TFGV01: SITREP 47: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 21, 2007,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000215

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: 02/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC ELAB PINS AEMR GV
SUBJECT: TFGV01: SITREP 47: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 21, 2007,
1630 GMT

REF: CONAKRY 201 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: PolOff Jessica Davis Ba, Reason 1.4 (b,d)

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Situation on the Ground
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1. (SBU) Conakry is calm, with moderate traffic, and no
security incidents reported today. There is limited public
transportation. Some small shops have tentatively opened
their doors halfway. Most of the larger food markets
continue to extend "backdoor" service. Apart from this
informal market activity, most economic actors continue to
observe the general strike.


2. (SBU) Fuel shortages remain a problem, particularly in
the interior. Several gas stations have been open in Conakry
the last two days. Outside of Conakry, fuel is only
available on the black market at highly inflated prices. In
the Forest Region, Guinea's export ban has made it difficult
for residents and transporters to purchase fuel from
neighboring countries. During prior strikes and when road
conditions cut off the region, people purchased fuel from
Liberia. At present, Liberian suppliers, seeking retribution
for Guinea not making agricultural products available, have
refused to make petroleum products available across the
border.

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Political Update
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3. (SBU) Presidents Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and
Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone spent several hours in
country on February 20. The official purpose of the visit,
as announced on national radio, was for the neighboring heads
of state to learn about the evolution of the crisis and the
present socio-political situation and to reinforce the peace
and security of the Mano River Union region. In her
statement to the press, President Johnson-Sirleaf stated the
presidents had a positive and frank discussion with Conte and
"He is ready to listen to suggestions from all sectors of
society in order to find a solution for peace."


4. (C) During the first part of the meeting, we understand
that Minister of State for Internal Affairs Moussa Solano
made a lengthy presentation about the presence of foreign
infiltrators and their efforts to destabilize Guinea.
Johnson-Sirleaf and Kabbah reinforced the need to maintain
security at the borders, as outlined in existing treaties and
agreements, with zero tolerance for any rebel incursions.
After the larger discussion, the three heads of state spoke
privately. Johnson-Sirleaf and Kabbah reportedly urged a
dignified departure for Conteand repeated some of the same
messages that the Ambassador has delivered in recent days --
if Conte does not concede, there may be a violent transition.



5. (C) Union and religious leaders met February 20 with
military representatives and the Presidents of the National
Assembly, Supreme Court and Economic and Social Council.
National Assembly President Aboubacar Sompare took the lead,
asking (begging) the unions to accept Eugene Camara as the
Prime Minister. Sompare reported that Conte is resisting
appointing a new prime minister, insisting he has already met
union demands. Sompare asked union leaders to work with
other interlocutors to propose a broad consensus government.
In a meeting with PolOff earlier in the day, Rabiatou Serah
Diallo, CNTG General Secretary, said the unions have nothing
personally against Camara and, in fact, had not even
determined an official position on his appointment. (Note:
Due to the state of siege, union leaders have been prevented
from holding meetings.) It is the people who have rejected
Camara, and the population would not allow the unions to
accept him as prime minister, Diallo concluded.


6. (C) Participants in yesterday's meeting reconvened this
morning at 1000 hours at the Palais du Peuple to continue the
dialogue. Taibou Diallo, a member of the union coalition
executive board, called PolOff to ask for advice on how they
should proceed. We recommended that the unions use the
opportunity (and protection) of this sanctioned meeting to
strategize with one another about their priorities, redlines,
and potential areas for compromise or conciliation. We urged
that they broaden their contacts with the military and, if

CONAKRY 00000215 002 OF 002


they had not done so, talk directly with the Prime Minister
as well. At the same time, DATT encouraged our military
contacts to reach out to the unions. We suggested that all
actors need to recognize the role they each play and to focus
on how they might collectively work on stepping back from
both the risk of unrest and/or an untenable longer-term state
of siege.


7. (C) On February 21, Sompare announced that the National
Assembly would be called into session on February 23 at 1000
hours -- the day the current state of siege expires. The
constitution stipulates that only a vote of the National
Assembly can extend a state of siege beyond 12 days. Ousmane
Bah, President of the parliamentary opposition group UPR,
confirmed that all the deputies are expected to attend, but
said that he has not been informed of the agenda. Bah told
us that he suspects the representatives will be asked to
extend the state of siege; a "dangerous" proposition. While
he expressed his concern for a continued state of siege, Bah
said that he expected the majority of deputies, affiliated
with the ruling PUP and associated parties, would back the
measure, even to the detriment of the country.

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Mission Operations
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8. (SBU) The Mission has returned to relatively normal
operations. The majority of the staff is at work. With the
shortage of public transportation, we are providing shuttle
service for key FSNs from some neighborhoods to the Embassy
compound.


9. (U) Consular Section reports a moderate level of American
citizen visits and calls, largely focused on passport renewal
and advice on options.
MCDONALD