EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 7

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000236 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018 TAGS: PGOV PMIL ASEC GV SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 7 REF: A. CONAKRY 0224 - 0229 ¶B. CONAKRY 0231 Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (C) Embassy sources close to the negotiations report that things are "much better." Negotiations have reportedly ended for the day and the prime minister is expected to make an announcement this evening on the national news network. Sources indicate that the mutineers will likely release General Sampil from custody tonight. ¶2. (C) Caleb Kolie, a recently returned beneficiary of our Foreign Press Center Tour and the Information Director at Radio Familia FM, a private radio station, told PAO this afternoon that Claude Pivi, also known as Koplan, had called into his morning talkshow. Koplan claims to be the spokesperson for the mutiny. According to Kolie, Koplan is a charismatic leader who is well known within the military. Koplan reportedly spoke to Kolie on the air and encouraged the soldiers to stay in their barracks and stop looting the city. He went on to say that the government's accession to the mutineers' demands was a good start and that the soldiers should remain calm. While he was on the air, two other soldiers reportedly called in and said that the government's offer was not good enough, and that they were concerned that some soldiers were being arrested. ¶3. (C) Kolie told PAO that once the interview was over, Prime Minister Souare called him and asked how he could get in touch with the mutineers, and then asked Kolie to visit him in his office. Kolie said that when he arrived at the PM's office, Souare was already in the middle of a meeting with political parties. The PM reportedly interrupted the meeting in order to meet privately with Kolie, and then asked Kolie to call Kaplan so that the PM could speak with him. According to Kolie, Kaplan was not happy about speaking with the PM. Kolie described the PM's conversation with Kaplan as "tense." He said that Koplan shouted at the PM and was rude while Koplan insisted that not all of the demands had been met. Koplan reportedly said he wanted the promised 5 million GnF per soldier paid out immediately, and that he was unhappy with the rice subsidy issue. Kolie said the PM told Koplan that he would meet all of his demands, and that the government would issue another statement this evening. ¶4. (SBU) There have been occasional incidents of sporadic gunfire, but the situation remains calm. ¶5. (SBU) At 13:30, Pol LES reported that a grenade had exploded in Cosa, not far from LES' private residence. LES arrived on the scene shortly after the explosion and was told by the gathered crowd that three soldiers were killed, and another injured, when the grenade exploded. Subsequent information revealed that the soldiers, who were reportedly drunk, were arguing over the goods they had stolen when one of them pulled the pin on the grenade. The DAO chauffer reported that he saw the wounded body being evacuated on the roof of a taxi. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The situation remains calm and Embassy continues to monitor the situation closely. Negotiations appear to be progressing calmly. END COMMENT. CARTER