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FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0656
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000182 
 
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: 02/14/2017 
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC ELAB PINS AEMR GV
SUBJECT: TFGV01: HOW CAN WE NEGOTIATE UNDER A STATE OF 
SIEGE? 
 
REF: CONAKRY 180 
 
Classified By: POLOFF JESSICA DAVIS BA, REASON 1.4 (b,d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (C) On February 14, Poloff met with labor union leader 
Rabiatou Serah Diallo and political party leaders Sidya 
Toure, President of UFR, and Ousmane Bah, President of UPR. 
In separate meetings, each deplored the extensive powers 
granted to Guinea's military under the state of siege.  All 
alleged specific instances when military officers have abused 
this power.  They called for an immediate lifting of the 
state of siege, the withdrawal of any foreign militias (a 
reference to the reported presence of Liberian ex-ULIMO/LURD 
mercenaries), and the restoration of citizens' rights.  They 
were all concerned about a growing ethnic dimension to the 
current crisis.  The consensus was that to open a way 
forward, Conte must make room for a fundamental transition of 
power.  The three noted that despite increased communication 
difficulties, they are cooperating to advance the will of the 
people for change.  While extremely suspicious, Diallo agreed 
to attend the meeting called for February 15 by National 
Assembly President Aboubacar Sompare and other figures to 
begin negotiations.  End Summary. 
 
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Military is Untrained and Out of Control 
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¶2.  (C) In separate meetings with Poloff on February 14, 
three of Guinea's union and political party leaders alleged 
that the military is abusing with complete impunity the 
extensive powers given to them by the February 12 declaration 
of a state of siege.  Opposition leader Sidya Toure, 
President of UFR, said that his supporters have recounted 
several instances of military officers invading private 
homes, looting, and abusing residents.  Toure said that he 
personally knows of one case where a military officer beat 
elders in a mosque.  Toure does not fear for his safety with 
the Guinean military, but is fearful of foreign militia (read 
Liberian) that nobody can control. 
 
¶3.  (C) Parliamentary opposition group leader Ousmane Bah, 
President of UPR, told us his regional chiefs report that 
abuses are worse in the interior.  In many areas of the Fouta 
Djallon, Bah's traditional party stronghold, no remnants 
remain of state authority.  Overwhelmed by the magnitude of 
the situation, military officers are shooting people as a 
means of crowd control.  There are unconfirmed reports of at 
least four deaths in Labe.  Bah said that in border cities 
such as Macenta and Guekedou, the military is using this 
opportunity to exact reprisals and significant abuses are 
becoming daily occurrences. 
 
¶4.  (C) CNTG General Secretary Rabiatou Serah Diallo 
complained that the military has never fully respected 
citizens' rights.  Now, they have "carte blanche to shoot to 
kill and destroy everything in between."  Diallo expressed 
fear for the safety of her family.  All of the children in 
her household sleep together because they fear being alone. 
She lamented that due to lack of training and deep divisions 
within its ranks, the military is out of control and cannot 
be trusted.  Diallo said, "I know that I am under direct 
threat -- my government thinks that I am the enemy."  Diallo 
declared that without the attention of the international 
community, she would already be dead. 
 
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Ethnic Dimensions Brewing? 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Over the last year, the union and civil society 
movement has largely overcome ethnic divisions.  Guineans 
have demonstrated distinct solidarity -- attributed by some 
to a sense of universal misery.  Union and political party 
leaders have gone to great lengths to avoid playing their 
ethnic cards.  Toure said that over the last week, he has 
witnessed a distinct effort by Conte's coterie to play up 
ethnic differences and anti-Peuhl sentiment.  All the leaders 
cautioned that if left alone, the current state of affairs 
could devolve into a more ethnic-based conflict. 
 
¶6.  (C) Toure said that we must do everything we can "to 
 
CONAKRY 00000182  002 OF 003 
 
 
avert a civil war."  He expressed extreme concern over 
reports that following conflicts at Camp Alpha Yaya earlier 
in the week, many of the soldiers never returned to the base. 
 He said that arms and ammunition are missing and they have 
gotten into the hand of youth who are frustrated and have 
nothing to lose.  Toure said that one young man recently told 
him, "If the military keep shooting at us, we will kill their 
families; we know where they live." 
 
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Conte Never Negotiates 
---------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Sidya Toure said that he and other leaders are doing 
everything possible to remain united.  He stays in permanent 
contact with civil society leaders.  Toure said that while he 
has spent the last several years urging a clean break from 
Conte and Guinea's past political leadership, it is now the 
unanimous message of all Guineans.  Toure said that he has 
been struck by the popular rejection of Conte, even in his 
maternal village where demonstrators reportedly are calling 
for him to step down.  He cautioned that this pressure is 
making Conte dig in his heels even further. 
 
¶8.  (C) Asked about resumption of dialogue.  Toure declared, 
"Conte does not dialogue; he only reacts to force."  He urged 
that the United States could be that force.  Toure said that 
though there is currently an ECOWAS representative in Guinea, 
this intervention will be ineffectual.  (Note: ECOWAS 
Chairperson Blaise Compaore sent a relatively junior Minister 
of National Unity to speak with government representatives.). 
 Toure urged the U.S. Government to issue a strong statement 
and demand that Conte put an immediate end to the "state of 
siege" and the military occupation of Guinea.  He said that 
Secretary Rice should send a message to Conte emphasizing 
 
SIPDIS 
that it will be his personal responsibility if chaos returns 
to this region that the international community has worked so 
long to stabilize. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Unions Appear Split Over Attendance 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) Just prior to the meeting with Poloff, Rabiatou Serah 
Diallo received a convocation to the Palais du Peuple on 
February 15 to begin dialogue.  She was concerned about 
participating, fearing that the military and General Kerfalla 
cannot be trusted, but told poloff February 15 that she 
planned to attend.  Diallo said she only agreed to do so once 
it was made clear that the institution presidents were 
inviting relevant actors under the auspices of General 
Kerfalla.  Diallo asked Poloff to contact her number two, 
Amadou Diallo, to convince him also to attend.  Diallo said 
that she will continue to seek a durable solution to this 
crisis, which must involve a transition in leadership. 
 
¶10.  (C) Poloff spoke with several union leaders February 15 
to urge them to attend the meeting.  Poloff said that the 
Ambassador spoke directly with General Kerfalla who expressed 
his support for dialogue and assured their security.  Yamodou 
Toure, another one of the four key union general secretaries 
directly confirmed to us he will go.  Rabiatou Diallo said 
that she did not know who else would be there.  We were not 
able to contact USTG General Secretary Ibrahim Fofana. 
Taibou Diallo, a member of the civil-military committee and 
the executive board of the union coalition confirmed that 
Fofana has refused to attend the meeting and dialogue with 
any representative of this government.  Fofana has reportedly 
shut off all his phones and refused contact with national and 
international labor representatives encouraging him to 
participate. 
 
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Comment 
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¶11.  (C) Union and political leaders all appeared tired and 
out of sorts, and clearly felt cut off from information and 
their key contacts.  They underscored that Conte's regime is 
doing everything in its power to prevent them from 
organizing.  None has control over the acts of violence by 
the population.  They emphasized that civilians targeting and 
destroying property was wrong, and emphasized that contrary 
to what the government would like for everyone to think, it 
is not based on ethnicity.  Soussous are destroying Soussou 
houses, Peuhls robbing others Peuhls, and Malinkes burning 
 
CONAKRY 00000182  003 OF 003 
 
 
down the properties of other Malinkes.  They agreed that in 
the present situation, they believe the situation would get 
worse before it can improve.  The bottom line is with Conte, 
they said.  None believed that Guinea's Head of State has any 
interest or ability to solve the present crisis. 
MCDONALD