EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 12

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000247 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018 TAGS: PGOV PMIL ASEC GV SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 12 REF: A. CONAKRY 0223 - 0228 ¶B. CONAKRY 0231 - 0233 ¶C. CONAKRY 0236 - 0245 Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (SBU) The streets of Conakry are quiet this morning, and there have been no reports of gunfire. Stores, markets, and fuel stations remain closed. There are a few people on the streets waiting for taxis, but the roads are virtually empty due to lack of transportation. Poloff saw children and teenagers in school uniforms walking to school. ¶2. (SBU) The Red Berets (presidential guard) and gendarmes continue to maintain a military checkpoint at the Castro Bridge, which controls access to the downtown area. Police forces have joined the presidential loyalists at the Bridge, and are helping to enforce the checkpoint. Security forces are screening vehicles before waving them through the checkpoint. The police brought two Mamba vehicles (similar to a Humvee, but enclosed, with no mounted weapons),and the gendarmes have another Mamba stationed at the bridge. Local and international press has reported that tanks were deployed to downtown Conakry yesterday, but Embassy has not observed any such deployment. ¶3. (C) Late yesterday afternoon, approximately 15 trucks of army Rangers, who were initially trained by the U.S. military several years ago, arrived in Conakry from Kankan and Kindia to reinforce the Red Berets and other presidential loyalists. According to sources, a group of mutineers attempted to march towards the presidential palace yesterday afternoon and again this morning, claiming that they wished to speak with the president. They were reportedly turned back both times by the Red Berets and the Rangers. ¶4. (C) Gunfire reportedly continued through the evening yesterday, finally ceasing around 22:30. There have been some reports of soldiers wounded, but no indications of serious bloodshed. It appears that even when the presidential loyalists and mutineers engaged yesterday, most of them still shot into the air. One soldier told an Embassy official that "these are our brothers." There were no indications of continued criminality, such as mugging and looting, yesterday. ¶5. (SBU) As of yesterday afternoon, reports from contacts and Amcit wardens throughout the country indicated that the local situation was calm in most areas. There were still some issues in Faranah (Upper Guinea),with reports of intermittent gunfire, but local authorities said that negotiations with the military were continuing. In Boke (Northern Maritime Guinea),local authorities described the situation as calm, but indicated that they had also been engaged in peaceful negotiations with the military. An Amcit warden reported that there was "a lot of gunfire" overnight in Macenta (Forest Region),but did not have any more specific information. ¶6. (C) According to sources, Army Chief of Defense General Camara and Army Chief of Staff General Kaba are currently back at Camp Samory Toure. General Sampil is still being held by the mutineers at Camp Alpha Yaya. ¶7. (C) Embassy has received a report of several gendarmes being arrested by mutineers. One of the detained gendarmes reportedly told RSO LES that armed mutineers were at gendarmerie stations this morning in Hamdallaye and Matam (districts of Conakry) when they demanded that ten gendarmes from each station support the mutineers. They reportedly told the gendarmes that the mutineers are fighting for all military personnel, but that they didn't have any gendarmes within their movement. The gendarmes reportedly went with the mutineers under threat of gunfire. The gendarme also told RSO LES that while returning to Camp Alpha Yaya, the mutineers encountered a police vehicle. They reportedly seized the vehicle after demanding that all the police personnel vacate it. ¶8. (C) Sources confirmed press reports that Major Korka Diallo, who was in charge of military finances, died in a local hospital from wounds inflicted during a May 26 attack by mutineers. (COMMENT. It is unclear whether Diallo was severely beaten and/or actually shot. END COMMENT) ¶9. (S) According to contacts, presidential loyalists (including the Red Berets and the Rangers) have taken up positions around Camp Alpha Yaya in an effort to contain the mutineers. There have been reports of attacks on the camp, CONAKRY 00000247 002 OF 002 but there has been some intermittent gunfire, which is likely from soldiers firing into the air. RSO surveyed the south side of the camp this morning, but did not see any military taking position on that side. ¶10. (C) An LES staff reportedly spoke to one of the self-proclaimed leaders of the mutineers, "Koplan," who said that the mutineers' demands have not been met. He said that they want the top generals to come meet with them at Camp Alpha Yaya by 10:00, although he did not say what the mutineers might do if that demand is not met. (COMMENT. Embassy does not know if Koplan has communicated this alleged demand to the GoG). ¶11. (SBU) There has been very little coverage of the mutiny in the local broadcast media, which is the most likely avenue of information for the average Guinean. Army Chief of Defense General Camara did make a second announcement on the national news network, Radio Television Guinean (RTG), yesterday evening essentially reiterating that the GoG had reached a satisfactory agreement with the mutineers. He asked that all the mutineers return peacefully to their barracks. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (S) We may be getting a clearer picture of which elements of the military are involved in the mutiny. It appears that most of the Red Berets, the Rangers, and the Gendarmes are supporting the president. The mutineers' support seems to be coming largely from the rank and file of the army. Embassy estimates that the mutineers probably total somewhere between 3000 to 4000 soldiers while the presidential loyalists are more likely in the 2000 to 4000 range. While the mutineers may have the advantage in terms of numbers, the presidential loyalists probably have the technical advantage in terms of access to heavy equipment, ammunition and fuel. END COMMENT. CARTER