MILITARY ARRESTS AND RUMORS OF COUNTER-COUP ATTEMPT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000225 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC GV SUBJECT: MILITARY ARRESTS AND RUMORS OF COUNTER-COUP ATTEMPT Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (C) Multiple sources have confirmed incidents of military unrest late in the evening of April 22. While there are several variations to the story, the common thread is that a young military officer, Saa Alphonse Toure, arrived at Camp Alpha Yaya at approximately 2130 and began shooting into the air. He had previously served as the Chief Operations Officer for Captain Claude Pivi, Minister of Presidential Security. Red Berets arrested Alphonse and two other military personnel. They then mobilized to seal off the Castro Bridge at approximately 2330, which controls traffic into and out of the downtown area. There were reports of random, sporadic gunfire in the area around Camp Samory Toure in the early morning hours. By dawn on April 23, the activity had died down and business was proceeding as normal although the military was still maintaining a checkpoint at the Castro Bridge. ¶2. (C) The incident continues to generate rumors of a possible counter-coup attempt. However, the incident appears to have been orchestrated by a handful of individuals, which does not suggest a carefully planned coup initiative. Several contacts commented that the confrontation was sparked by a faction of soldiers dissatisfied with Claude Pivi's rapid rise in rank. (COMMENT. Pivi was promoted to the rank of captain over the weekend. END COMMENT). One source close to the military said that some of the rank and file soldiers who have been traditionally loyal to Pivi are beginning to grumble because they feel they have not been adequately rewarded for their service. Seeing themselves as critical to the success of the December 23 coup, they are apparently angling for high-level appointments such as the ministerial position granted to Pivi. ¶3. (C) Other contacts suggested that Dadis may be painting the incident as a counter-coup attempt in order to have a reason to start arresting military personnel that could potentially threaten his position. They claim that Dadis canceled his trip to Libya on April 22 (septel) because he had been tipped off about a possible counter-coup in the works. Some sources indicate that the Minister of Defense, Sekouba Konate, may be trying to oust Dadis, although other names have come up as well, including that of the Minister of Security, Toto Camara. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) There have been increasing rumblings of dissent within the ranks of the CNDD over the last few months and contacts have indicated that Dadis is paranoid about a possible counter-coup attempt. Embassy continues to monitor the situation as the details of this particular incident are still forthcoming. END COMMENT. RASPOLIC