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