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S E C R E T CONAKRY 000170 
 
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ASEC CASC PINS AEMR GV
SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 35: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 12, 1330 GMT 
 
REF: CONAKRY 169 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Jessica Davis Ba. Reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Possible mutiny/coup attempt ongoing. 
 
¶2.  (S/NF) Violent disturbances continue in Conakry and in 
the interior of Guinea, largely clashes between security 
forces and civilians, but we also have reports of 
military-on-military clashes, which may be related, in part, 
to the planned coup attempt reported in Sitrep No. 33.  Some 
observers are now referring to a "mutiny." 
 
¶3.  (C) Multiple sources confirm a significant disturbance, 
its exact nature and magnitude unclear, is ongoing at Camp 
Alpha Yaya, Conakry's main military base not too far from the 
airport.  President Conte reportedly spent last night in the 
camp.  When he promoted large segments of the armed forces by 
at least one rank this morning, those disgruntled soldiers 
who were not promoted protested.  To appease them, Conte 
extended the order, promoting the entire armed forces one 
rank.  However, there is continued unrest in the camp. 
 
¶4.  (S) According to unconfirmed reports, just after Conte 
left, ten to twenty lower-ranking soldiers seized control of 
the weapons and ammunitions warehouse and began distributing 
arms to officers, some of whom do not usually carry weapons. 
We have several eyewitness reports, including from FSNs who 
live near the camp, of three to five armored vehicles that 
left the camp in the direction of downtown.  They also report 
seeing some soldiers marching with the people and joining 
their chants of "freedom, freedom." 
 
¶5.  (S/NF) We also have credible reports of fighting at Camp 
Samory Toure in downtown Conakry, the site of the Ministry of 
Defense, the Offices of the Chiefs of Staff, and the 
residence of First Lady Henriette Conte.  It appears that 
when Conte announced the promotions at Camp Alpha Yaya, some 
soldiers fired their weapons to celebrate.  This confused the 
coup-plotters.  Those at Camp Samory Toure in downtown 
Conakry reportedly heard about the shooting at Camp Alpha 
Yaya, thought the coup had begun, and made their move 
prematurely. 
 
¶6.  (S/NF) The situation remains confused and in flux.  The 
military-on-military fighting is continuing, with some of the 
military apparently making common cause with the civilian 
population.  The leaders of the coup attempt are reportedly 
meeting now at Camp Alpha Yaya.  DAO will report more details 
through his channels. 
 
¶7.  (C) Targeted attacks continue in Conakry and in the 
interior on property associated with Conte and his regime. 
In a suburb of Conakry, residents ransacked the house 
belonging to one of Conte's daughters, taking everything 
including her car.  In N'Zerekore, the governor's residence 
was set on fire and huge crowds were headed toward Hotel Mt. 
Nimba, owned by Conte confidant businessman Guido Santullo. 
 
¶8.  (C) The presidents of Guinea's National Assembly, Supreme 
Court, and Economic and Social Council, convoked union 
leaders to the Palais du Peuple for a meeting at 1200 hours. 
The meeting is unlikely to take place since some union 
representatives said they could not get there due to security 
concerns, and the rest said they refused even to try. 
MCDONALD