GUINEAN MILITARY AWAIT CONCRETE GOVERNMENT ACTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000493 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017 TAGS: PGOV ASEC PINS MARR GV SUBJECT: GUINEAN MILITARY AWAIT CONCRETE GOVERNMENT ACTION REF: CONAKRY 489 Classified By: Political Officer Jessica Davis Ba. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On May 4, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate met with President Lansana Conte to address the military's protest over wages and corruption of senior military officers (reftel). The protests have resulted in at least two deaths and an estimated 72 injuries. After the May 4 meeting of the National Council of Defense and Security, Conte charged the Prime Minister with meeting the Guinean military on his behalf. Kouyate, accompanied by several members of the cabinet, went to Camp Alpha Yaya and was well received by military personnel who aired their grievances. Military representatives spoke of salary inequities, non merit-based promotions, and the injustices and corruption that are demoralizing the troops. After the Prime Minister's appeal, the military agreed to stop firing their weapons in protest and await a concrete response. Since May 4 evening, there has been calm on bases and barracks nationwide. We understand the soldiers expect at least a plan of action by May 7 and, if they do not receive some concrete response, have vowed to restart their protest. End Summary. -------------- --- Prime Minister Designated Conte's Military Envoy -------------- --- ¶2. (C) Prime Minister Kouyate spent the entire morning of May 4 meeting with President Conte about unrest within the military ranks. While senior military officers and civilian leaders claim the protests are a military-military affair, the Prime Minister has taken a lead role in brokering a solution to the crisis. On May 4, there was both a meeting of the National Council of Defense and Security and a special meeting of the Council of Ministers. The minutes from the Council of Ministers meeting state, "After the meeting of the National Council of Defense and Security, the President of the Republic charged the Prime Minister with meeting the National Armed Forces to calmly discuss all the demands and issues being contested." (Note: The government took the unprecedented step to release these minutes to the diplomatic corps, and the government spokesperson gave a summary on the national news.). ¶3. (C) The afternoon of May 4, the Prime Minister, accompanied by Minister of Finance Ousmane Dore, Minister of the Interior and Security Mohamed Bo Keita, and Minister of Youth, Culture, and Sports Baidy Aribot, went to Camp Alpha Yaya -- the large military camp in Conakry that was the site of most of the unrest. According to our sources, the soldiers initially rejected the delegation's visit, instead demanding that Conte himself address them. It was only after the intervention of other military officers that the more junior military personnel accepted the visit. We understand the civilian delegation was met with calm and respect as the Prime Minister insisted that he was there to study the situation and to find a solution. ¶4. (C) Military representatives described their unfit living conditions and decried the shortage of uniforms, outdated equipment, and lack of resources. They demanded promotions that were based on merit instead of secret promotions "conducted in air conditioned rooms" that are based solely on money and relationships. They castigated senior officials for corruption and the embezzlement of funds that were meant for veterans and for soldiers who are "working hard to defend the nation." The Prime Minister and his team listened attentively and promised to convey the soldiers' message to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. General Arafan Camara, Minister of Defense, and the most senior military leaders were not present at the meeting. -------------- Meeting Encourages Temporary Calm -------------- ¶5. (C) The Prime Minister said that while he was not able to meet with soldiers in the bases and barracks throughout the country, he implored those at Camp Alpha Yaya to relay the information about the meeting and to implore their comrades to be calm while they reach a solution. On the nights of May 4, 5, and 6, we received no reports of shots being fired. The two reported deaths occurred on May 3. One soldier was reportedly killed in Labe, after being hit by a stray bullet that had been fired in the air. The second killing was of a civilian security officer guarding a store in N'Zerekore. CONAKRY 00000493 002 OF 002 The night of May 3, military personnel reportedly looted and vandalized private shops in N'Zerekore, several of which stocked mobile phones, cards, and supplies. Nationwide, there are reports that some 72 persons were injured during the military protests on May 2-3. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Guinea's soldiers remained calm over the weekend but are looking for concrete action beginning May 7. While they do not expect the question of salary arrears to be solved in the very short term, they hope to see movement in the direction of making substantive changes in the military leadership. Both mid- and junior-level military officers have told us they will demand the departure of the majority of the heads of units in all branches of the armed forces. If they do not receive at least some initial gesture of goodwill, they have vowed to resume their protest. The implication of the Prime Minister as Conte's envoy indicates that this crisis is not being addressed solely within military channels. Our sources tell us the soldiers will not negotiate with any of the current senior officers, because they believe that all are either complicit or directly responsible for the endemic corruption that is demoralizing the armed forces. It remains to be seen whether Conte and his coterie will accept the changing of the military guard. It is a common belief that it is through these corrupt officials that Conte is able to secure the funds he uses to maintain his lifestyle and political patronage. MCDONALD