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DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
GOLFCO MSGBN AMCONGEN FRANKFURT GE
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2/J5//
R 122056Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0642
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
GOLFCO MSGBN AMCONGEN FRANKFURT GE IMMEDIATE
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2/J5// IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000173 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR M, CA/OCS, DS/CC, DS/IP/AF, AF/W, AF/EX 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC PREL PINR AMGT GV
SUBJECT: SITREP 37: FEBRUARY 12, 2007, 2130 
 
REF: CONAKRY 171 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: DCM Julie Winn, Reason 1.4(b,d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Guinea is under martial law.  Appearing briefly on 
television and radio at just after 2000 local February 12, 
President Lansana Conte expressed his disappointment that 
when he had met union conditions for ending the general 
strike, people had in bad faith nonetheless caused disruption 
and resumed the strike.  The announcer then read a  decree 
that established a "state of siege," effective immediately 
and until February 23. 
 
¶2.  (C) Key elements of the decree include: 
-- establishment of a curfew against all traffic (vehicular 
and pedestrian) running from 0600 to 1600 and 2000 to 0600 
(i.e. a window of 4 hours); 
-- provision that the military controls most police functions 
-- curtailment of freedom of the press, military authority to 
shut down print and broadcast media; 
-- right of the military to do search and seizure without 
notice, as well as to arrest anyone suspected of sedition or 
secret meetings; 
 
SIPDIS 
control of posts and telecommunications. 
 
¶3.  (C) The act seems to be outside the bounds of Guinea's 
constitution.  Early indications are, nonetheless, that the 
military is zealous already.  Airport Commandant called GSO 
at about 2045 to state that Army Chief of Staff General 
Kerfalla Camara had confirmed to him that no/no vehicles 
could circulate, including those of the U.S. Embassy, which 
was planning to meet and bring passengers to a military plane 
arriving morning of Tuesday, February 13.  Hence, he said, he 
would not be opening the airport to us.  Our contract guard 
service reports that military have told its roving 
supervisor/patrols to get off the roads now. 
 
¶4.  (C) Ambassador called Foreign Minister Conde immediately 
to stress Guinea's responsibilities towards diplomats under 
the Vienna Conventions.  He emphasized that we had an 
aircraft coming in early the next morning, and that we must 
be able to reach it.  He also said that our guard service 
must be able to circulate in order to protect U.S. personnel 
and properties effectively.  Conde promised to try to reach 
Kerfalla. 
 
¶5.  (C) FM Conde subsequently called back to say he had 
failed to reach Kerfalla  He had spoken with Justice Minister 
Rene Alseny Gomes, however, who had confirmed to him that 
diplomatic vehicles and personnel were exempt from curfew. 
(Note: We do not intend to leave it there; we are seeking to 
speak directly to Kerfalla as soon as possible, in order to 
lay down our markers and to ensure he passes the word to the 
airport commandant. End Note). 
 
¶6.  (C) FM Conde also told Ambassador that the civilian 
government remains in place.  "The military has been given 
authority over domestic security," he said. 
 
¶7.  (C) French Ambassador is also pursuing efforts to ensure 
diplomats are not affected directly by this decree. 
 
¶8.  (C) DCM and others are at Embassy overnight.  AMB was due 
to relieve at dawn. 
 
MCDONALD