GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER? PART I: CAMARA

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000602 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (RENUMBERING PARAGRAPHS) DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL LY SL SUBJECT: GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER? PART I: CAMARA REF: A. FREETOWN 598 ¶B. CONAKRY 796 Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1/4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) is cautiously establishing some linkages with the Guinean junta, including a meeting between President Koroma and Vice President General Mamadouba Toto Camara following Lansana Conte's funeral on December 26. Emboffs learned on December 28 that Head of State Captain Moussa Dadis Camara will be traveling to Freetown on December 29 to meet with Koroma himself. The GoSL has neither publicly supported nor decried the coup that brought Moussa Camara to power, and current willingness to host bilateral talks is likely an effort to support the sub-region's current state of relative calm. Though violence has yet to erupt on either side of the border, Sierra Leone security forces are preparing for contingencies. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed diplomatic corps members on December 29 that Libyan leader Moammar Qadhafi will be arriving December 30, ostensibly to also meet with Camara. End Summary. -------------- SIERRA LEONE PLAYING BOTH SIDES? -------------- ¶2. (U) Koroma's attendance at Conte's funeral was outlined in a State House press report released December 26. His public statements echoed the GoSL's position of condolence without judgment, saying "the late President was a pillar of support for the Mano River Union, a great source of strength for ECOWAS." He also said that "whatever affects one country affects the other...it's also our loss." When asked about the new regime, he stated "I'm just getting to know them...we believe the new administration should remain engaged with the people and should remain engaged with the international community. Any transition should be peaceful and democratic." Koroma met with Vice President Camara and other junta members prior to departing Conakry. ¶3. (C) Koroma's careful public statements thus far, which neither support nor reject the new regime, are not mirrored in private discussions. On December 26, an emergency meeting of the National Security Council Coordinating Group (NSCCG), which includes high-level representation from across Sierra Leone's security sector, was called to discuss the possible threats facing Sierra Leone as a result of the coup. The GoSL's true position on the coup was stated during the course of the meeting; according to a UN source present at the meeting, Sierra Leone will support the stance taken by ECOWAS and the AU against the coup. It was also stressed that any bilateral agreement made between Sierra Leone and Guinea is superseded by multilateral agreements made in response to the coup. ¶4. (C) DCM received word from Koroma's personal assistant on December 28 that the President will meet with Camara on December 29 in Sierra Leone. Camara will reportedly travel by road for the visit, which may take place in Freetown or closer to the border in Kambia. This was confirmed by the Foreign Minister at a December 29 diplomatic corps meeting. The meeting also confirmed media reports that a Libyan delegation, including leader Moammar Qadhafi, will descend upon Freetown December 29 and 30, for the unspoken purpose of meeting with Camara (Note: Details septel.). -------------- STAYING VIGILANT ON SECURITY -------------- ¶5. (C) As reported reftel A, the security sector is taking action to address internal and external security concerns. Besides deploying platoons of Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to border areas and increasing visible patrols, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have activated intelligence-gathering cells in the border areas and activated the National Joint Command Center in Freetown, and Incident Command Centers in all border regions. With regards to refugees, reception centers are being established in Kono, Kambia, Bombali, Kamakwie, and Kailahun. ¶6. (C) According a UN source, SLP and the Office of National Security (ONS) are particularly concerned about ex-fighters and combatants mixing with the expected refugee population. Should violence break out in Guinea, it is possible that ex-combatants will recruit fighters from the pool of refugees. Also, if Sierra Leoneans cross the border to profit from or participate in a Guinean conflict, the refugees might be used to conduct acts of reprisal. The refugee camps themselves will be situated at least 30 miles away from the border. ¶7. (C) At the NSCCG meeting on December 26, representatives stated their concern about Ousmane Conte, son of Lansana Conte and notorious drug trafficker. Their information suggests that he has not/not been invited to join Guinea's interim government, nor is likely to be invited into that fold later. This is contrary to information provided in reftel B from Conakry reporting that Conte is closely linked to Camara's National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD). ONS officers fear that Ousmane Conte, if isolated from the seat of power, will use his considerable resources to launch a counter-coup. This raises the possibility of an increase in the drug trade in the sub-region to bankroll his expenses. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) The GoSL is currently in an awkward position, clearly showing a desire to avoid antagonizing the junta, while also remain in favor with the international community and multilateral partners. Given Guinea's AU suspension and regular calls from the U.S. and other allies for civilian rule to be restored, Sierra Leone will likely be called upon soon to join the voices condemning the military coup. Indeed, behind closed doors, GoSL representatives state that this is their position. At the same time, however, Sierra Leone has a strong familial attachment to Guinea and many businesses here are owned by Guineans. The GoSL may be the best-placed Mano River Union (MRU) government to encourage the CNDD leadership to focus on democratic principles, especially given Sierra Leone's credibility with regards to elections thanks to the peaceful transition of power between the main political parties in 2007. To our knowledge, Sierra Leone is the first MRU country to plan a face-to-face meeting with Camara. In the untenable position of being a friend to all, Sierra Leone is also preparing for possible violence, knowing all too well how quickly peace can dissolve into bloody, protracted conflict. End Comment. PERRY