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DE RUEHRY #0181/01 0461034
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O 151034Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0654
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000181 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR GUINEA TASK FORCE, AF/W, AF/EX, CA/OCS, DS/IP/AF 
PLEASE ALSO PASS TO AID/AFR, PEACE CORPS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017 
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC ELAB PINS AEMR GV
SUBJECT: TFGV01: SITREP 41: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 15, 2007, 
1130 GMT 
 
REF: CONAKRY 177 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: POLOFF JESSICA DAVIS BA, REASON 1.4 (b,d) 
 
----------------------- 
Situation on the Ground 
----------------------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) As of this morning, there were a few military 
patrols in several areas of Conakry.  Most Guineans in the 
capital are respecting the curfew and do not circulate 
between the hours of 1800 and 1200 the next day.  During the 
curfew, the military patrols the neighborhoods, often firing 
warning shots.  A February 15 morning radio announcement 
appealed to the armed forces to continue to take necessary 
measures "to mobilize to ensure peace".  This morning, like 
yesterday, there was some pedestrian traffic and women 
selling cooked food, bread, and small items.  Market stalls, 
stores, and shops remain closed. 
 
¶2.  (C) Since the "state of siege" was implemented February 
12, there are numerous credible reports of significant 
violence against civilians by military forces.  In Conakry, 
this is especially true in the areas of Cosa, Bambeto, and 
Hamdallaye -- the sites of the most serious clashes between 
security forces and the population during the strike and last 
weekend.  Military officers reportedly enter homes and 
private property by force in search of "bandits," and some 
troops allegedly have committed severe human rights 
violations.  They routinely fire shots near residences; spent 
rounds have caused injury and death. 
 
¶3.  (C) The airport remains open, and international flights 
are allowed with the approval of General Kerfalla Camara, 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Post is prepared for 
arrival of milair flight this afternoon at 1600.  Air France 
is a go so far for this afternoon, and additional Air France 
flights are likely over the coming days.  SLOK Air, a 
regional carrier, is reportedly operating several flights a 
week between Conakry, Abidjan and Dakar.  Air Ivoire is 
operating today.  The Moroccan government sent a military 
aircraft to Conakry to facilitate the departure of Embassy 
family members and private Moroccans who wished to depart. 
The Egyptian Charge d'Affaires told Poloff he is planning a 
similar operation with Cairo. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) While the borders are nominally closed, there is 
some traffic across many of Guinea's land borders. Local 
residents, including American citizens, have approached 
military representatives on the ground to facilitate travel. 
 The lack of clarity on the border situation is symptomatic 
of the lack of government control in all aspects of the 
functioning of the state.  We would ask that our embassies in 
neighboring countries approach their border authorities, if 
they have not done so, and query status on that side.  The 
port remains open, according to the Guinean military, but it 
is only minimally staffed. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The government of Guinea is largely shut down. 
While the ministers remain in office, their employees cannot 
get to work because of the curfew. 
 
¶6.  (C) Civilian acts of looting and property destruction 
continue in Conakry and in the interior.  In Labe, residents 
looted the World Food Program warehouse.  Targeted property 
destruction continues on persons who are associated with the 
Conte regime.  The houses belonging to Conte's third wife, 
Minister of Justice Rene Gomez, and several representatives 
of the National Assembly were all destroyed.  One of our 
FSNs, currently in Labe, reported that large segments of the 
population turn out to witness these "celebrations,,led by 
Guinea's youth.  Most of Guinea's ministers have registered 
significant property losses.  Foreign Minister Mamady Conde 
told the Ambassador that he had "lost everything" he worked 
to obtain over his years of service. 
 
¶7.  (C) Significant disturbances were also reported in the 
mining areas.  BHP Billiton Director Rainier Engels confirmed 
to the Ambassador that the company is evacuating all of its 
expatriate staff from operations in Conakry, Sangaredi, 
Nimba, and Boffa.  In Sangaredi, where Global Alumina also 
has operations, one AmCit is present and remains safe.  A 
Conakry-based Global Alumina team is planning to travel to 
Sangaredi today, with a military escort, to bring the AmCit 
and the rest of its team to Conakry. 
 
 
CONAKRY 00000181  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶8.  (C) Since February 12, the Guinean Bauxite Company (CBG) 
has ceased its operations in Kamsar.  Post is working closely 
with the company (Alcoa and Alcan own 51% of CBG) to ensure 
the government extends permission for its small corporate 
plane to evacuate expatriate personnel (including two Amcits) 
to Senegal.  The third CBG American citizen we are aware of 
has traveled to Conakry and has a seat on the milair flight 
out today. 
 
¶9.  Guinea holds 2/3 of the world's known bauxite reserves, 
the raw material for aluminum.  Since December, the price of 
alumina has doubled on the world market reaching over $400 
per ton yesterday. 
 
---------------- 
Political Update 
---------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) The Presidents of Guinea's National Assembly, 
Supreme Court, and Economic and Social Council, under the 
auspices of General Kerfalla, convoked Guinea's trade unions, 
Patronat, and religious leaders to meeting on February 15 at 
1400 at the Palais du People.  The invitation was announced 
on national radio, which stated "all security measures would 
be taken" for the participants in the meeting. 
 
¶11.  (C) Serah Rabiatou Diallo, General Secretary of CNTG, 
told PolOff February 14 that she would not attend any meeting 
unless Kerfalla makes the invitation and provides military 
escort.  Under the state of siege, all meetings and public 
gatherings are outlawed.  Diallo said, "They may use this as 
the perfect opportunity to round all of us up, kill, arrest, 
or otherwise sanction us."  In his meeting with the 
Ambassador (septel), Kerfalla advocated the resumption of 
dialogue and took responsibility for the participants' 
security.  We have urged Diallo and the other union leaders 
to attend the meeting. 
 
¶12.  (C) Poloff met February 14 with union and political 
party leaders to be reported septel.  The leaders agreed that 
contrary to rumors, the synergy among unions, political 
parties, and civil society remains strong because it reflects 
the voice of the larger population.  All admitted that 
current restrictions on movement and communication make it 
virtually impossible to set a common strategy.  Diallo 
expressed concern that they would go into today's 
negotiations unprepared and without a firm position to 
advance. 
 
¶13.  (C) We understand that National Assembly President 
Aboubacar Sompare plans to ask for the names of acceptable 
prime minister candidates.  Upon reaching consensus, the 
government reps would propose these names to Conte.  Current 
Prime Minister Eugene Camara would resign so that Conte could 
appoint the consensus candidate and lift the state of siege. 
We will closely follow the discussions to see how Sompare's 
plan plays out. 
 
------------------ 
Mission Operations 
------------------ 
 
¶14.  (SBU) All American employees in country are at work 
today at the Embassy.  Staff are carpooling to work, hitting 
the road as soon as the curfew for diplomats is lifted at 
¶0800.  On February 14, during the 0800-1800 timeframe, we 
successfully made water and fuel deliveries to residences. 
We expect to receive a fuel delivery tomorrow from Total, 
topping off our supplies.  At present, all employees have 
sufficient fuel, water, and food.  One local grocery will be 
open mid-day (selling goods out the back door), and we have 
organized a van run for replenishment of basic items. 
 
¶15.  (C) EAC met at 0900 to review developments.  Most of 
today's efforts will be in preparation for the arrival of the 
military aircraft this afternoon.  The flight will bring 
Dakar Consul General Beth Payne, who will contribute her 
expertise to our Consular staff in managing the arrangements 
for the transport, tracking, and protection of AmCits. 
MCDONALD