KOROMA'S GUINEAN STRATEGY IS TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

S E C R E T FREETOWN 000309

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SL
SUBJECT: KOROMA'S GUINEAN STRATEGY IS TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

REF: FREETOWN 280

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (U) President Koroma's speech to the Sierra Leone-Guinea
Joint Technical Committee on the Yenga border dispute
effusively praised junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara. Koroma
seemed proud that the countries have bilaterally resolved the
dispute without assistance from the international community,
and went on to laud Guinea's assistance during Sierra Leone's
war period. He discussed Dadis Camara's soldiering during
that period, and his time as a scholarship student in Sierra
Leone, stating that "all that has happened to him today is a
result of his presence in Sierra Leone." Koroma concluded his
statements with blessings to both countries, and referred to
Dadis Camara as his "brother the Head of State of Guinea."


2. (S) The tone of the President's statement is overly
enthusiastic when compared to the relatively sedate comments
made after the reftel bilateral discussions. Though Sierra
Leonean government representatives have frequently identified
an almost familial relationship between the two countries,
Dadis Camara has never before been singled out as a
"brother," let alone a brother to Koroma. Further, this is
the first statement emboffs have seen in which President
Koroma himself has identified Dadis Camara as the Guinean
"Head of State." The origin of this amplification of
enthusiasm is unknown, but is likely linked to the Government
of Sierra Leone's (GoSL) ongoing concerns over national
security, and desire to access wanted Sierra Leonean criminal
believed to be harbored in Conakry. However, security sector
contacts revealed today that they believe a counter-coup to
oust Dadis Camara is a matter of "when" rather than "if," and
stated that security preparations are ongoing. Thus, the
argument that Sierra Leone must befriend Dadis Camara for the
sake of preserving Sierra Leone's security appears
counterintuitive, since even high-ranking GoSL officials
believe that he won't hold onto the mantle of power much
longer.


3. (S) As stated reftel, Ambassador had warned the Foreign
Minister against being too forward-leaning in establishing a
bilateral relationship with the junta. We note the UK and UN
representatives are "softer" on this issue than the USG; we
have reinforced our firm position to multilateral partners.
Ambassador will also reiterate to FoMin and the President
that Dadis Camara is not the internationally-recognized
leader of Guinea, and that these kinds of statements of
support may enhance their relationship with him, but at a
cost of their own respect from the international community.
PERRY