Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY335
2008-07-01 14:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

GOG SAYS 11 DEAD AND 147 WOUNDED DURING MAY

Tags:  PGOV ASEC KDEM PMIL GV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7474
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0335 1831429
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011429Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2715
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000335 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC KDEM PMIL GV
SUBJECT: GOG SAYS 11 DEAD AND 147 WOUNDED DURING MAY
MILITARY MUTINY

Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000335

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC KDEM PMIL GV
SUBJECT: GOG SAYS 11 DEAD AND 147 WOUNDED DURING MAY
MILITARY MUTINY

Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D


1. (C) SUMMARY. According to a confidential GoG report, a
total of 11 people were killed, and 147 wounded during the
military mutiny in late May. These totals include 1 civilian
death and 72 civilians injured. The GoG's tally, which comes
from the Ministry of Defense, represents the best casualty
estimate to date, but likely understates civilian casualties.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Although the Government of Guinea has not yet
publicly announced official casualty totals from the military
mutiny in late May, the Chief Medical officer at the Ministry
of Defense (MOD),Abdoulaye Cherif Diaby, privately provided
the Embassy with an official tally. Throughout the course of
the mutiny, which lasted more than a week, soldiers fired
guns into the air. Most injuries and fatalities were the
result of falling bullets. The official figures correspond
only to the mutiny and do not include casualties resulting
from the violent stand-off between the military and the
police on June 17.


3. (C) According to MOD statistics, a total of ten soldiers
were killed including three in Camp Alpha Yaya, five
gendarmes, one soldier in Kindia, and another in Faranah.
MOD lists one civilian death at Camp Alpha Yaya.


4. (C) With respect to injuries, the MOD claims that a total
of 147 soldiers and 72 civilians were injured. Injuries were
reported from Camp Alpha Yaya, Camp Samory Toure, the
gendarmes, the Air Force, the Navy, and army bases in Kindia,
Faranah, and N'Zerekore.


5. (C) Although the official tally only addresses the
military mutiny, Diaby provided some preliminary data on
military casualties resulting from the police strike that
began on June 16. Diaby told Pol LES that three soldiers had
died and that a total of 16 soldiers had been hospitalized.
Of those injured, ten were still in the hospital as of July 1.


6. (C) Diaby commented that the leader of the mutiny, Claude
Pivi (aka Coplan) has visited the military hospital several
times to speak to the victims, and that he is normally
accompanied by General Diarra Camara.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) The MOD's official tally is probably fairly accurate
with respect to military casualties, but understates civilian
casualties. Press reports and second-hand accounts alone
indicate that there were a number of civilian deaths,
including one in Kindia and two in Conakry. END COMMENT.
CARTER