CIVIL UNREST CONTINUES IN CONAKRY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000670

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV ELAB PREL GV
SUBJECT: CIVIL UNREST CONTINUES IN CONAKRY

REF: A. CONAKRY 0663

B. CONAKRY 0668


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Although the night was relatively quiet
in Conakry, protestors and security forces were already
mobilizing at 0700 for renewed demonstrations at key traffic
intersections throughout the city. Embassy continues to
receive reports of protest activity, including tire burning,
road blocks, and gunfire. Police and gendarmes are
responding to the situation, and the military remain confined
to their barracks. The GoG does not appear to have
coordinated a response, essentially delegating crisis
management responsibilities to the new Minister of Security.
Available information suggests that these protests are random
and spontaneous, but the continued lack of security may
encourage other groups to take advantage of the civil
disorder to advance their own agendas. END SUMMARY.

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PROTESTORS DESTROY LOCAL POLICE COMMISSARIAT
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2. (SBU) During yesterday's demonstrations (reftels),police
reportedly arrested about 50 protestors and detained them at
a local police commissariat in Cosa. Youths in the area
banded together and attacked the commissariat, breaking down
the doors to release the detainees. They then completely
destroyed the building. A new, reportedly unarmed police
recruit was inadvertently killed during the melee. (COMMENT.
This death is likely the same one reported yesterday in
reftel B. END COMMENT).

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RELATIVE CALM THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT
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3. (SBU) The situation in Conakry was relatively calm
overnight after a day of sporadic demonstrations across the
city. LES staff reported hearing gunfire throughout the
night, although there were no reports of large gatherings or
other demonstrations. Embassy employees driving home
yesterday evening saw evidence of rock throwing and tire
burning, as well as broken glass and road blockages. Groups
of youths were sitting by the roadside. Market stalls along
the Bambeto traffic circle had been completely destroyed.
Government officials went on national radio last night,
encouraging citizens to remain calm and join together in
peace. The Minister of Education was on air earlier in the
day encouraging parents to keep their children home from
school. Airport contacts report that all flights came in as
scheduled and that the aiport remains open.


4. (SBU) Two members of the Embassy's contracted guard force
were reportedly robbed while walking on the T2 road between
Bambeto and the Embassy. They were stripped down to their
underwear and robbed of everything they were carrying,
including 180,000 GnF ($37.50) and a cellular phone.


5. (SBU) At approximately 1700 yesterday, an Embassy staff
member was attacked after leaving the Embassy, while walking
towards Bambeto. One of the demonstrators reportedly stabbed
him in the arm with a pair of scissors, and the employee
returned to the Embassy for medical treatment.

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RENEWED DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE MORNING
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6. (SBU) Protestors began mobilizing again on Tuesday
morning, and police and gendarmes were out in full force. At
07:00, RSO staff reported seeing 40 police deployed to the
Bambeto traffic circle and 20 police along the Rue de la
Prinze leading to the Hamdallaye traffic circle. On his way
into work, DATT saw approximately 75 gendarmes at Hamdallaye
Circle patrolling towards Bambeto. He also saw a large
police contingent along Rue de la Prinze, including members
of the specialized MAMBA unit, who were clearing debris from
the road and working their way towards Hamdallaye. A GSO
staff member reported seeing a large group of armed police
walking on the T2 road towards Bambeto.



7. (SBU) By 0800, Embassy employees could hear gunfire
coming from the Bambeto traffic circle, which is located
about a half a mile from the Embassy. ECON LES, who must
walk through the circle to get to work, reported that one
person had already been shot.


8. (SBU) DATT reported that at 0940, police and gendarmes in

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Hamdallaye had started firing their weapons. There were
unconfirmed reports of two dead and several injured. The
youths had reportedly moved from the area and were heading
down the road to the Touiyah market.


9. (SBU) As of noon on Tuesday, Embassy continued to receive
reports of civil disturbances, road blockages, and sporadic
gunfire from various parts of the city.

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SECURITY POSTURING
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10. (SBU) The GoG beefed up security this morning around the
national public broadcast station, Radio Television Guinean
(RTG),which is located across the street from the Embassy.
The guards were wearing helmets and carrying light weapons,
actively dispersing youths who were congregating near the
building.


11. (SBU) A convoy of 14 military trucks reportedly went
into Camp Boiro (located in the downtown area) around 0900.
The military continue to remain in the camps and have not
attempted to intervene in the civil disturbances. The
Minister of Defense has reportedly restricted travel of
military personnel through Saturday. General Camara, the
Chief of Defense, told DATT to assure the American Charge
that the military will observe its constitutional role and
let the police handle local security.

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RELATIVE QUIET IN THE INTERIOR
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12. (SBU) Embassy contacts in cities throughout the country
indicate that the civil unrest is currently limited to the
capital. In Kindia (two hours away),a contact reported that
the local population is unhappy with the new fuel price, but
that they are not yet ready to demonstrate. A contact in Labe
(six hours away) said that the city is calm, but that there
is no fuel available locally. He noted that the population
is "waiting for a signal from Conakry" before reacting.
Despite riots over the weekend, the Boke region remains calm.
However, a contact indicated that residents of Kola Boundji
(a town between Kamsar and Boke) are threatening to block the
roads and railroad if the GoG does not provide them with
water and electricity. Contacts in N'Zerekore (Forest
Region),Siguiri (Upper Guinea),and Koundara (on western
border with Senegal) indicate that all is calm, but people
are unhappy about fuel prices. Similar sentiments were
reported from Kankan, which has also reportedly experienced a
general slowdown in regular economic activities.


13. (SBU) Military contacts in the interior also reported
that the situation is calm, but said that they have increased
military patrols and canceled weekend leave. They told DATT
that they have been instructed to use force if the civilian
population begins to attack government buildings.

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GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
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14. (SBU) The Guinean Government has not coordinated a
response to the security situation, essentially leaving the
crisis to the Minister of Security, who was just appointed to
his position a few weeks ago. The Chief of Defense told DATT
that he had not received any instructions from the
government, and that he had already visited the prime
minister twice before 1000 this morning. A youth leader told
DATT that he had met with the Director General of the Police
yesterday evening to try and encourage mediation and
restraint. The Police DG reportedly told contact that he had
been instructed by the "highest authority" to maintain a
police presence and ensure order.


15. (SBU) The leader of Haal Pular, an ethnically based
organization closely tied to the Peuhls, told POL LES that he
accompanied the Minister of Security this morning to meet
with local elders and young protestors in Bambeto. They
reportedly encouraged the elders and the youths to work
together to resolve the situation and restore calm.
(COMMENT. Many of the demonstrations are taking place in
predominantly Peuhl neighborhoods, such as Bambeto and
Hamdallaye. Haal Pular is closely linked to Prime Minister
Souare, who is Peuhl. END COMMENT).

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INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

CONAKRY 00000670 003 OF 003


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16. (SBU) DATT met with representatives of the French,
German, and Spanish embassies yesterday evening. They all
expressed concern about the situation, agreeing that it was
likely to escalate over the next few days. They noted that a
number of youths had been severely beaten by the security
forces and suggested that the protestors may be prompted to
retaliate with more violence. The Spanish representative
said that his embassy would be closed on Tuesday, although
both the French and the Germans said that they planned to
open as usual. Embassy was able to confirm that the Germans
did open on Tuesday morning, but a German diplomat said that
they are "nervous."

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CIVIL SOCIETY
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17. (SBU) Diplomatic contacts suggested that union leaders
may soon take an official position in this crisis. Embassy
sources report that the labor unions have not yet been able
to meet, but that they are scheduled to get together at noon
today. Union leader Rabiatou Serah Diallo left for Geneva
last night to attend an International Labor Conference.


18. (SBU) POL LES contacted several youth leaders who claim
that they and their organizations have nothing to do with the
protestors in the streets. One prominent leader said that he
would be joining the labor union meeting later today in order
to encourage calm, and to establish a group of civil society
leaders who can negotiate with the government on behalf of
the population.

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COMMENT
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19. (SBU) Available information suggests that the protests
are currently more random and spontaneous in nature. Key
Embassy contacts throughout civil society (including youth
leaders),the military, opposition political parties,
etcetera claim to be completely uninvolved. The unions tend
to respect the letter of the law, providing a
pre-notification of strike and then an actual notification of
strike before taking action. Although various contacts have
been advocating for change over the past several months, they
tend to prefer to first organize a core group of committed
supporters, articulate a clear agenda with specific
objectives, and then move forward, usually within the
confines of the law.


20. (SBU) The general lack of security in Conakry is
emboldening criminal elements and making citizens uneasy.
Markets are closed, traffic is blocked, and the city has
essentially shut down. While the protests currently appear
largely unstructured, the GoG's lack of a coordinated
response could prompt other civil and/or military groups to
take advantage of the civil disorder to advance their own
agendas. As the demonstrations continue, the potential for
violence increases.


21. (SBU) Embassy convened an EAC at 0830 (reported septel).
Many locally engaged employees were unable to get to work
this morning and the Embassy is operating with under a
reduced staffing pattern. The EAC agreed to cancel the
Embassy's election night celebration later this evening. END
COMMENT.
RASPOLIC