SIERRA LEONE'S PRIVATE PESSIMISM ABOUT GUINEA

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000004 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE'S PRIVATE PESSIMISM ABOUT GUINEA SITUATION REF: FREETOWN 605 Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Sierra Leone's moderate public response to the Guinea coup should not be misinterpreted as complacency. The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) appears to be approaching the situation warily, welcoming the coup leaders for bilateral discussions while concurrently preparing for possible insecurity and violence. The gravity of the concern was reiterated in a personal way at a January 1 reception hosted by the Ambassador. First Lady Sia Koroma privately noted in conversation with the Ambassador that she has already begun securing her jewelry and packing in preparation for a hasty departure should circumstances worsen, and has discussed a possible trip abroad until the region re-stabilizes. Emboffs were aware that the First Lady's movements throughout the country had been curtailed for security reasons, but her intimation to leave the sub-region casts a new light on how GoSL leaders view the situation behind closed doors. President Koroma's resistance to pushing a democratic agenda on the coup regime can be viewed in this context as a security-related decision designed to maintain stability in the Mano River Union, rather than a subservient acceptance of positions taken by wealthier, more influential states (reftel). The First Lady also delivered a message to the Ambassador, likely in response to COM's advising State House that support of elections in Guinea was critical, while welcoming a coup leader was not. Mrs. Koroma said her husband was trying to "negotiate" a stable solution with Camara. Post will continue to monitor Sierra Leonean reaction to the coup, noting that GoSL leadership's actions in private, familial decision-making likely best reflect their true opinion, rather than their public posture. PERRY