CONTACT CLAIMS DADIS ARMING FORESTIER YOUTHS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000699 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL GV SUBJECT: CONTACT CLAIMS DADIS ARMING FORESTIER YOUTHS WITH WEAPONS AIRLIFTED FROM LIBYA Classified By: DCM Kent C. Brokenshire for Reason 1.4 B/D ¶1. (C) A long-time contact who works at Conakry's international airport told DCM November 3 that two flights originating in Libya had landed in Conakry in pre-dawn hours loaded with weapons, including assault rifles and rocket launchers. One flight landed in the early hours of November 1, the other arrived the previous week. Once having landed, the aircraft reportedly taxi without lights to the military portion of the airport where the weapons are unloaded. The source, a lieutenant in the Guinean army currently serving as airport chief of protocol, said the weapons are then transferred to Camp Alpha Yaya before being sent to training camps in the Forecariah region. The contact is of the Sousou ethnic group and reportedly served under President Conte as a Red Beret in the president's close protection team. ¶2. (C) The officer described the aircraft as large twin engine Russian jets with landing gear comprising 16 to 22 tires. He said that on one occasion, outdoor lights at the airport were turned off when the aircraft taxied to the military sector of the airport. He admitted that he had never seen weapons physically carried off the plans, but added, "I'm a soldier and know what goes on at the military airport." ¶3. (C) The contact told Charge that junta leader Dadis Camara is giving military training to youths at the camps who are predominantly of Dadis' own Forestier ethnic group. He said that approximately 90 percent of the youths at the camps were from the forest region. They do not yet have military uniforms. He said he had heard that several dozen South Africans were training these youths. However, he claimed to have seen 11 Israelis who were preparing to travel to the camp to train. ¶4. (C) Comment: Much of what the contact said jibes with reporting from other sources. If accurate, it suggests that Dadis is prepared to use force to remain in power in the face of overwhelming national opposition. By arming the Forestiers over other groups, Dadis is apparently prepared to risk ethnic warfare in his quest to maintain the presidency. With the outcome of the talks in Ouagadougou uncertain, and with the Force Vives upon their return reportedly prepared to increase pressure on Dadis to step down, there a real risk that the Forestiers and their new weapons could play a pivotal role in keeping Dadis in power. End Comment ¶5. (U) Post will discuss possible options in septel Moller