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.


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COMMENT
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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