CALM RESTORED, NEW GOVERNMENT MOVES FORWARD

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000798

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KDEM PHUM GV
SUBJECT: CALM RESTORED, NEW GOVERNMENT MOVES FORWARD

REF: A. CONAKRY 0787

B. CONAKRY 0788

C. CONAKRY 0789

D. CONAKRY 0793

E. CONAKRY 0796

F. CONAKRY 0797


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Captain Moussa Dadis Camara has assumed
control of the government, proclaiming himself president of
the Republic of Guinea. The Council for Democracy and
Development (CNDD) appears to be successfully consolidating
and reinforcing its authority, although internal
disagreements over the power structure continue. Civilian
leaders seem to have accepted the CNDD and have started
dialoguing with the new government regarding the need for a
swift transition to a democratically elected civilian
government. The country is calm with a normal level of
public and commercial activity in the capital. The CNDD
appears to be in the process of defining itself and the
government, presenting a critical window of opportunity for
the international community to influence events. END SUMMARY.

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CAMARA DECLARES HIMSELF PRESIDENT
--------------


2. (U) President Conte's death on December 22 sparked an
immediate military coup d'etat shortly after an official
announcement at approximately 02:00 on December 23 (reftels).
By the evening of December 24, the coup plotters had
successfully seized control of the government and advised the
population that Captain Moussa Dadis Camara would serve as
the new president of the Republic of Guinea with two vice
presidents, Brigadier General Mamadou "Toto" Camara and Lt.
Colonel Sekouba Konate. The new Council for Democracy and
Development (CNDD),comprised of 32 members including
President Camara and the two vice presidents, has been
serving as the defacto government since the morning of
December 23.


3. (U) The situation in Conakry throughout the coup was
relatively calm, although tense. The city gradually started
to return to normal activity on December 25 as fuel stations
reopened and citizens began venturing out of their homes.
After initially electing to cancel or divert regularly
scheduled flights, commercial airlines began flying in and
out of Conakry again on December 25, including AIR France.
By December 27, vehicle and pedestrian traffic had returned
to normal levels, and most businesses were open as usual.


4. (U) There were reports of heavy gunfire the evenings of
December 24, 25, and 26, most of which seemed to be the
result of military personnel firing into the air, either to
celebrate, or to enforce a curfew. On December 26, the CNDD
ordered the military to stop firing their guns, and
threatened to summarily execute, without benefit of a
judicial process, any soldier responsible for killing another
individual. The gunfire quickly abated and Embassy has not
received any reports of such shooting since the December 26
announcement.

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PRESIDENT CONTE LAID TO REST
--------------


5. (U) The Charge went to First Lady Henriette Conte's
residence at Camp Samory Toure on December 25 in order to
offer official condolences for the president's death. Charge
then attended the president's public funeral on December 26,
which was also attended by the presidents of Liberia,
Guinea-Bissau, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and the African
Union. The funeral continued throughout the day, ending with
the burial ceremony at the president's village of Wawa,
located approximately 45 kilometers outside the capital.

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FORMER GOVERNMENT CEDES POWER
--------------


6. (SBU) Late in the evening of December 24, the CNDD
invited former Prime Minister Souare and his ministers to
report to Camp Alpha Yaya within 24 hours, which generated a
number of inquiries to the international community, including
Embassy, regarding political asylum. Available information
suggests that some African embassies may have offered
temporary refuge to former government officials. Souare and
his government reported to Camp Alpha Yaya on December 25 at
12:00 where they were formally relieved of their duties. The

CONAKRY 00000798 002 OF 003


former Minister of Decentralization, Naby Diakite, told
Poloff that the meeting "went very well," and that he
personally no longer felt threatened. During the meeting,
Souare reportedly called Camara "Mr. President," and offered
his services, and those of his ministers, to the CNDD in
whatever capacity needed, saying that they all wanted to work
for a better Guinea.

--------------
CIVILIANS ACCEPT NEW LEADERSHIP
--------------


7. (SBU) The civilian reaction to the installation of the
CNDD has been generally positive. Sidya Toure, a former
prime minister and head of the opposition Union FORCE
Republican (UFR) political party, told Poloff that "the
transition is perhaps not as elegant as we would have wished,
but we are moving forward." A high-level contact within the
Rally for the Guinean People (RPG) opposition party told Pol
LES that the RPG is ready to work with the CNDD and will push
to have elections as quickly as possible, certainly before
the end of 2009. Guinea's labor unions declared their
support for the CNDD and requested that it allow a return to
regular labor activities, which the CNDD had banned upon
seizing power. Various other civil society organizations,
including several human rights organizations, have also
expressed their willingness to work with the CNDD,
emphasizing the need for a quick return to civilian
government through democratic elections.


8. (U) The CNDD invited civil society representatives to a
meeting at Camp Samory Toure on December 27, which was widely
attended. Embassy will continue to follow up with civil
society leaders for reactions to the meeting.

--------------
REACHING OUT TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
--------------


9. (SBU) The CNDD also invited international community
representatives to a meeting on December 27, which was
subsequently rescheduled several times, and then ultimately
postponed until December 30. Embassy plans to attend, as do
representatives from other diplomatic missions. Charge is
hosting a meeting for the diplomatic corps to meet several
members of teh CNDD and to discuss various concerns on both
sides.

--------------
MOVING FORWARD
--------------


10. (U) Over the course of the weekend, the CNDD issued a
number of declarations as the government continued to take
shape. Beginning December 24, the CNDD instituted a
city-wide curfew between the hours of 20:00 and 06:00, which
they later suspended for the funeral, reinstated, and then
ultimately suspended again in acquiescence to local leaders'
requests. On December 25, the CNDD declared that all
provincial governors and prefects were dismissed and were to
be replaced with local military officers; also that secretary
generals of existing ministries were to temporarily take
control of their respective ministries until new ministers
could be named.


11. (U) On December 25, the CNDD appointed Lieutenant
Colonel Konate as the "provisional" Minister of Defense, and
on December 27, appointed Brigadier General Toto Camara as
the Minister of Security and Civil Protection. (COMMENT.
Both of these officers were previously appointed as the two
vice-presidents. They are now going to serve in both
positions until new appointments are made. END COMMENT).

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


12. (SBU) The CNDD appears to be consolidating and
reinforcing its authority, although internal disagreement
over the power structure continues. The civilian population
seems to have generally accepted the CNDD with many contacts
saying that they fully expected the military to step in and
take control when the president died. They are looking for a
swift civilian transition, but it as yet unclear what they
expect a civilian transition to look like, or how hard they
are willing to push to get one. The CNDD has reached out to
the international community and requested assistance. The
situation is fluid with the CNDD seeming to be in the process

CONAKRY 00000798 003 OF 003


of defining itself and the government, presenting a critical
window of opportunity for the international community to
influence events. Embassy is submitting a proposal for a USG
policy strategy via septel.
RASPOLIC