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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF/W, AF/EX, DS/IP/AF, CA/OCS 
PLEASE PASS ALSO TO PEACE CORPS 
PLEASE PASS ALSO TO AID/AFR 
TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF AFRICAN NATIONS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC AEMR CASC GV
SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 32:  GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 11, 1430 GMT 
 
REF: CONAKRY 164 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald.  Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
----------------------- 
SITUATION ON THE GROUND 
----------------------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) The situation in Guinea remains tense today, Feb. 
11, with sporadic episodes of violent unrest in parts of 
Conakry and upcountry.  The level of unrest is substantially 
lower today than yesterday.  However, everyone expects an 
upsurge in violence tomorrow, Feb. 12, when the general 
strike officially resumes. 
 
¶2.  (C) We have received an unconfirmed/unconfirmed report 
from a source at the Presidency that Prime Minister Eugene 
Camara has submitted to President Lansana Conte a draft 
decree declaring a state of emergency. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Throughout today, Feb. 11, protesters have blocked 
Route du Prince, the main axis down the middle of the 
peninsula upon which the city of Conakry is situated. 
Barricades consisting of burning tires, rocks, garbage, and 
other debris impede all traffic from Hamdallaye to Bambeto to 
Cosa.  Barricades are also blocking Taouyah Road and other 
streets, including access roads to the airport.  Security 
forces have responded to these incidents, temporarily 
dispersing crowds that quickly reformed. 
 
¶4.  (U) The airport remains open, but few flights are 
operating.  Air France has canceled its Paris-Conakry-Paris 
flight today. 
 
¶5.  (C) According to French Ambassador Jean-Michel Berrit 
(strictly protect), Air France canceled the flight because it 
had received threats from people opposed to the planned 
departure of presidential family members on the flight. 
 
¶6.  (C) Many embassy contacts have expressed concern about 
increased lawlessness and vigilantism.  In N'Zerekore, 
capital of the remote Forest Region, one organizer of a DHRF 
program states there is currently no evidence of the rule of 
law in town, as the gendarmes, police and local authorities 
are not present.  Union leader Rabiatou Diallo told PolOff 
she shares those concerns.  She stated the labor unions have 
made no concrete call to action tomorrow because their 
leaders are all confined to their homes, unable to meet due 
to the security situation. "We have no idea what will happen, 
it is uncontrollable," she said, "We offered proposals to the 
government to help calm the people and they didn't listen to 
us." 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The sense of lawlessness is shared by an 
unfortunate Amcit, currently seeking refuge in Kankan.  The 
Amcit, a former Peace Corps volunteer who speaks the local 
languages, was bicycling through the region, hoping to reach 
a safe village before the strike resumed -- disregarding the 
current Travel Warning.  She found shelter with the World 
Food Program coordinator, and nearly had to flee when crowds 
looted the WFP warehouse, office, and threatened the 
residence were they were hiding.  At last contact with the 
consular section, she was frightened but unharmed, and 
security forces have intervened. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Embassy Americans and local employees have reported 
other acts of violence involving security forces, including 
an unconfirmed case in Conakry of a security officer set upon 
by crowds after opening fire.  It is unclear how many people 
have been killed in the last 24 hours. 
 
-------- 
SECURITY 
-------- 
 
¶9.  (C) French Ambassador Jean-Michel Berritt told the 
Ambassador today that his embassy's crisis-management team 
continues to monitor events closely.  He said that he would 
wait to see how events unfold tomorrow before deciding on 
"appropriate measures."  He gave the impression that, if the 
situation deteriorates substantially tomorrow, he would 
commence some form of drawdown or evacuation.  (Note:  The 
French Ambassador is always careful avoid the word 
"evacuation," even with us, because news of a French 
"evacuation" would spread quickly and contribute to anxious 
 
CONAKRY 00000165  002 OF 002 
 
 
speculation about future events.) 
 
¶10.  (SBU) The U.S. Mission remains under Authorized 
Departure for eligible family members.  We understand that 
the U.N. agencies in Guinea are considering moving to a 
similar status. 
 
¶11.  (U) Post remains at full standfast.  All USG personnel 
and private American citizens have been advised to remain at 
home, except for the handful of personnel at the embassy. 
Amcits have received the same message through the latest 
warden message, issued February 10.  The consular section has 
received several inquiries from wardens and other citizens 
regarding next steps if the situation worsens. 
 
¶12.  (C) We are monitoring events very closely.  Post 
management is in frequent contact with core EAC members, some 
of whom are at standfast at home.  We are reviewing our 
security posture on an ongoing basis. 
 
¶13.  (C) Based on the facts on the ground, and with the 
concurrence of the core EAC, the Ambassador is requesting 
(septel) the deployment of an ESAT.  In our judgment, the 
situation will almost certainly deteriorate further and there 
is no near-term resolution in sight, short of President 
Conte's resignation or ouster.  Deployment of an ESAT at the 
juncture appears prudent and justified. 
 
¶14.  (C) We are also considering -- depending upon how events 
unfold tomorrow -- a change in status from Authorized 
Departure for EFMs to Ordered Departure for EFMs and perhaps 
some staff.  We are not/not requesting a change in status as 
of now. 
 
MCDONALD