11/07
Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
---------------
MISSION POSTURE
---------------
S E C R E T CONAKRY 000167
SIPDIS
NOFORN
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: 02/12/2017
TAGS: AEMR PINS ASEC PGOV CASC GV
SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 33: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 12, 0630 GMT
REF: A. CONAKRY 166
B. CONAKRY 165 AND PREVIOUS
C. AMB/OPSCENTER TELCON
D. 02/11/07
Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
MISSION POSTURE
--------------
1. (C) As of 0600 hours, Feb. 12, the U.S. Embassy is
staffed with the following personnel: AMB, DCM, OMS, POL,
CONS, MGT, FMS, IPC, ITC, RAO (2),AID, RSO (2),and RST
(14).
2. (C) All other personnel and eligible family members
(EFMs) are at standfast at their respective residences.
3. (C) On Feb. 11, the Chief of Mission requested deployment
of an ESAT (ref A). We expect deployment later today, Feb.
12, via milair of the four additional U.S. military personnel
required to transform the current RST into a full ESAT.
4. (SBU) The U.S. Mission remains on Authorized Departure
for EFMs.
5. (C) EAC will met at 0700 hours to review security posture.
--------------
SITUATION ON THE GROUND
--------------
6. (C) Conakry is still dark and asleep. No vehicular
traffic; little pedestrian traffic. There is palpable
anxiety, however, as Guinea braces itself for the renewal of
the general strike this morning. Union leader Ibrahima
Fofana has now publicly called for President Lansana Conte to
step down. Fofana stated that President Conte has not
respected the January 27 strike settlement agreement. He
said the labor unions are simply expressing the will of the
people.
7. (U) At least 59 people were killed in strike-related
violence in January. Approximately 23 more deaths have
occurred since violent protest erupted on the night of Feb.
9-10 following the appointment of Prime Minister Eugene
Camara.
8. (C) Crowds have destroyed the homes of several current
and form ministers as well as other senior government
officials in Conakry, Kankan, Siguiri, Labe, Kindia, and
N'Zerekore (details follow).
9. (C) Government officials, e.g., governors, prefects,
subprefects, police, and gendarmes, have departed some areas
of the country, most notably the Fouta Jallon region. More
and more government officials are absent, scarce, or lying
low.
--------------
COUP ATTEMPT
--------------
10. (S/NF) Further to reftelcon, the attempted coup d'etat
has not yet taken place as of 0630 hours, but DAO reports
that the plan is still active and a coup attempt could be
imminent.
MCDONALD
SIPDIS
NOFORN
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: 02/12/2017
TAGS: AEMR PINS ASEC PGOV CASC GV
SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 33: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 12, 0630 GMT
REF: A. CONAKRY 166
B. CONAKRY 165 AND PREVIOUS
C. AMB/OPSCENTER TELCON
D. 02/11/07
Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
MISSION POSTURE
--------------
1. (C) As of 0600 hours, Feb. 12, the U.S. Embassy is
staffed with the following personnel: AMB, DCM, OMS, POL,
CONS, MGT, FMS, IPC, ITC, RAO (2),AID, RSO (2),and RST
(14).
2. (C) All other personnel and eligible family members
(EFMs) are at standfast at their respective residences.
3. (C) On Feb. 11, the Chief of Mission requested deployment
of an ESAT (ref A). We expect deployment later today, Feb.
12, via milair of the four additional U.S. military personnel
required to transform the current RST into a full ESAT.
4. (SBU) The U.S. Mission remains on Authorized Departure
for EFMs.
5. (C) EAC will met at 0700 hours to review security posture.
--------------
SITUATION ON THE GROUND
--------------
6. (C) Conakry is still dark and asleep. No vehicular
traffic; little pedestrian traffic. There is palpable
anxiety, however, as Guinea braces itself for the renewal of
the general strike this morning. Union leader Ibrahima
Fofana has now publicly called for President Lansana Conte to
step down. Fofana stated that President Conte has not
respected the January 27 strike settlement agreement. He
said the labor unions are simply expressing the will of the
people.
7. (U) At least 59 people were killed in strike-related
violence in January. Approximately 23 more deaths have
occurred since violent protest erupted on the night of Feb.
9-10 following the appointment of Prime Minister Eugene
Camara.
8. (C) Crowds have destroyed the homes of several current
and form ministers as well as other senior government
officials in Conakry, Kankan, Siguiri, Labe, Kindia, and
N'Zerekore (details follow).
9. (C) Government officials, e.g., governors, prefects,
subprefects, police, and gendarmes, have departed some areas
of the country, most notably the Fouta Jallon region. More
and more government officials are absent, scarce, or lying
low.
--------------
COUP ATTEMPT
--------------
10. (S/NF) Further to reftelcon, the attempted coup d'etat
has not yet taken place as of 0630 hours, but DAO reports
that the plan is still active and a coup attempt could be
imminent.
MCDONALD