EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 10

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000243 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018 TAGS: PGOV PMIL ASEC GV SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 10 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. (C) SUMMARY. There have been reports of an increased military presence outside the military camps, roadblocks manned by presidential loyalists, as well as possible movements of mutineers. Visual evidence suggests that there is some truth to these reports, but the extent of military movements, and from which elements, remains unclear. Some contacts, including the PM, are beginning to talk about a possible coup attempt. At the same time, the PM says that the negotiations are going well and that he expects to reach an agreement with the mutineers. A dearth of information is feeding numerous rumors, making it difficult to filter out fact from fiction. Embassy has not received any concrete indication that a coup is underway. END SUMMARY. -------------- INCREASED MILITARY ACTIVITY -------------- ¶2. (C) Embassy has begun receiving reports of an increased military presence outside the military camps. The Red Berets (the presidential guard) are reportedly maintaining their roadblock at the Castro Bridge, which controls access to downtown. They continue to check vehicles, but there are no reports of them preventing commuters from proceeding. Sources report that there are now also several other roadblocks set up throughout the city, which are manned by soldiers presumably loyal to the president. Embassy has received reports of military movements toward the downtown area with soldiers described as wearing older uniforms but heavily armed, no red berets, and no evidence of rank, suggesting that they may be elements of the mutiny. RSO did a short tour of neighborhoods close to the Embassy around 11:30 and did not see any increased military presence. ¶3. (SBU) An American contractor staying at the Hotel Camayenne, which is halfway to downtown, reported that he had been advised by hotel staff to stay in the hotel. Embassy has received reports of tire and vehicle burnings, but has not seen any evidence of such activities. ¶6. (SBU) The main open air market of Medina is closed. Gas stations remain closed. Following reports of increased military activity, the American School closed. -------------- REPORT FROM THE INTERIOR -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The Director of Surety in Faranah (Upper Guinea) told RSO LES that soldiers in the area have been "out of control since yesterday." He reported that one of the soldiers was killed by a higher ranking military officer when the "mutineers" were attempting to raid the armory for ammunition. The Governor of Faranah told RSO LES that he had just come from a meeting where he advised all soldiers to remain calm. He said that he would call the Embassy to advise when "it is safe to travel to Faranah." He did not comment directly on any alleged mutinous activities in the region. -------------- WHO IS BEING HELD -------------- ¶8. (C) Embassy has confirmed with another source an earlier report indicating that the Deputy Chief of the Navy, Colonel Traore, is being held by the mutineers at Camp Alpha Yaya. The reasons for his detention remain unclear, but he was part of the initial negotiation team that went in with General Sampil. -------------- PHONE CALL FROM THE PRIME MINISTER -------------- ¶9. (C) Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare called Ambassador Carter at 11:38 to discuss the current situation. The PM said that he thinks the GoG and the mutineers are moving closer to an agreement. However, he also said that he is getting the sense that there are certain elements taking advantage of the momentum behind the mutiny to possibly organize a coup d'etat. He mentioned that President Conte is CONAKRY 00000243 002 OF 002 currently at Camp Samory Toure, which is located downtown. When the Ambassador asked about the payments to soldiers, Souare said that they were going to start releasing the payments soon, but then interrupted himself to say that they had already started. ¶10. (C) The Ambassador mentioned the incident at the airport yesterday evening with a U.S. support flight. The PM said that the airport is open and apologized for the behavior of what he called "undisciplined" troops. He said the lack of discipline is the root of the problem and that the population does not support the military's actions. The PM said that the mutiny represents an effort to destabilize the government. The Ambassador encouraged the PM to communicate with the population, noting that there has been little official information disseminated as to what is going on. The PM called the Ambassador's suggestion an "excellent recommendation." -------------- RUMORS -------------- ¶11. (C) A dearth of information has given rise to numerous rumors. There is now active discussion of the possibility of a coup attempt, but Embassy has not received any clear indication that a coup is in fact underway. Contacts may provide information that they believe to be fact, but that they may have only heard as a rumor from someone else. Embassy continues to take in information and filter it as much as possible in order to provide an accurate account of the situation. CARTER