CLASHES IN N'ZEREKORE KILL 2, WOUND 38

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000090 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC GV SUBJECT: CLASHES IN N'ZEREKORE KILL 2, WOUND 38 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: During two days of ethno-religious clashes in N'Zerekore, the capital of Guinea's Forest Region, two people were reportedly killed, 38 people were wounded, and two are missing. A government delegation that was sent to the region on February 7 has at least temporarily quelled the situation. END SUMMARY. -------------- SMALL SCALE CLASHES -------------- ¶2. (U) While there has been underlying tension in the Forest Region since Dadis Camara was shot in December, divisions within the city came to a head on January 30 during afternoon prayer. According to witnesses, there was a particularly large crowd of Muslims at a central mosque in the city and worshippers overflowed into the street during the prayer ceremony. Several Guerze youth, including some women, walked in front of the worshippers during prayer. When the worshippers warned the youth not to walk in front of the gathering, the group apparently continued to do so in protest. A small-scale fight ensued between the group and the worshippers. One woman was apparently struck and hospitilized, though no other serious injuries were reported from the clash. ¶3. (U) During the following week, the Mayor of N'Zerekore and the Imams of local mosques agreed that they would attempt to keep the streets clear during Friday prayers in order to deter any further violence. They promised to divert worshippers to alternative mosques if necessary to keep people from praying in the streets. Despite the Imams' promises, on February 5 the streets overflowed during prayer services. In protest, a group of young Guerze (Dadis' ethnic group) reportedly rode their motorcycles through the crowd. Another fight ensued and the Imams called for law enforcement intervention. When police arrived on the scene, both the Christian and Muslim groups were throwing rocks at each other and at police. The police and gendarmes then sprayed tear gas to disperse the crowd. ¶4. (U) During the night, small-scale conflicts broke out between predominantly Guerze youth and their Muslim counterparts. On the evening of February 6, Muslim youth set fire to several establishments populated by Christians, claiming that they were the centers of prostitution and vice. As a result, local authorities instituted a curfew through Feb 7. ¶5. (U) Reportedly, two people were killed during the clashes, one of which was apparently thrown into a water well. At least 38 others were wounded in the fighting and two people, including a local Imam, are still reported missing. ¶6. (U) On Sunday, February 7, Interim President Sekouba Konate sent a government delegation consisting of the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Religious Affairs, and the Archbishop of Conakry to N'Zerekore to negotiate a settlement between the groups. There has been no violence reported since their arrival, and the situation seems to be, at least temporarily, subdued. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (U) Both the media and contacts within the region have suggested that the clahes were mainly between ethnic Guerze and Malinke youth. However, it is not confirmed whether these are the only ethnic groups involved in the clashes. N'Zerekore is a majority Christian city in the predominantly Muslim country. However, it is also a large city that attracts populations from each region of Guinea, creating a confluence of ethnic groups and religions that can act to highlight divisions. N'Zerekore has been a flashpoint in the past, but is increasingly becoming an area of concern in the aftermath of Dadis' shooting. The Guerze youth, who benefited both monetarily and in status under Dadis Camara's presidency have expressed concern for their future and are demanding that Konate bring Dadis "back home" immediately. Despite political tensions, these clashes appear to be based on CONAKRY 00000090 002 OF 002 ethnic and religious divisions. There were similar, but more widespread, ethno-religious clashes in N'Zerekore five years ago which resulted in the death of at least 20 people. However, law enforcement officials, local government, and the GOG acted swiftly to negotiate a truce between the sides and appear successful thus far. Moller