MALIAN VIEWS ON GUINEA CRISIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAMAKO 000642 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF XY GV ML SUBJECT: MALIAN VIEWS ON GUINEA CRISIS Classified By: PolCouns Peter Newman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Mali is increasingly concerned with the situation in Guinea. High-level meetings have taken place over the past few days, most recently in the Foreign Ministry on the morning of October 5, with participants at the Deputy and Under-Secretary-equivalent level. Americas Bureau Chief Albachir Toure told PolCouns October 2 that at present Mali will adhere to the positions expressed by the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States condemning the acts of repression in Guinea and urging Dadis Camara not to contest the next presidential elections. ¶2. (C) Mali has not expressed concern about possible refugee flows, although the government is clearing thinking about citizen services since many Malians live in Guinea. A Foreign Ministry contact told EmbOffs that Mali has not yet seen an influx of Malians returning from Guinea. EmbOff contacted UNHCR October 2 to inquire about preparations for refugee flows. The UNHCR-Mali country director is currently out of the country, and it appears that the UNHCR office is not actively preparing to receive significant refugee flows. ¶3. (SBU) PolCouns also informed Albachir Toure on October 2 that Peace Corps volunteers and staff from Guinea will likely be evacuated to Mali during the week of October 5-9 and asked for the Foreign Ministry's assistance in facilitating the entry of said personnel. Toure was receptive and asked PolCouns to inform him of the personnel's approximate date of arrival at the border. Embassy Bamako has also been in contact with the Secretaries General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Territorial Administration on October 2 and 4, respectively, and on October 5 sent a diplomatic note requesting laissez-passez for the volunteers and Peace Corps staff. BARLERIN