HIGH-CRIMES MINISTER OUTLINES HIS MISSION

S E C R E T CONAKRY 000098 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2019 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL GV SUBJECT: HIGH-CRIMES MINISTER OUTLINES HIS MISSION REF: CONAKRY 070 Classified By: ECONOFF T. SCOTT BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S) On 7 February, RSO met with Captain Moussa Diakoro Camara, the State Secretary of the Ministry of High Crimes and Anti-Drug Enforcement. Moussa Dadis Camara, the President of the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD),recently created the ministry by splitting several departments that have reported directly to the Minister of Security in previous governments. The meeting took place at the ministry,s downtown headquarters at the former Embassy of Cuba, which the CNDD recently expropriated from Areeba, a local telecom company. Diakoro Camara wore a military uniform with a blue plastic nametag that bore Chinese characters. Econoff accompanied RSO as note taker and interpreter. -------------- A NEW MINISTRY - A SPECIFIC MISSION -------------- ¶2. (S) When asked about the ministry,s development and its relationship with the Ministry of Security, Diakoro Camara stated the ministry is tasked with four main investigations: (1) trafficking in narcotics, (2) trafficking in persons and children, (3) large-scale armed banditry, and (4) money laundering. As these were the same four items that President Dadis Camara earlier declared punishable by death "by any member of Guinea's security forces" (reftel),RSO asked Diakoro Camara how the declaration would be implemented by his Ministry, and if he currently commands the security personnel mentioned in the president's pronouncement. Remaining vague, Diakoro Camara simply stated that everyone is covered under the declaration, as the president's effort is a truly national program. He did not state how the declaration would be implemented, but added: "The President would arrest his own wife if he caught her involved in drugs." ¶3. (S) The State Secretary stated that his ministry has taken control of the Guinea Anti-Drug Police (OCAD),but that he does not manage lesser crimes, such as sexual assaults, theft, and murder. He did not provide specifics on how many personnel report to him; however, he said that the ministry is in need of help from the international community and would accept any assistance the USG could provide. On that note, he asked for DEA agents to embed within his ministry and recalled a conversation between Prime Minister Komara and DCM that the Embassy is exploring this option. (NOTE: DCM and PM dicussed a possible and unrelated assessment visit to Guinea by DEA. However, DCM made clear that closer cooperation would have to wait until the suspention of U.S. assistance is lifted. END NOTE.) In a separate telephone call after the meeting, Diakoro Camara's deputy affirmed that the president had approved DEA support of the ministry. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (S) On the surface, the new ministry appears to respond directly to the international community's request to intensify anti-drug and anti-trafficking efforts, and the Guinean people's desire for increased security. However, many observers note that these demands offer a convenient pretext for the president to strip power from the Minister of Security, General Toto Camara. Toto Camara is not only seen as a rival to Dadis, but also someone whom Dadis cannot effectively control, since the general often makes spot decisions without consulting the CNDD. Throughout the meeting, Diakoro Camara consistently deferred almost every question to the president. END COMMENT. RASPOLIC