BUSINESSES FEAR LOOTING BY RIOTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000591 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019 TAGS: ASEC ECON PREL PGOV GV SUBJECT: BUSINESSES FEAR LOOTING BY RIOTERS Classified By: ECONOFF BRIANA WARNER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (U) On September 19, Dadis met with several reporters from the Ivory Coast to discuss his views on Guinea. During the meeting, one of the journalists asked Dadis what he expects to do in case of wide-scale protests or rioting. Dadis announced that, should riots occur, he would not/not send gendarmerie, military, or police to protect businesses that would be vandalized and looted during protests. ¶2. (U) Several members of the business community called the Embassy after Dadis' statement to express concern for their property during what they see as inevitable protests. Others told EconOff that they believe Dadis' statement was made in an "emotional fit" and that it is not in his self-interest to allow such an anarchic situation to arise. Nonetheless, the Organization of Informal Businesses held two meetings on September 22 and 23 to discuss how they would respond to Dadis' statements. According to members of the group, their statement will most likely ask Dadis to ensure government protection during any future protests and/or riots. ¶3. (C) Elhadj Amadou Diallo, a prominent member of the business community and the Chamber of Commerce, told Econoff that this is yet another testament to Dadis' inability to rule. "One of any government's most important jobs is to protect it citizens," he said, "but Dadis is too mentally unstable to understand that." However, he went on to suggest that the international community needs to work urgently to restructure Guinea's military, so that they can protect the populace effectively. ¶4. (C) A high ranking RSO source said that General Toto Camara, the Minister of Security, told top echelon commanders that, despite Dadis' threat, the Ministry of Security (MOS) and its officers are to provide policing services to anyone, regardless of their politics. He made the caveat, however, that the MOS will only work to protect people and offices who are engaged in the formal market. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) Dadis' statement is significant foremost as an indicator of his willingness to threaten and harass the populace in order to stop public protest. Dadis appears to be trying to stifle dissent by threatening the livelihood of business people. These actions are very much in line with significant military harassment of the business community over the past months (reftel),and Dadis may be using the tenuous security situation to his advantage. ¶6. (C) The fact that he specifically targeted the business community is also significant along ethnic lines, as much of the vocal opposition is Fulani, as are the majority of influential businesses in Conakry. It is likely that the ethnic connection between the business community and the protesters was not lost on Dadis, who is not popular among the Fulani community. ¶7. (C) The response by the business community may play into Dadis' favor, as they will likely be publicly asking for the protection of the very army that has been targeting them. The business community may be willing to bend their own political convictions to guarantee their business interests. If the local business community asks for protection from the military, as they will likely do, Dadis may be able to blame the business community for a large military presence at protests. BROKENSHIRE