FULANI YOUTHS DISCUSS ANTI-DADIS MOVEMENT AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000551

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: FULANI YOUTHS DISCUSS ANTI-DADIS MOVEMENT AND
SECURITY CONCERNS

Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D


1. (C) SUMMARY. A group of Fulani youth leaders who
identified themselves as the organizers of recent anti-Dadis
demonstrations in Conakry told A/DCM of their plans to
organize more such demonstrations in the weeks ahead. They
cited ongoing concerns about security and claimed that the
CNDD is actively training civilian "death squads" with the
intention of loosing them on any crowds of anti-Dadis
protestors. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On September 11, A/DCM met with a group of seven
self-selected youth leaders from the Bambeto, Hamdallaye, and
Cosa areas of Conakry. The group had requested the meeting
and later identified themselves as the organizers of the
anti-Dadis/pro-USG rally in front of the Embassy on August

31. The Bambeto-Hamdallaye-Cosa (BHC) corridor continues to
be the epicenter of both violent and non-violent
demonstrations in the capital. It is a predominantly Peuhl
(Fulani) neighborhood.

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THE YOUTHS IN THE STREETS
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3. (C) Each of the youth leaders represented different
organizations, all of which have apparently come together to
form some kind of broader coalition. They described their
mission as one of "effecting change." At one point, a
representative said that CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara
has made the socio-political situation absolutely
intolerable. "We are working to mobilize everyone in order
to force Dadis out," another said.


4. (C) When asked how they plan to effect change, the youths
said they focus on civic sensitization campaigns,
conferences, and demonstrations. According to the youths,
some of the demonstrations that occur in the BHC corridor are
spontaneous, but others are planned in advance. They said
they prefer to plan the demonstrations because they can then
try and ensure that the participants adhere to principles of
non-violence. "We want to make sure that they understand
that they should not steal or break anything...if we do so,
we will fail," one said.


5. (C) The youths had apparently planned a demonstration for
September 7, but said it had ultimately failed because the
CNDD heard about it and started threatening people and buying
off others. All of the youths claimed that anonymous phone
calls threatening death or arrest are commonplace, but that
youths are not the only targets. They described how the CNDD
mobilizes market women to support Dadis by sending Red Berets
(military) into the markets to threaten them with closure if
they fail to rally in support of the CNDD.

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SECURITY CONCERNS
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6. (C) Security seemed to be a major concern for the youths.
They commented on frequent arrests and other methods of
intimidation. According to the group, five youths were
arrested on August 31 in connection with the demonstration in
front of the U.S. Embassy. These youths were reportedly
detained for 72 hours, but were not mistreated while in
detention. One youth added that they were only aware of the
five from their groups, but that other groups may also have
had individuals arrested.


7. (C) On the same theme, the youths claimed that the CNDD
had sent 2000 youths from the Forest Region, all from the
Guerze tribe, to Forecariah to be trained as "death squads."
According to the group, these youths will be kept in civilian
attire, but are being armed with primitive weapons such as
spears and bows and arrows. The group commented that the
CNDD wants to avoid using firearms because they are too
audible and conspicuous. Rather, the CNDD plans to send
these death squads into large crowds where they can stab and
maim protestors without the sound of gunfire. The group
claimed that during the August 31 demonstration, some Red
Berets were seen carrying spears and other such weapons. In
addition, the youths stated that the CNDD is actively
recruiting former Liberian combatants into the Guinean Armed
Forces.


8. (C) The group mentioned that Dadis held a meeting with
youths the in the middle of the night on September 6 where he
reportedly warned youths "my democracy is weapons and if you
do not want my democracy, you will feel what it means." The

CONAKRY 00000551 002 OF 002


youth took this statement as a death threat.

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THE OTHER SIDE
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9. (C) When asked about the size and credibility of the
pro-Dadis movements, namely the MDDR (Movement for Dadis to
Stay),the youths scoffed, describing them as opportunists.
One commented that these youths are essentially voices for
hire. "They were with Kouyate yesterday, with Conte the day
before that, and now they are with Dadis," he said. Another
added, "If I were to find myself in power tomorrow, they
would support me too."


10. (C) The group described how these pro-Dadis youths
essentially support the highest bidder, claiming that the
CNDD has distributed millions of Guinean francs to buy
support. In response to a question about the size of the
group, the youths said that the pro-Dadis movement does not
have more than 100 members. They added that because the MDDR
could not mobilize enough bodies on August 31, they ended up
bringing in teenage and adult children of military personnel
as well as active duty military personnel in civilian attire.

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THE NEXT DEMONSTRATION
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11. (C) The youths claimed that they are currently planning
a demonstration for September 26.

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COMMENT
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12. (C) This group of youths seemed markedly different from
some of the Embassy's other youth contacts. Although they
claimed to be teachers and students, most members of the
group did not come across as deep thinking intellectuals.
Rather, they appeared to be the mass mobilizers who follow
the leadership of some of the more prominent youth activists,
such as Mouctar Diallo or Dansa Kourouma. These may also be
the groups that sometimes accept bribes and switch sides,
which is reportedly commonplace.


13. (C) Although the group claimed to be multi-ethnic, their
names were predominantly Peuhl. In addition, they hail from
neighborhoods that are commonly viewed as exclusively Peuhl.
The comments about the CNDD mobilizing Forestiers echo other
reports the Embassy has received in recent weeks. They
contribute to concerns about a possibly violent clash between
these groups. END COMMENT.
BROKENSHIRE