Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09FREETOWN408
2009-10-16 13:34:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Freetown
Cable title:
SIERRA LEONE RESPONSE ON GUINEAN DEMARCHES
how-toVZCZCXRO1973 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHFN #0408 2891334 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 161334Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2934 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0304
S E C R E T FREETOWN 000408
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS PHUM KDEM GV SL
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE RESPONSE ON GUINEAN DEMARCHES
REF: A. STATE 105345
B. STATE 107327
Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4 (b/
d)
S E C R E T FREETOWN 000408
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS PHUM KDEM GV SL
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE RESPONSE ON GUINEAN DEMARCHES
REF: A. STATE 105345
B. STATE 107327
Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4 (b/
d)
1. (S/NF) CDA and Poloff delivered reftel demarche points to
President Koroma on October 16, prior to his departure for
the emergency ECOWAS summit in Abuja. Koroma stated that the
Guinean situation is deteriorating, and that if it is "not
arrested now...the tragedy might worsen beyond that which we
have already seen." He believes that all ECOWAS nations are
committed to ameliorating the situation as quickly as
possible, and to investigating the events of September 28. He
said that those responsible for the atrocities that occurred
must be held to account; anything short of that would weaken
good governance and rule of law in the region.
2. (S/NF) CDA and Poloff met a high-level security contact
while departing State House, who said that it is clear to his
government that Guinea is crumbling. He has no doubt that any
kind of intervention will result in gunfights and bloodshed,
but seemed to view this as reasonable collateral damage in
the fight for Guinea's stabilization. His remarks implied
that Sierra Leone is bracing itself for more, seemingly
inevitable violence across the border, regardless of how the
international community intervenes.
FEDZER
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS PHUM KDEM GV SL
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE RESPONSE ON GUINEAN DEMARCHES
REF: A. STATE 105345
B. STATE 107327
Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4 (b/
d)
1. (S/NF) CDA and Poloff delivered reftel demarche points to
President Koroma on October 16, prior to his departure for
the emergency ECOWAS summit in Abuja. Koroma stated that the
Guinean situation is deteriorating, and that if it is "not
arrested now...the tragedy might worsen beyond that which we
have already seen." He believes that all ECOWAS nations are
committed to ameliorating the situation as quickly as
possible, and to investigating the events of September 28. He
said that those responsible for the atrocities that occurred
must be held to account; anything short of that would weaken
good governance and rule of law in the region.
2. (S/NF) CDA and Poloff met a high-level security contact
while departing State House, who said that it is clear to his
government that Guinea is crumbling. He has no doubt that any
kind of intervention will result in gunfights and bloodshed,
but seemed to view this as reasonable collateral damage in
the fight for Guinea's stabilization. His remarks implied
that Sierra Leone is bracing itself for more, seemingly
inevitable violence across the border, regardless of how the
international community intervenes.
FEDZER