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.


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COMMENT
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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