SIERRA LEONE ARMY "DREAM TEAM" AIRS GRIEVANCES

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000042


DEPT FOR AF/W: JHUNTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR SL
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE ARMY "DREAM TEAM" AIRS GRIEVANCES

REF: EMAIL TO AF/W DESK 2 FEBRUARY

Classified By: DCM Glenn Fedzer for Reason 1.4 (B)


1. (C) Summary: An anonymous letter released in Freetown
has accused the Minister of Defense of making appointments
and promotions favoring his own ethnic group, corruption and
misuse of government resources, and threatens "another war is
possible" if the accusations raised in the letter are not
addressed. The letter (copy e-mailed to AF/W Feb. 2) caused
sufficient concern that the Defense Minister called a special
press conference to refute the charges, but there is no
evidence that the authors speak for a critical mass of
military personnel, or public support exists yet for the
soldiers if they take their grievances to the streets. End
Summary.


2. (U) An open letter to President Koroma, 'Grievances in
the Sierra Leone Army: Another War is Possible' has created a
stir within the Ministry of Defense and the Sierra Leonean
media, accusing Defense Minister Palor Conteh of corruption
and ethnic favoritism. The letter appears to be from a
network of over 850 officers and enlisted men who make up the
"Detective Reconnaissance Emergency Action Mission" (DREAM)
Team, secretly investigating wrong doing within the military.
The authors said they chose to remain anonymous, as "if our
identity is known our issues of grievance will be lost in hot
pursuit of our lives." Note: Embassy has received a copy of
the letter, also likely send to other missions. End Note.)


3. (U) Conteh is accused of favoring the Limba ethnic group
(of which the President is also a member) with promotions,
positions and overseas training opportunities. The letter
specifically named some newly appointed/promoted Limba
officers, and other Limbas selected for international
training. The President's mother was also accused of
interfering in military personnel matters. Corruption charges
included theft of government resources, unethical
sales/procurement deals, the use of soldiers for personal
staff, and embezzlement of funds meant for the welfare of the
rank and file. The authors further expressed concern about
the usurpation of police duties by the RSLAF, including RSLAF
replacements for SLP personnel in the presidential guard
detail.


4. (U) The letter's tone was threatening, beginning with,
"The DREAM Team is committed to checking all forms of
injustice and the excessive misrule that led to the bloody
rebel war in Sierra Leone" and ending with, "When all fails,
please do not be surprised to see us seeking justice in our
own way," the group insinuated that violence may lie ahead.


5. (U) The Minister of Defense (MOD) held a special press
conference to address the allegations 2 February. He was
joined by the Minister of Communications, the Chief of Staff
of the Defense Force, and other senior leaders. The MOD
refuted each allegation point by point, conceding only that
the Presidential Guard had been increased, and dismissing the
actions of the elderly mother of the President as an act of
"mischief." Journalists, who last month happily grilled
Libyan President Qadhafi, seemed reluctant to press the MOD,
and accepted the government's line that it was an act of
mischief that would fade away.


6. (C) Comment: Some of the allegations may have merit, as
they appear well documented. The Limbas are not in the
majority within the Army and the limited appointments noted
by the "Dream Team" would hardly change that, but Conteh's
rapid response belies the "just a bit of mischief" message of
his presentation at the press conference itself. It appears
the tone of the letter touched a nerve by invoking previous
military coups throughout Sierra Leone's history, and the MOD
response was "urgently dismissive." On the one hand the MOD
did not want to appear alarmist, but the speed and breadth of
the response indicates that the MOD is very uncomfortable
with the sudden airing of the ministry's dirty laundry--and
the accompanying hints at military action. While the charges
could be credible, the letter may have originated with
Conteh's opponents. Conteh's appointment was controversial;
he is in his late 40's and somewhat young for a minister, and
while a former soldier, retired at the relatively junior rank
of Major. His selection over a number of more senior
politicians and retired officers created some bad blood
between Conteh and others within the governing party, the
APC. It remains to be seen if the letter results in some
reforms or a witch hunt for the authors (or both),but
regardless the general population does not yet share the
disaffection noted by authors--but IS confident that military
intervention is the last thing Sierra Leone needs to make
things right.


PERRY