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,

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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.

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COMMENT
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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