EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 14

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000254 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018 TAGS: PGOV PMIL ASEC GV SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 14 REF: A. CONAKRY 0223 - 0228 ¶B. CONAKRY 0231 - 0233 ¶C. CONAKRY 0236 - 0253 Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (U) There was a visible lessening of tension in the streets over the weekend as Conakry residents ventured out to take care of regular business. Gas stations, some of which were under the protection of the president's military forces, opened to the public. Many stores were open, and there was increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic. There were no further reports of gunfire after celebratory shooting within the camps the evening of May 30. On Sunday, Guinea hosted Zimbabwe for its first qualifying match for the soccer World Cup, which ended uneventfully with neither team scoring. The airport is operating normally. ¶2. (C) Negotiations between the mutineers and the GoG continued through the weekend. At about 17:00 on Friday, May 30, a delegation of mutineers went to Camp Samory Toure to meet directly with President Lansana Conte. Conte reportedly told them that he agreed that there were some issues that needed to be addressed and that he would negotiate with them. However, he asked them to go back to the barracks, restore calm to the city, and pray for forgiveness and reflection over the weekend. The president told the mutineers to come back at 10:00 on Sunday, June 1 to resume negotiations. ¶3. (C) However, when the mutineers (approximately 35 in number) returned on Sunday to resume negotiations, they were told that the president would not be meeting with them, and that they should instead proceed to meet with GoG negotiators on the third floor of the Ministry of Defense. Reportedly fearing that they would be arrested, the mutineers resisted negotiations without the president. The mutineers eventually held a meeting with Army Chief of Staff General Diarra Camara, and after several hours, Conte agreed to meet with them around 15:00 at Camp Samory Toure. ¶4. (C) According to sources, the mutineers had changed their demands once again. They apparently backed off the demand for all senior military officials to retire, and were requesting promotions for mutineers. Conte reportedly agreed to promote all the leaders of the mutiny by at least one rank. He told them that their demands would be met and they should return to Camp Alpha Yaya. He reportedly promised that the GoG would continue negotiations at Alpha Yaya on Monday at 10:00. As the mutineers were leaving Camp Samory Toure, they waved their weapons in the air and cheered. ¶5. (C) On May 30, all soldiers received the initial 1 million GnF payment, which is part of the promised 5 million, in addition to their regular salary normally paid out on the last day of the month. CARTER