CNDD ORDERS STADIUM CLOSED TO PREVENT OPPOSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000587

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: CNDD ORDERS STADIUM CLOSED TO PREVENT OPPOSITION
PROTEST

Classified By: POLOFF J. TULLY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (U) On September 23, Minister of Youth Isto Keira
announced that the country's largest National Stadium would
be closed until Ocotober 5 for all cultural and political
events prior to the Guinea-Burkina Faso soccer match
scheduled for October 11. Claiming that some nefarious
Guineans, paid by the opposing team, might plant fetishes in
the stadium to throw the game, Keira sternly declared the
facility closed. The closure conveniently prevents use of the
stadium by the Forces Vives for a planned anti-Dadis
demonstration on the 28th.


2. (U) Ridiculing the ruling, an Embassy LES claimed that the
stadium had always been in use prior to other games,
including a recent Guinea-Malawi match that Guinea lost. "Big
concerts have always taken place there the night before
soccer matches - no one worried about fetishes then."

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COMMENT
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3. (C) Closure of the stadium is unlikely to prevent the
Force Vives from gathering. The move to close the stadium,
which many see as a blatant attempt to silence the
opposition, may increase political tensions. One Forces
Vives member indignantly claimed to an Embassy officer that
"We will march and then force our way into the stadium." A
prominent youth leader stated that they were also considering
a smaller stadium in another Conakry neighborhood close to
where many Forces Vives members live. Several dates are being
bandied about as possibilities for anti-CNDD demonstrations,
the 28th being the most commonly heard. However, if
potential demonstrators fear a security crackdown, they may
alter their tactics.
BROKENSHIRE