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

S E C R E T CONAKRY 000170

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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