PRESIDENT OF GUINEA SHOT, EVACUATED FROM COUNTRY

S E C R E T CONAKRY 000762

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC GV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT OF GUINEA SHOT, EVACUATED FROM COUNTRY

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kent C. Brokenshire for Reason 1
.4 b/d


1. (C) Summary: President Dadis Camara was shot and wounded
yesterday allegedly by his personal security chief Diakite
"Toumba," who later fled. Dadis reportedly received a bullet
wound to the head. His condition has not been disclosed but
the Government has evacuated him to a nearby country,
reportedly to Morocco through Senegal. Toumba, who is
believed to be largely responsible for the September 28
massacre, is currently at large with an unknown number of
armed soldiers. These incidents occurred as the UN Commission
of Inquiry on the September 28 violence was visiting Conakry.
It is not clear what effects Dadis departure from the country
will have on political developments within Guinea. Claude
Pivi is heading the government until the return of Defense
Minister Konate later tonight. Konate will assume the role of
caretaker head of state. End Summary


2. (S) President Moussa Dadis Camara was shot and wounded by
his personal security chief Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite "Toumba"
at approximately 1745, December 3 at the Koundara military
installation in downtown Conakry. Though details remain
sketchy it appears as though Dadis had arrested a number of
Toumba associates the previous day, reportedly for their role
in the September 28 massacre. Toumba then reportedly set out
to free his cohorts, and eventually confronted Dadis at the
Koundara base. In the altercation which ensued, Toumba is
believed to have fired on Dadis, wounding him in the head.


3. (U) CNDD spokesman Idrissa Cherif issued a public
statement at 2230 the same night acknowledging that Dadis had
been shot but that he was doing well. Government radio and
television made no mention of the attack.


4. (S) President Wade of Senegal reportedly dispatched a
medical aircraft to Conakry on the night of December 3, and
offered to evacuate Dadis to Dakar for medical treatment.
Sources indicate that the ruling junta, or possibly Dadis
himself, initially refused the offer, but allowed Senegalese
medical personnel who traveled with the aircraft to treat
Dadis in Conakry. Embassy contacts reported that Dadis did in
fact depart Conakry December 4 in the late morning, probable
destination Morocco.


5. (C) Toumba is reportedly at large in Conakry with an
unknown number of armed loyal troops. Military units have
sealed off the airport and established a roadblock near the
Conakry city limits at Kilometer 36. Military units continue
to patrol the city. A strong presence of military was also
reported at the Castro Bridge downtown choke point, Camp
Alpha Yaya, and the RTG radio-television facility in downtown
Conakry. A military helicopter is now aloft, circling the
capital.


6. (C) The violence erupted as the UN's Commission of Inquiry
on the September 28 massacre at Conakry's football stadium
was winding down a visit to Guinea. It is not clear if the
commission's presence possibly prompted Dadis to attempt to
arrest associates of his security chief Toumba, who is seen
as responsible for the killing unarmed demonstrators at the
stadium and the public raping of several dozen women.


7. (C) It is also unclear what effects Dadis' sudden and
unexpected departure from Conakry will have on the current
political and military dynamic inside Guinea's capital. This
is his first departure from Guinea since taking power in the
December 23 Coup.

8 (C) Top ranking military officer reportedly held and
emergency meeting this morning at Camp Alpha Yaya and
determined that Minister of Presidential Security Claude Pivi
will head the government until the return of Minister of
Defense Konate later tonight. Konate is currently visiting
Lebanon. Members of the Forces Vibes are reportedly
maintaining a low profile.

Moller