TFGV01: SITREP 42: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 15, 2007,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000183

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR GUINEA TASK FORCE, AF/W, AF/EX, CA/OCS, DS/IP/AF
PLEASE ALSO PASS TO AID/AFR, PEACE CORPS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC ELAB PINS AEMR GV
SUBJECT: TFGV01: SITREP 42: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 15, 2007,
1715 GMT

REF: CONAKRY 181 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Public Affairs Officer Andrew McLean, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


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Situation on the Ground
--------------


1. (SBU) The streets are calm downtown this afternoon.
There are fewer gun shots heard in the neighborhoods than
there have been in recent days, but there is still occasional
random gunfire, largely firing in the air by military forces
in an effort to keep the population quiescent. There is more
vehicular traffic during the non-curfew hours than there has
been recently and there have been a smaller number of
military patrols. Anecdotal evidence points to a very small
handful of produce stalls open.


2. (SBU) The milair flight scheduled for this afternoon
arrived at about 1610, loaded its 48 passengers (details
provided by e-mail to Dakar and Department) and departed at

1741.

--------------
Diplomatic Update
--------------


3. (SBU) At his meeting with Foreign Minister Conde this
afternoon, Ambassador confirmed that several regional
diplomatic initiatives that have taken place since yesterday
or are upcoming:

-- Yesterday, current ECOWAS Chair President Blaise Compaore
sent Minister of African Integration Somdu Jean de Dieu to
meet with Guinean officials in the lead-up to the
France-Africa summit in Cannes.
-- Ivorian President Gbagbo also sent a representative, Kadep
Bertin, who was accompanied by Mario Giro of the Congress of
the Sant' Egidio.
-- Guinea is expecting former Nigerian President Babangida on
Saturday, Feb. 17. ECOWAS SecGen Chambas will accompany
Babangida.
-- Finally, although no date has been sent, the Foreign
Minister is expecting Liberian President Ellen Johns Sirleaf
and Sierra Leonian President Tejan Kabbah in the near term.


--------------
Political Update
--------------


4. (C) The Ambassador is meeting with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Justice to check on the
status of the investigation of killings during the strike of
June 2006 and January 2007. He will meet subsequently with
Finance Minister Madikaba Camara. He will be making similar
points as made to the PM and General Kerfalla as well
(Conakry 179, 180).


5. (C) The meeting between the government of Guinea and
union leaders is expected to take place this afternoon. Many
union leaders will attend the meeting though they express
fear that it may be a trap, and doubt that much can be
accomplished. One spokesperson has said that a precondition
for further talks is the lifting of the state of siege and
cessation of killings by security forces.

--------------
Mission Operations
--------------


6. (SBU) Post was able to send a vehicle and officers to a
local grocery store, where they filled orders for basic
foodstuffs for distribution to our official staff. Embassy
employees will be able to stock up on basic food items.


7. (C) About 800 pounds of classified pouch arrived on the
milair flight from Dakar.


8. (C) In consultation with Peace Corps Washington, Peace
Corps Conakry has decided to suspend operations in Guinea.
Coniditons do not currently permit the retunr of the 103
volunteers now in training in Mali; we do not know when that
might be possible. Those who has time left on their
assignments will be sent "TDY" to new assignments. If time

CONAKRY 00000183 002 OF 002


permits, they will return o/a June, when they will be joined
by a new intake of education volunteers. The local Pecae
Corps office will remain open and minimally staffed.



MCDONALD