GUINEA BISSAU:PM FEARS PERSONAL SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 001898 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, INR/AA ACCRA FOR USAID/WA PARIS FOR POL D'ELIA AND DEA HOUSTON LAGOS FOR DEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2016 TAGS: PGOV PU SUBJECT: GUINEA BISSAU:PM FEARS PERSONAL SECURITY Classified By: Charge Jay T. Smith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) NOT A NORMAL CHANGING OF THE GUARD -------------- ¶1. (U) Tensions in Bissau led the Prime Minister to change his security detail on September 15. Members of the Public Order Police were removed from duty and replaced by AK-47 wielding soldiers. The number of men in his detail was doubled and he was given two escort vehicles. President Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira is out of the country. ¶2. (U) Leading up to the change in guard was a peaceful protest of youth in support of beleaguered Interior Minister Baciro Dabo. Dabo allegedly paid youth for the demonstration as a means of holding onto his job, which is in jeopardy. The Party of Social Renovation (PRS),which initially supported his nomination to the post, has reversed course and is now actively lobbying the government for his ouster. ¶3. (U) Police and military have a historical animosity in Guinea-Bissau which occasionally erupts in violence. At a nightclub Sunday night in the Barrio Militar an altercation ended with a police officer being severely beaten and hospitalized. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) It is not clear if Dabo has designs on destabilizing the country, but with his alleged ties to drug traffickers and his thuggish approach to politics, he bears watching. The country remains calm and markets are open but radio commentators are voicing concerns over instability. At least for now, the armed forces seem to be a capable and interested in preserving order and protecting the political leadership. Visit Embassy Dakar's classified website at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/af/dakar. SMITH