SITREP NO. 4: MILITARY UNREST, MAY 14, 1530 HOURS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000534

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2017
TAGS: PINS ASEC CASC GV
SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 4: MILITARY UNREST, MAY 14, 1530 HOURS
GMT

REF: CONAKRY 529 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Conakry remains calm. Traffic patterns are normal.
Schools, shops, stores, and offices are open. Some
businesses in the Matam district, the site of looting on the
night of May 12-13, remain closed.


2. (C) This morning, May 14, Minister of Defense General
Arafan Camara formally relinquished his position to General
Bailo Diallo at a brief ceremony at Camp Samory Toure in
downtown Conakry where the Ministry of Defense is located.
The turnover unfolded without incident.


3. (C) At about the same time, General Diarra Camara, newly
appointed Chief of Defense Staff, arrived in Conakry by road
from Kankan. He is supposed to succeed General Kerfalla
Camara at a ceremony tomorrow morning, May 15, also at Camp
Samory Toure.


4. (C) According to unconfirmed reports, on the night of May
13-14, Chinese-trained commandos arrested six military
personnel identified as leading the protest movement. In
addition, according to MOD sources, approximately 100
military personnel have been arrested for looting and
incarcerated at the Red Berets barracks in downtown Conakry.


5. (C) The anti-gang police informed the RSO that they will
conduct joint police-military patrols to prevent renewed
looting. The civilian police will patrol the warehouse
districts, but they will step aside and let the military deal
with any military looters. (There is a long history of
rivalry between the police and military in Guinea, and the
police do not want to find themselves in the position of
arresting military personnel. We wonder why the paramilitary
gendarmes are not playing this law-enforcement role rather
than the civilian police twinned with the regular military.)


6. (C) This morning, May 14, additional Chinese-trained
soldiers arrived at Camp Alpha Yaya. These soldiers have
reportedly said they will be responsible for escorting
President Lansana Conte to Camp Alpha Yaya to speak with
other military personnel tomorrow.


7. (C) While the civilian population has remained relatively
silent over the last week, the union confederation issued a
statement on May 11 urging the military to pursue dialogue
and non-violent protest in the pursuit of its goals. Prime
Minister Kouyate echoed this sentiment in his address to the
nation on May 12. The Prime Minister emphasized the
concessions the government has made in response to the
soldiers' demands. Kouyate implored the soldiers to make any
legitimate demands solely through non-violent means. He
deplored the current escalation that has already resulted in
six deaths, 70 persons injured, and significant property
destruction.


8. (C) During a brief conversation with the Ambassador this
morning, Prime Minister Kouyate intimated that President
(General) Lansana Conte was now taking the lead in resolving
this dispute within the military. That said, we detect that
the rank-and-file are beginning to lose confidence in
President Conte, who has stood them up repeatedly.


9. (C) The U.S. Mission remains open and fully staffed. All
American are safe. We continue to monitor the situation
closely.
MCDONALD