Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA1871
2009-10-13 17:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON GUINEA RECOMMENDS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 001871
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON GUINEA RECOMMENDS
OBSERVATION FORCE AND ARMS EMBARGO
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4. (B) and (D)
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 001871
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON GUINEA RECOMMENDS
OBSERVATION FORCE AND ARMS EMBARGO
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4. (B) and (D)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The October 12 International Contact Group (ICG) on
Guinea discussed the crisis in Guinea and received reports of
"total disorder" within Guinea and "harassment of the
civilian population by a military which wants to impose
itself on the country." "Les Forces Vivres" representatives
gave eyewitness testimony of the massacre and presented a
video showing events at the stadium before the carnage began.
The ICG communiqu recommended creating an International
Commission of Inquiry and an international observer and
protection mission, establishing an arms embargo, and
creating a new transitional authority in place of the
National Council for Democracy and Change (CNDD). ECOWAS has
called a meeting of Heads of State and Government to discuss
Guinea on October 17. END SUMMARY.
ECOWAS AND AU TAKE STRONG STAND AGAINST CNDD
--------------
2. (SBU) The ICG, comprised of representatives from the
African Union (AU),ECOWAS, UN, European Commission, Libya,
Nigeria, Organization of Islamic Conference, Germany, Spain,
Japan, and four of the five permanent members of the UN
Security Council, discussed recent developments in Guinea.
Dr. Mohamed Chambas, ICG Co-Chair and President of ECOWAS,
opened the meeting with a minute of silence in memory of
victims of September 28. Referring to CNDD as a mere
continuation of the repression seen under late President
Lasona Conte, Chambas condemned the CNDD's "irresponsible use
of state power" to suppress civil societies and political
parties exercising rights of free speech and assembly. He
called on the international community to establish a
commission of inquiry and noted ECOWAS' "authority to impose
sanctions for violations of human rights and for the
stabilization of electoral rules." AU Co-chair Ibrahim Fall
spoke more cautiously, asking that any ICG initiative be
"aligned harmoniously with efforts taken by President
Campaore." Fall called on the CNDD to reiterate in writing
promises to refrain from participating in the upcoming
January 2010 elections.
CAMPAORE FINDS TOTAL DISORDER IN CONAKRY
--------------
3. (C) Behind closed doors, Chambas and Fall briefed the ICG
on Campaore's initial findings from his October 6 visit to
Conakry. Campaore had described "ongoing harassment of the
civilian population by a military which wants to impose
itself on the country." According to Campaore's report, he
had never seen such "total disorder" in a city where armed
soldiers and security forces loitered throughout the streets.
Chambas announced that Campaore would send a second
fact-finding team to Conakry this week to see if the CNDD has
acted on his demands to account for missing persons, provide
medical care to injured persons, free political prisoners,
restrict soldiers' movement, and lift media restrictions.
Qrestrict soldiers' movement, and lift media restrictions.
UN AND FRENCH SEEK INTERVENTION AND SANCTIONS
--------------
4. (C) UN Special Representative for West Africa Said
Djinnit, who served as the AU Director of Peace and Security
from 2003-2008, called for the creation of an international
commission of inquiry, deployment of security observers, and
establishment of sanctions against those who perpetrated the
September 28 massacre.
CNDD: DEMOCRACY LINKED TO SECURITY AND ARMY
--------------
5. (C) CNDD Foreign Affairs Minister Alexandre Cece Loua
thanked the ICG for its willingness to help Guinea transition
ABUJA 00001871 002 OF 003
to democracy. Loua described the events of September 28 as a
failure by "authorities within the armed forces," not by the
CNDD, and noted that "there are always setbacks and
unforeseen events in such processes." He then requested
international support in overhauling Guinea's military
infrastructure. Loua declared, "There can be no democracy
without security; our army needs to be redesigned for the
restoration of democracy; we need a republican army."
CNDD: RAPES MAY NOT HAVE OCCURRED
--------------
6. (C) Loua and a second CNDD delegate downplayed reports of
numerous victims from the September 28 attack. On alleged
missing bodies, the CNDD delegate stated that a unit had been
established in the hospital "to react to any complaints -- if
it receives complaints." On displaced persons, he replied
"very soon there will be a list of displaced persons
disseminated to Guineans and the international community --
assuming there are displaced persons." On victims of rape, he
said, "the Minister of Health is heading a commission to
receive women -- if there have been any rapes." Loua stated
that the CNDD had set up an internal commission of
magistrates, lawyers, law professors, medical doctors, and
"les Force Vivres" representatives, and trade unions -- all
appointed by presidential decree -- to investigate the
events. When pressed by Fall that Camara renew in writing
his intent not to run for president, Loua replied, "the
constitution is suspended, and there is no legal basis for
making such a statement." He implied that, because the
framework for the election has not yet been set, no one can
be a candidate or non-candidate.
"LES FORCES VIVRES" SEE POSSIBLE GUERRILLA UPRISING
-------------- --------------
7. (C) "Les Forces Vivres" representatives gave eyewitness
testimony and played a video taken in Conakry on September
28. "Les Forces Vivres" leader Mouctar Diallo described "a
civil war threatening Guinea." He noted a "persistent rumor
that Captain Camara was present in the stadium" during the
events and that Camara has begun recruiting rebels from the
forest region of Guinea (his place of origin) and Liberia.
Diallo claimed that 500 volunteers were organizing for an
armed rebellion against the CNDD. Though he welcomed the
visit by President Campaore, he rejected mediation as a
solution, saying "any dialogue with soldiers is useless."
Prior to departing for Abuja, security forces at the Conakry
airport detained the Forces Vivre delegation, Diallo said,
until he was handed a cell phone on which Camara himself told
him that only he had granted them permission to leave, and
"if I step down, I will kill you all first." "Les Forces
Vivre" representatives repeatedly rejected the utility of
more dialogue and insisted on immediate sanctions and an
intervention force to protect members of the opposition.
ICG COMMUNIQUE
--------------
8. (C) ICG participants approved a final communique
Q8. (C) ICG participants approved a final communique
requesting establishment of an International Commission of
Inquiry to investigate the September 28 massacre of unarmed
civilians and rapes. The European Commission representative
at the October 12 ICG indicated the Commission had funds
available for such a mission. The French sought to add
sanctions, but the Russians revised the clause to "urge
partners to immediately prepare mechanisms for appropriate
targeted sanctions." The Russian ambassador had previously
approached Charge to say sanctions would be "problematic" for
him. The communique invited ECOWAS to set up an
international observer and protection mission, recommended an
arms embargo on Guinea based on reports that that the CNDD
Minister of Defense traveled to Ukraine to negotiate an arms
deal, and expressed support for a new transitional authority
in place of the CNDD. (Embassy forwarded to the Department
(AF/W) the text of the final communique.)
ABUJA 00001871 003 OF 003
HEADS OF STATE MEETING SET FOR OCTOBER 17
--------------
9. (SBU) The Nigerian representative informed ICG
participants that Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua, in his
capacity as rotating ECOWAS President, has summoned an
"extraordinary meeting" of Heads of State and Government of
the region on October 17 in Abuja to discuss the situation in
Guinea and the Niger Republic. Yar'Adua reportedly told
ECOWAS parliament members of his concern that the military
leaders in Guinea were not working in accordance with the
agreements reached with ECOWAS. The Nigerian representative
also announced that a meeting of the ECOWAS Peace and
Security Council will take place in Abuja October 29 to
discuss the outcome of the October 17 Heads of State meeting.
COMMENT
--------------
10. (C) ECOWAS, UN, and especially AU representatives do not
yet appear ready to halt mediation efforts by President
Campaore, but no one disputed the need for prompt forceful
action against the CNDD. Djinnit and French Foreign Ministry
African Affairs Director Stephane Gompertz played a positive
role in securing the communique's key action points. END
COMMENT.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON GUINEA RECOMMENDS
OBSERVATION FORCE AND ARMS EMBARGO
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4. (B) and (D)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The October 12 International Contact Group (ICG) on
Guinea discussed the crisis in Guinea and received reports of
"total disorder" within Guinea and "harassment of the
civilian population by a military which wants to impose
itself on the country." "Les Forces Vivres" representatives
gave eyewitness testimony of the massacre and presented a
video showing events at the stadium before the carnage began.
The ICG communiqu recommended creating an International
Commission of Inquiry and an international observer and
protection mission, establishing an arms embargo, and
creating a new transitional authority in place of the
National Council for Democracy and Change (CNDD). ECOWAS has
called a meeting of Heads of State and Government to discuss
Guinea on October 17. END SUMMARY.
ECOWAS AND AU TAKE STRONG STAND AGAINST CNDD
--------------
2. (SBU) The ICG, comprised of representatives from the
African Union (AU),ECOWAS, UN, European Commission, Libya,
Nigeria, Organization of Islamic Conference, Germany, Spain,
Japan, and four of the five permanent members of the UN
Security Council, discussed recent developments in Guinea.
Dr. Mohamed Chambas, ICG Co-Chair and President of ECOWAS,
opened the meeting with a minute of silence in memory of
victims of September 28. Referring to CNDD as a mere
continuation of the repression seen under late President
Lasona Conte, Chambas condemned the CNDD's "irresponsible use
of state power" to suppress civil societies and political
parties exercising rights of free speech and assembly. He
called on the international community to establish a
commission of inquiry and noted ECOWAS' "authority to impose
sanctions for violations of human rights and for the
stabilization of electoral rules." AU Co-chair Ibrahim Fall
spoke more cautiously, asking that any ICG initiative be
"aligned harmoniously with efforts taken by President
Campaore." Fall called on the CNDD to reiterate in writing
promises to refrain from participating in the upcoming
January 2010 elections.
CAMPAORE FINDS TOTAL DISORDER IN CONAKRY
--------------
3. (C) Behind closed doors, Chambas and Fall briefed the ICG
on Campaore's initial findings from his October 6 visit to
Conakry. Campaore had described "ongoing harassment of the
civilian population by a military which wants to impose
itself on the country." According to Campaore's report, he
had never seen such "total disorder" in a city where armed
soldiers and security forces loitered throughout the streets.
Chambas announced that Campaore would send a second
fact-finding team to Conakry this week to see if the CNDD has
acted on his demands to account for missing persons, provide
medical care to injured persons, free political prisoners,
restrict soldiers' movement, and lift media restrictions.
Qrestrict soldiers' movement, and lift media restrictions.
UN AND FRENCH SEEK INTERVENTION AND SANCTIONS
--------------
4. (C) UN Special Representative for West Africa Said
Djinnit, who served as the AU Director of Peace and Security
from 2003-2008, called for the creation of an international
commission of inquiry, deployment of security observers, and
establishment of sanctions against those who perpetrated the
September 28 massacre.
CNDD: DEMOCRACY LINKED TO SECURITY AND ARMY
--------------
5. (C) CNDD Foreign Affairs Minister Alexandre Cece Loua
thanked the ICG for its willingness to help Guinea transition
ABUJA 00001871 002 OF 003
to democracy. Loua described the events of September 28 as a
failure by "authorities within the armed forces," not by the
CNDD, and noted that "there are always setbacks and
unforeseen events in such processes." He then requested
international support in overhauling Guinea's military
infrastructure. Loua declared, "There can be no democracy
without security; our army needs to be redesigned for the
restoration of democracy; we need a republican army."
CNDD: RAPES MAY NOT HAVE OCCURRED
--------------
6. (C) Loua and a second CNDD delegate downplayed reports of
numerous victims from the September 28 attack. On alleged
missing bodies, the CNDD delegate stated that a unit had been
established in the hospital "to react to any complaints -- if
it receives complaints." On displaced persons, he replied
"very soon there will be a list of displaced persons
disseminated to Guineans and the international community --
assuming there are displaced persons." On victims of rape, he
said, "the Minister of Health is heading a commission to
receive women -- if there have been any rapes." Loua stated
that the CNDD had set up an internal commission of
magistrates, lawyers, law professors, medical doctors, and
"les Force Vivres" representatives, and trade unions -- all
appointed by presidential decree -- to investigate the
events. When pressed by Fall that Camara renew in writing
his intent not to run for president, Loua replied, "the
constitution is suspended, and there is no legal basis for
making such a statement." He implied that, because the
framework for the election has not yet been set, no one can
be a candidate or non-candidate.
"LES FORCES VIVRES" SEE POSSIBLE GUERRILLA UPRISING
-------------- --------------
7. (C) "Les Forces Vivres" representatives gave eyewitness
testimony and played a video taken in Conakry on September
28. "Les Forces Vivres" leader Mouctar Diallo described "a
civil war threatening Guinea." He noted a "persistent rumor
that Captain Camara was present in the stadium" during the
events and that Camara has begun recruiting rebels from the
forest region of Guinea (his place of origin) and Liberia.
Diallo claimed that 500 volunteers were organizing for an
armed rebellion against the CNDD. Though he welcomed the
visit by President Campaore, he rejected mediation as a
solution, saying "any dialogue with soldiers is useless."
Prior to departing for Abuja, security forces at the Conakry
airport detained the Forces Vivre delegation, Diallo said,
until he was handed a cell phone on which Camara himself told
him that only he had granted them permission to leave, and
"if I step down, I will kill you all first." "Les Forces
Vivre" representatives repeatedly rejected the utility of
more dialogue and insisted on immediate sanctions and an
intervention force to protect members of the opposition.
ICG COMMUNIQUE
--------------
8. (C) ICG participants approved a final communique
Q8. (C) ICG participants approved a final communique
requesting establishment of an International Commission of
Inquiry to investigate the September 28 massacre of unarmed
civilians and rapes. The European Commission representative
at the October 12 ICG indicated the Commission had funds
available for such a mission. The French sought to add
sanctions, but the Russians revised the clause to "urge
partners to immediately prepare mechanisms for appropriate
targeted sanctions." The Russian ambassador had previously
approached Charge to say sanctions would be "problematic" for
him. The communique invited ECOWAS to set up an
international observer and protection mission, recommended an
arms embargo on Guinea based on reports that that the CNDD
Minister of Defense traveled to Ukraine to negotiate an arms
deal, and expressed support for a new transitional authority
in place of the CNDD. (Embassy forwarded to the Department
(AF/W) the text of the final communique.)
ABUJA 00001871 003 OF 003
HEADS OF STATE MEETING SET FOR OCTOBER 17
--------------
9. (SBU) The Nigerian representative informed ICG
participants that Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua, in his
capacity as rotating ECOWAS President, has summoned an
"extraordinary meeting" of Heads of State and Government of
the region on October 17 in Abuja to discuss the situation in
Guinea and the Niger Republic. Yar'Adua reportedly told
ECOWAS parliament members of his concern that the military
leaders in Guinea were not working in accordance with the
agreements reached with ECOWAS. The Nigerian representative
also announced that a meeting of the ECOWAS Peace and
Security Council will take place in Abuja October 29 to
discuss the outcome of the October 17 Heads of State meeting.
COMMENT
--------------
10. (C) ECOWAS, UN, and especially AU representatives do not
yet appear ready to halt mediation efforts by President
Campaore, but no one disputed the need for prompt forceful
action against the CNDD. Djinnit and French Foreign Ministry
African Affairs Director Stephane Gompertz played a positive
role in securing the communique's key action points. END
COMMENT.
SANDERS