COUP APPEARS TO HAVE ROUTED GUINEAN GOVERNMENT -

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000793

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ASEC KDEM GV
SUBJECT: COUP APPEARS TO HAVE ROUTED GUINEAN GOVERNMENT -
TRANSITION DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE

REF: A. CONAKRY 0787

B. CONAKRY 0788

Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D


1. (S) SUMMARY. A military coup launched by elements of the
so-called 19th promotion following the announcement of
President Conte's death (reftels) appears to have succeeded
in routing the government, at least in the immediate term.
The Ministry of Security, which includes the police force,
appears to have joined ranks with the putschists.
Discussions over the shape of the transition continue
although the putschists may have decided on a president and
deputy to lead a transitional council, both of whom come from
the military. The city has generally been quiet, but there
have been reports of gunfire and intermittent, unconfirmed
reports of soldiers being wounded. Embassy has received
reports that PM Souare and National Assembly President
Aboubacar Sompare have been taken into custody. The
situation remains fluid, but calm. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Both Prime Minister Souare and National Assembly
President Aboubacar Sompare issued statements on Radio France
International between 12:00 and 12:30. Souare assured the
population that his government continues to function and that
he was "optimistic about a return to constitutionality."
Sompare said he hoped for a national dialogue to resolve
differences of opinion.


3. (S) Contacts reported that the accountants sent down to
the Central Bank by the putschists had found the bank
"completely cleaned out." They reportedly left a contingent
of guards in order to protect evidence so that they could
consider later using forensic accounting to trace the flow of
funds.


4. (S) Regarding the military seizure of Radio Television
Guinean (RTG) earlier today, a reliable source working at
Radio Familia told PAO that several trucks of soldiers
stormed the building, accusing workers of sabotaging
communications equipment because RTG had only been
broadcasting intermittently throughout the day. The
reporter, who was at RTG at the time, said that the soldiers
manhandled a couple of the journalists and smashed some
telephones. The journalists reportedly insisted that they
had not sabotaged any equipment, and that the reason they
were having broadcast problems was because the electric
company had cut the power supply to the building. The power
was apparently working when the soldiers were there, but they
threatened to return if broadcasts were interrupted again.


5. (S) Around 12:00, contacts reported that several generals
had arrived at Camp Alpha Yaya, including Major General
Diarra Camara (Joint Chief of Staff),Major General Mamadou
Sampil (Deputy Joint Chief of Staff),and Major General
Kandet Toure (Cabinet for Ministry of Defense). Brigadier
General Toto Camara, Army Chief of Staff, was already at the
camp. Source was unclear as to whether or not the generals
had gone to the camp voluntarily. Contact told DATT that
they were still "looking for" Admiral Ally Daffe (Navy),
Brigadier General Bah Sambah (Gendarmes),and Major General
Syllah (Air Force).


6. (S) At approximately 13:45, dozens of vehicles carrying
some one hundred plus soldiers armed with machine guns and
rocket propelled grenades drove onto the RTG complex across
from the Embassy. Members of the police force were also
present. A large group of soldiers entered the building,
reportedly to issue a press statement. Everyone peacefully
departed less than 15 minutes later. As the convoy took off,
a tank slowly rolled onto the scene only to slowly depart
once again after seeing that everyone had already left. A
large contingent of soldiers later returned to RTG at
approximately 16:30, and left again after 15 minutes.


7. (U) According to an internet news site (Guinee24.com),
the military issued a press statement inviting all former
government dignataries to come to Camp Alpha Yaya where they
could be protected. The military spokesperson reportedly
said that the coup organizers had no intention of harming
anyone, and that if potential targets refused the invitation,
the military would not be responsible for any injuries that
might befell them outside the military camp.


8. (S) DCM spoke to the former ministers of security and
foreign affairs over the telephone between 14:00 and 15:00
(former as in up until the coup). The Minister of Security,
Elhadj Madifing Diane, said that coup leaders had achieved

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all of their initial objectives and were in control of the
city and government. At the time of the call, he was with
his men at the main police base in Conakry. Diane said that
during the coup, he allowed his men (police forces) to join
the growing ranks of soldiers and other security forces in
their effort to take over the government. While he
acknowledged that he is no longer the Minister of Security,
Diane said he was still the highest ranking police officer in
the country, and thus his authority is still very much
intact. (COMMENT. In previous discussions with DCM, Diane
indicated that he valued peace and security over all other
considerations, and therefore may have decided to side with
coup leaders once it became apparent that they would easily
sweep any opposition aside. END COMMENT).


9. (S) Amadou Lamarana Bah, former Minister of Foreign
Affairs, told DCM that he is "out of circulation" and staying
at a friend's house near his own home. He said he had no
intention of taking up the coup leaders' offer to present
himself at Camp Alpha Yaya in return for protection. Bah
said that the "did not trust Pivi and his men." He added
that his family had been moved to another location for
safety, although he did not personally feel threatened.


10. (S) DCM also spoke with the PM's Chief of Protocol who
said that Souare was still at his office and remained the
country's prime minister since he had not been dismissed
through an official act. Contact said that the PM did not
personally feel threatened by the events of the day.


11. (S) At 15:30, Embassy received a report that both
Sompare and Souare had been "apprehended" by the putschists.


12. (S) Beginning at approximately 14:30, Embassy started
receiving reports of gunfire at both Camp Alpha Yaya and Camp
Samory Toure. Gunfire had died down by 16:00. According to
a contact, putschists at Camp Alpha Yaya were firing into the
air over an internal disagreement about who should lead the
transitional council. At least three candidates names were
reportedly discussed: Brigadier General Toto Camara, Major
"Idi Amin" Camara, and Army Lt Colonel Konate (Airborne
Battalion). Multiple sources told DATT at approximately
16:30 that the putschists had agreed to have Konate serve as
the head of the Council with Moussa Camara (the spokesperson
for the 19th promotion) as his deputy. Sources also reported
that negotiations had been temporarily suspended.


13. (S) The gunshots at Camp Samory Toure reportedly
occurred during a standoff between putschists and
presidential loyalists. It is unclear whether shots were
fired into the air, or exchanged directly.


14. (SBU) Contacts located outside of Conakry continue to
report that the situation is peaceful upcountry. A contact
with BHP said that one of their vehicles tried to travel to
Conakry today, but was peacefully turned around at Kilometer
36, the main road into the city.

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COMMENT
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15. (S) The coup appears to have succeeded, at least in the
immediate term. Embassy has received a few reports of
soldiers being wounded, but has not been able to confirm
these reports. Youth leaders are worried about how the
transitional government is evolving, and especially concerned
about the selection of Konate as president and Moussa Camara
as deputy. However, there may be some confusion between the
groups as a youth leader's comments suggest that he thought
that Konate had been selected as the new president and Camara
as the new PM. The situation remains unsettled, but
relatively calm, with negotiations expected to continue into
the night and possibly longer as various actors try to shape
the transition. Civilian contacts have been quiet, but may
be waiting for things to settle down before they start
asserting their demands. Embassy continues to closely
monitor the situation.
RASPOLIC