SITREP NO. 35: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 12, 1330 GMT

S E C R E T CONAKRY 000170 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS FOR AF/W, AF/EX, DS/IP/AF, CA/OCS PLEASE PASS ALSO TO PEACE CORPS, ALSO FOR AID/AA TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF AFRICAN NATIONS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 TAGS: PGOV ELAB ASEC CASC PINS AEMR GV SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 35: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 12, 1330 GMT REF: CONAKRY 169 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Political Officer Jessica Davis Ba. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Possible mutiny/coup attempt ongoing. ¶2. (S/NF) Violent disturbances continue in Conakry and in the interior of Guinea, largely clashes between security forces and civilians, but we also have reports of military-on-military clashes, which may be related, in part, to the planned coup attempt reported in Sitrep No. 33. Some observers are now referring to a "mutiny." ¶3. (C) Multiple sources confirm a significant disturbance, its exact nature and magnitude unclear, is ongoing at Camp Alpha Yaya, Conakry's main military base not too far from the airport. President Conte reportedly spent last night in the camp. When he promoted large segments of the armed forces by at least one rank this morning, those disgruntled soldiers who were not promoted protested. To appease them, Conte extended the order, promoting the entire armed forces one rank. However, there is continued unrest in the camp. ¶4. (S) According to unconfirmed reports, just after Conte left, ten to twenty lower-ranking soldiers seized control of the weapons and ammunitions warehouse and began distributing arms to officers, some of whom do not usually carry weapons. We have several eyewitness reports, including from FSNs who live near the camp, of three to five armored vehicles that left the camp in the direction of downtown. They also report seeing some soldiers marching with the people and joining their chants of "freedom, freedom." ¶5. (S/NF) We also have credible reports of fighting at Camp Samory Toure in downtown Conakry, the site of the Ministry of Defense, the Offices of the Chiefs of Staff, and the residence of First Lady Henriette Conte. It appears that when Conte announced the promotions at Camp Alpha Yaya, some soldiers fired their weapons to celebrate. This confused the coup-plotters. Those at Camp Samory Toure in downtown Conakry reportedly heard about the shooting at Camp Alpha Yaya, thought the coup had begun, and made their move prematurely. ¶6. (S/NF) The situation remains confused and in flux. The military-on-military fighting is continuing, with some of the military apparently making common cause with the civilian population. The leaders of the coup attempt are reportedly meeting now at Camp Alpha Yaya. DAO will report more details through his channels. ¶7. (C) Targeted attacks continue in Conakry and in the interior on property associated with Conte and his regime. In a suburb of Conakry, residents ransacked the house belonging to one of Conte's daughters, taking everything including her car. In N'Zerekore, the governor's residence was set on fire and huge crowds were headed toward Hotel Mt. Nimba, owned by Conte confidant businessman Guido Santullo. ¶8. (C) The presidents of Guinea's National Assembly, Supreme Court, and Economic and Social Council, convoked union leaders to the Palais du Peuple for a meeting at 1200 hours. The meeting is unlikely to take place since some union representatives said they could not get there due to security concerns, and the rest said they refused even to try. MCDONALD