Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY290
2008-06-13 06:43:00
SECRET
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
(S) DRUGS, BOOZE AND WOMEN - TOTAL DISORDER AT
how-toVZCZCXRO8507 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHRY #0290/01 1650643 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 130643Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2646 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000290
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC KDEM PREL GV
SUBJECT: (S) DRUGS, BOOZE AND WOMEN - TOTAL DISORDER AT
CAMP ALPHA YAYA
Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000290
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC KDEM PREL GV
SUBJECT: (S) DRUGS, BOOZE AND WOMEN - TOTAL DISORDER AT
CAMP ALPHA YAYA
Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
1. (S) SUMMARY. A new civilian contact claiming to have
been living in Camp Alpha for the past eight years shares
some interesting perspectives on the mutiny and life among
the mutineers. He paints a depressing picture of young,
undisciplined soldiers that bully the local population while
smoking marijuana and getting drunk. He describes splits
between the mutineers and the self-identified leader of the
mutiny, Claude Pivi (aka Coplan),suggesting that we may not
have yet seen the end of unrest at Camp Alpha Yaya. END
SUMMARY.
2. (S) On June 12, Poloff met with Mr. Yaya Diallo, a young
marketing professor and frequent visitor to the Embassy's
information resource center. Diallo has lived at Camp Alpha
Yaya, the heart of the ongoing mutiny, for the last eight
years with his older brother who is a soldier. He claims to
have many friends among the younger soldiers. Diallo spoke
animatedly for more than an hour as he shared insights into
life inside the walls of the camp, interspersing his comments
with what seemed to be bemused laughter at the absurdity of
events. He was eager to talk, but then at the end, asked
that his comments be closely guarded as he did not want to
get himself into trouble.
--------------
COMPLETE DISORDER
--------------
3. (S) Diallo said that there is complete disorder at Camp
Alpha Yaya. He pointed out that most of the mutineers have
very little professional training, many with six months or
less, and that they lack discipline. According to Diallo,
soldiers spend their time and money on marijuana, beer, and
women. He noted that the camp is full of uniformed drug
dealers, many of whom were already drug dealers when they
were recruited into the military. Diallo said that the
initial 1 million GnF payment made to the soldiers on May 30
was spent within a few days, mostly on vices, with a few
soldiers buying motorbikes or paying down debt.
--------------
BULLIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS
--------------
4. (S) With respect to the local civilian community, Diallo
said that everyone is scared of the soldiers and tired of
being bullied. Even before the mutiny, Diallo said that
soldiers would frequently threaten shopkeepers at the small
boutiques just outside the camps, demanding goods for free or
reduced prices. He said that at the first sign of unrest in
the camp, all of the shopkeepers close their doors and take
their products home in order to avoid theft and vandalism.
5. (S) Diallo said he witnessed one soldier threatening a
shopkeeper a few weeks ago after the soldier asked to buy 500
GnF ($.10) worth of cigarettes on credit. When the
shopkeeper refused, the soldier reportedly offered to let him
hold his national identification card as collateral. The
shopkeeper agreed, but after handing over the cigarettes, the
soldier would not give him the identification card. The
shopkeeper protested and the soldier reportedly threatened to
kill him at the next opportunity (such as during civil
unrest). According to Diallo, the day before the mutiny
started, someone warned the shopkeeper who quickly took all
of his merchandise home and closed down shop. The same
soldier reportedly came back to the boutique during the
mutiny, waving his gun, and demanding to know where the
shopkeeper was so he could repay his debt.
6. (S) During the height of the mutiny, Diallo said that the
soldiers were threatening civilians, robbing them, and
otherwise terrorizing them. He said that the soldiers would
throw smoke grenades, which are meant to be defensive
devices. They still pack a small explosion when they are
detonated, and Diallo said a number of civilians were wounded
from such explosions.
7. (S) Turning to the mutineers, Diallo said that many of
them are the same soldiers who fired into crowds of civilians
during the civil unrest of early 2007. He said that the
soldiers who had been detained on Kassa Island for alleged
human rights abuses were released early in the mutiny, and
immediately joined the mutineers at Camp Alpha Yaya. "They
were armed to the teeth the very same day they came back," he
said. Diallo said he also saw at least one armed man in
complete uniform who was participating in the mutiny, but was
CONAKRY 00000290 002 OF 003
not actually a soldier. When asked how he could tell the
difference, he said that during "situations like this,"
everyone knows a secret password so you can identify who is
on your side. According to Diallo, the uniformed man did not
know the password and was therefore not a legitimate member
of the military.
--------------
PROBLEMS WITH COPLAN
--------------
8. (S) Diallo also had much to say about the leader of the
mutiny, Claude Pivi (aka Coplan). He said that President
Conte had given Coplan two brand new pick-up trucks as well
as 50 million GnF ($11,100) in order to "calm him down."
When he realized that Coplan would not be able to afford fuel
for his new vehicles, the president also reportedly gave him
fuel coupons. Diallo said the mutineers have interpreted
Conte's buy off as a sign that the president is scared and
weak. He added that some of the soldiers think they should
take up leadership roles in the mutiny so that they can
similarly benefit.
9. (S) According to Diallo, the mutineers are divided in
their support of Coplan, although they supported him
initially. Diallo said that most of the mutineers are
insisting on the dismissal of the old guard leadership
represented by the senior ranking military officials. When
Coplan backed down on that demand, Diallo said that he lost
significant support, which deteriorated further when Coplan
flaunted his new-found wealth. Diallo added that Coplan has
made it very clear that he considers the president like a
father, and that many of the mutineers do not share this
view. Furthermore, Coplan reportedly suggested that General
Sampil be appointed as the new minister of defense, which
many of the young mutineers object to because Sampil still
represents the old guard.
10. (S) Confirming various reports of Coplan's animist
practices, Diallo said that Coplan frequently wears gris-gris
(talismans). Diallo described a man who sees himself as
invincible, omnipotent. He cited an example from when the
mutineers faced off with presidential loyalists at the Castro
Bridge. According to Diallo, Coplan told the rest of the
mutineers to stay in their vehicles, and that he alone would
get out to discuss matters with the loyalists because
"bullets could not harm him." Diallo said that another of
his friends had recently seen Coplan driving in the city in
his brand new pick-up truck, going the wrong way against
traffic, waving people out of the way.
--------------
LOOKING TO FRIDAY
--------------
11. (S) When asked about the current state of affairs at the
camp and how the situation will develop in the coming days,
Diallo said that he has been hearing rumors that "things will
start up again tomorrow." He added that since Tuesday, the
mutineers have been grumbling and talking about "shooting
again" on Friday (June 13). According to Diallo, the
mutineers are well aware of the teachers' unions' threat to
strike next week and are thinking that they need to make
their move before the teachers do so that the government does
not pay the mutineers' money to the teachers. Diallo said
that if the president accepts to dismiss all the generals, he
may be able to calm the situation.
--------------
THE SPIES AMONG US
--------------
12. (S) Diallo added that anyone coming to Camp Alpha Yaya
from Camp Samory Toure and/or the Ministry of Defense are
viewed with extreme suspicion. "They are all considered
spies," he told Poloff. Diallo said that when General Camara
came to meet with Coplan on June 6, Camara came with five
trucks loaded with army rangers "armed to the teeth," because
he was worried about his personal safety.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
13. (S) This is the Embassy's first interaction with Diallo
as a contact. He came across as well educated and
articulate, and claims to be well plugged in to what is
happening within Camp Alpha Yaya. If his observations are
CONAKRY 00000290 003 OF 003
correct, we could be looking at undisciplined troops under
the influence of alcohol and drugs who believe that they can
essentially get whatever they want because the state is weak.
There may also be a split between Coplan and the mutineers,
which could spark the emergence of another figurehead for the
mutiny. From military sources, we are still hearing that
things are calm and that a resolution is expected on June 13.
END COMMENT.
CARTER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC KDEM PREL GV
SUBJECT: (S) DRUGS, BOOZE AND WOMEN - TOTAL DISORDER AT
CAMP ALPHA YAYA
Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
1. (S) SUMMARY. A new civilian contact claiming to have
been living in Camp Alpha for the past eight years shares
some interesting perspectives on the mutiny and life among
the mutineers. He paints a depressing picture of young,
undisciplined soldiers that bully the local population while
smoking marijuana and getting drunk. He describes splits
between the mutineers and the self-identified leader of the
mutiny, Claude Pivi (aka Coplan),suggesting that we may not
have yet seen the end of unrest at Camp Alpha Yaya. END
SUMMARY.
2. (S) On June 12, Poloff met with Mr. Yaya Diallo, a young
marketing professor and frequent visitor to the Embassy's
information resource center. Diallo has lived at Camp Alpha
Yaya, the heart of the ongoing mutiny, for the last eight
years with his older brother who is a soldier. He claims to
have many friends among the younger soldiers. Diallo spoke
animatedly for more than an hour as he shared insights into
life inside the walls of the camp, interspersing his comments
with what seemed to be bemused laughter at the absurdity of
events. He was eager to talk, but then at the end, asked
that his comments be closely guarded as he did not want to
get himself into trouble.
--------------
COMPLETE DISORDER
--------------
3. (S) Diallo said that there is complete disorder at Camp
Alpha Yaya. He pointed out that most of the mutineers have
very little professional training, many with six months or
less, and that they lack discipline. According to Diallo,
soldiers spend their time and money on marijuana, beer, and
women. He noted that the camp is full of uniformed drug
dealers, many of whom were already drug dealers when they
were recruited into the military. Diallo said that the
initial 1 million GnF payment made to the soldiers on May 30
was spent within a few days, mostly on vices, with a few
soldiers buying motorbikes or paying down debt.
--------------
BULLIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS
--------------
4. (S) With respect to the local civilian community, Diallo
said that everyone is scared of the soldiers and tired of
being bullied. Even before the mutiny, Diallo said that
soldiers would frequently threaten shopkeepers at the small
boutiques just outside the camps, demanding goods for free or
reduced prices. He said that at the first sign of unrest in
the camp, all of the shopkeepers close their doors and take
their products home in order to avoid theft and vandalism.
5. (S) Diallo said he witnessed one soldier threatening a
shopkeeper a few weeks ago after the soldier asked to buy 500
GnF ($.10) worth of cigarettes on credit. When the
shopkeeper refused, the soldier reportedly offered to let him
hold his national identification card as collateral. The
shopkeeper agreed, but after handing over the cigarettes, the
soldier would not give him the identification card. The
shopkeeper protested and the soldier reportedly threatened to
kill him at the next opportunity (such as during civil
unrest). According to Diallo, the day before the mutiny
started, someone warned the shopkeeper who quickly took all
of his merchandise home and closed down shop. The same
soldier reportedly came back to the boutique during the
mutiny, waving his gun, and demanding to know where the
shopkeeper was so he could repay his debt.
6. (S) During the height of the mutiny, Diallo said that the
soldiers were threatening civilians, robbing them, and
otherwise terrorizing them. He said that the soldiers would
throw smoke grenades, which are meant to be defensive
devices. They still pack a small explosion when they are
detonated, and Diallo said a number of civilians were wounded
from such explosions.
7. (S) Turning to the mutineers, Diallo said that many of
them are the same soldiers who fired into crowds of civilians
during the civil unrest of early 2007. He said that the
soldiers who had been detained on Kassa Island for alleged
human rights abuses were released early in the mutiny, and
immediately joined the mutineers at Camp Alpha Yaya. "They
were armed to the teeth the very same day they came back," he
said. Diallo said he also saw at least one armed man in
complete uniform who was participating in the mutiny, but was
CONAKRY 00000290 002 OF 003
not actually a soldier. When asked how he could tell the
difference, he said that during "situations like this,"
everyone knows a secret password so you can identify who is
on your side. According to Diallo, the uniformed man did not
know the password and was therefore not a legitimate member
of the military.
--------------
PROBLEMS WITH COPLAN
--------------
8. (S) Diallo also had much to say about the leader of the
mutiny, Claude Pivi (aka Coplan). He said that President
Conte had given Coplan two brand new pick-up trucks as well
as 50 million GnF ($11,100) in order to "calm him down."
When he realized that Coplan would not be able to afford fuel
for his new vehicles, the president also reportedly gave him
fuel coupons. Diallo said the mutineers have interpreted
Conte's buy off as a sign that the president is scared and
weak. He added that some of the soldiers think they should
take up leadership roles in the mutiny so that they can
similarly benefit.
9. (S) According to Diallo, the mutineers are divided in
their support of Coplan, although they supported him
initially. Diallo said that most of the mutineers are
insisting on the dismissal of the old guard leadership
represented by the senior ranking military officials. When
Coplan backed down on that demand, Diallo said that he lost
significant support, which deteriorated further when Coplan
flaunted his new-found wealth. Diallo added that Coplan has
made it very clear that he considers the president like a
father, and that many of the mutineers do not share this
view. Furthermore, Coplan reportedly suggested that General
Sampil be appointed as the new minister of defense, which
many of the young mutineers object to because Sampil still
represents the old guard.
10. (S) Confirming various reports of Coplan's animist
practices, Diallo said that Coplan frequently wears gris-gris
(talismans). Diallo described a man who sees himself as
invincible, omnipotent. He cited an example from when the
mutineers faced off with presidential loyalists at the Castro
Bridge. According to Diallo, Coplan told the rest of the
mutineers to stay in their vehicles, and that he alone would
get out to discuss matters with the loyalists because
"bullets could not harm him." Diallo said that another of
his friends had recently seen Coplan driving in the city in
his brand new pick-up truck, going the wrong way against
traffic, waving people out of the way.
--------------
LOOKING TO FRIDAY
--------------
11. (S) When asked about the current state of affairs at the
camp and how the situation will develop in the coming days,
Diallo said that he has been hearing rumors that "things will
start up again tomorrow." He added that since Tuesday, the
mutineers have been grumbling and talking about "shooting
again" on Friday (June 13). According to Diallo, the
mutineers are well aware of the teachers' unions' threat to
strike next week and are thinking that they need to make
their move before the teachers do so that the government does
not pay the mutineers' money to the teachers. Diallo said
that if the president accepts to dismiss all the generals, he
may be able to calm the situation.
--------------
THE SPIES AMONG US
--------------
12. (S) Diallo added that anyone coming to Camp Alpha Yaya
from Camp Samory Toure and/or the Ministry of Defense are
viewed with extreme suspicion. "They are all considered
spies," he told Poloff. Diallo said that when General Camara
came to meet with Coplan on June 6, Camara came with five
trucks loaded with army rangers "armed to the teeth," because
he was worried about his personal safety.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
13. (S) This is the Embassy's first interaction with Diallo
as a contact. He came across as well educated and
articulate, and claims to be well plugged in to what is
happening within Camp Alpha Yaya. If his observations are
CONAKRY 00000290 003 OF 003
correct, we could be looking at undisciplined troops under
the influence of alcohol and drugs who believe that they can
essentially get whatever they want because the state is weak.
There may also be a split between Coplan and the mutineers,
which could spark the emergence of another figurehead for the
mutiny. From military sources, we are still hearing that
things are calm and that a resolution is expected on June 13.
END COMMENT.
CARTER