EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 8

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000238 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018 TAGS: PGOV PMIL ASEC GV SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 8 REF: A. CONAKRY 0224 - 0228 ¶B. CONAKRY 0231 - 0233 ¶C. CONAKRY 0236 Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. The following reports are a round-up of various events yesterday evening. END SUMMARY. -------------- FLIGHTS DIVERTED FROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT -------------- ¶2. (S) A routine Embassy support flight carrying classified materials landed at Conakry International Airport on May 28 at approximately 19:00. Despite receiving guarantees of security from the host government and the gendarme forces at the airport, three trucks, carrying approximately 45 armed soldiers, from Camp Alpha Yaya drove directly onto the tarmac and demanded to know why a U.S. military aircraft was landing in Conakry and what it was carrying. The soldiers lacked any evidence of rank, and there was no clear commander, suggesting that they belonged to the forces supporting the ongoing military mutiny. ¶3. (S) Embassy officers and the airfield security chief attempted to calm the soldiers, explaining that it was a routine flight carrying diplomatic support materials. The soldiers refused to depart the airfield and maintained an aggressive posture and threatening manner. Embassy directed the aircraft to take off without unloading its cargo. The local press, as well as BBC, is calling it a "mercenary" flight and reporting that it carried weapons to support the Guinean military. ¶4. (SBU) Later that evening, Air France diverted its regularly scheduled commercial flight due to security concerns. Royal Air Maroc and Air Senegal followed suit. The SN Brussels flight landed at the same time as when the U.S. aircraft was on the ground, took on passengers, and departed without incident. -------------- FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER REQUESTS ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶5. (S) The recently fired Minister of Defense, General Baillo Diallo, showed up at the Ambassador's residence, along with his niece, at 20:00 on May 29, seeking USG assistance. He told the Ambassador that he had been in hiding and needed protection because people were hunting for him. General Diallo confirmed that his residences in Dubreka and Conakry had been attacked and looted by the mutineers. The Ambassador asked if the General had reached out to his own government for protection. According to General Diallo, the "politicians" cannot offer him any protection. When the Ambassador asked why the president was not protecting him, General Diallo shrugged his shoulders. The Ambassador told the General that the USG has specific policies on political asylum and could not offer protection. He called the UN Resident Representative to see if the UN might be able to offer assistance, but she also said that the UN was not in a position to provide protection. The General thanked the Ambassador and then left for the Chinese Embassy to see if they could offer him any assistance. -------------- MINISTER OF FINANCE OUT OF THE LOOP -------------- ¶6. (S) Around 21:30, Ambassador Carter was able to connect with Finance Minister Ousmane Dore over the telephone to discuss the current situation. When asked what was happening, Dore said he didn't know and that he had not been part of any of the day's meetings. He said that when the mutiny started a few days ago, he was working with the PM and president later at Camp Samory Toure to respond to the mutineers' initial demands, including the payment of the first installment of the 5 million GnF payment. Dore told the Ambassador that he had signed the authorization for payment on May 27 and given it to the paymaster. ¶7. (S) After leaving the military base around 21:00 on May 27, Dore reported to work at his office on May 28 to conduct business as usual. He said that he was unaware that the mutineers were making further demands and that he had not had any conversations with other senior government officials. At one point, he walked over to Prime Minister Souare's office, CONAKRY 00000238 002 OF 002 but found the PM meeting with political parties. The PM reportedly told Dore that he was too busy to meet with him at that moment, but that he should come back later in the day. When Dore returned in the late afternoon, Prime Minister Souare reportedly told him that he should hide because "people were looking for him." Dore said he packed up his things and went to stay with some friends. ¶8. (S) Dore also commented on President Conte's initial response to the mutineers' demands. According to Dore, the President was firmly against paying out any funds to the mutineers. He said that Conte was equally against the initial payment of 2 million GnF authorized by former Prime Minister Kouyate in January because he was afraid that it would only encourage the soldiers to ask for more money at a later date. After several hours of discussion on May 27, Conte reluctantly agreed to meet the mutineers' demand of an additional 5 million GnF. Dore said that he was there when they called the mutineers and that they could hear celebratory shouting and gunfire over the speaker phone, indicating that the mutineers were satisfied with the concession. Given the day's developments with the mutineers making additional demands, Dore stated that the situation was muddled and confused. He added that there appears to be a power struggle among the military's senior leaders. CARTER