SIERRA LEONE'S INITIAL REACTIONS TO GUINEA TROUBLE

S E C R E T FREETOWN 000385 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2019 TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS PREL GV SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE'S INITIAL REACTIONS TO GUINEA TROUBLE REF: FREETOWN 383 Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4 (b/ d) ¶1. (S//NF) Poloff spoke with a high-level intelligence contact on September 29 to gauge the Government of Sierra Leone's response to recent events in Guinea. Source reported that President Koroma, as expected, is very concerned. The Office of National Security (ONS) requested that border posts report any increased movement, but thus far there has been no influx of Guinean citizens crossing into Sierra Leone. Source stated that the President was advised by unnamed officials to have a more pronounced military presence at the border and increase the patrols, but ONS countered by suggesting that this could be misinterpreted as a sign of aggression or hostility. For now, Koroma is following ONS' advice to monitor the situation, and step-up patrols if it worsens. Post will report any information gleaned from the National Security Council Coordinating Group meeting that is expected to be held today. ¶2. (U) Today's papers included numerous articles on Guinea, but all relied heavily on BBC reporting and did not include editorials or hypotheses on potential local impact. A few articles refocused on the Yenga border dispute, but were clearly written in a vacuum from current events. Reactions are more likely to be reported in tomorrow's press. FEDZER