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.

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SIERRA LEONE PLAYING BOTH SIDES?
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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.).

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STAYING VIGILANT ON SECURITY
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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.

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COMMENT
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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