NEWS ROUND-UP: FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS,

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000218 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM ASEC GV SUBJECT: NEWS ROUND-UP: FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS, PIVI'S PROMOTION, AND READYING THE PALACE ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. Over the course of the weekend, the CNDD banned all foreign currency transactions, promoted the controversial Claude Pivi to the rank of Captain, and began cleaning the Presidential Palace in preparation for the arrival of its anticipated occupant, CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara. This information was reported in local media. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The CNDD declared on April 18 that foreign currency transactions, and specifically transactions in USD or Euros, are now illegal in Guinea. Within the written decree, the CNDD underscored the sovereignty of the Guinean franc as the national currency. The CNDD listed the following transactions as examples of illegal activities: real estate purchases and rentals, payment of hotel bills, airline ticket sales, and salary payments. The CNDD further declared that all Guineans and foreigners caught engaging in such transactions will face prosecution and "severe sanctions." Pol/Econ Chief raised the issue during a meeting with the Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April ¶20. He was completely unaware of the announcement, but promised to look into it. Embassy is reviewing its existing contracts and purchasing procedures in order to determine where issues may arise. ¶3. (U) Claude Pivi, the controversial leader of the May 2008 military mutiny and now the Minister of Presidential Security, was promoted to the rank of Captain over the weekend. His rank is now equal to that of CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara. Press reports indicate that Pivi was promoted in recognition of his strong performance as minister. ¶4. (U) Following a public invitation from the residents of Kaloum on April 16 for Dadis to move into the Presidential Palace, press reports indicate that Conakry Governor Mohammad Diop has launched a campaign to clean the palace. He reportedly hired a team of women and armed them with brooms, mops, and soap. Shortly after seizing power on December 23, Dadis announced that he would not move into the palace because he did not want to even "begin to taste the trappings of power." Last week's invitation, followed by the cleaning campaign over the weekend, suggest that Dadis has changed his mind. RASPOLIC