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.

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INCREASED MILITARY ACTIVITY
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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.

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REPORT FROM THE INTERIOR
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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.

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WHO IS BEING HELD
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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.

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PHONE CALL FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
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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."

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RUMORS
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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