VZCZCXRO1838
OO RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0195/01 0501302
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 191302Z FEB 07 ZDK DUE TO NUMEROUS SERVICES
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0679
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHFT/GOLFCO MSGBN AMCONGEN FRANKFURT GE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2/J5// IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000195 
 
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: 02/19/2017 
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC ELAB PINS AEMR GV
SUBJECT: TFGV01: SITREP 45: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 19, 2007, 
1245 GMT 
 
REF: CONAKRY 187 AND PREVIOUS 
 
CONAKRY 00000195  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: PolOff Jessica Davis Ba, Reason 1.4 (b,d) 
 
 
----------------------- 
Situation on the Ground 
----------------------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Non-curfew hours have been extended to 0600-1800 
for all residents in Guinea, effective February 19; this 
doubles the time people may circulate freely on foot or by 
vehicle.  General Kerfalla Camara, Chief of Staff of the 
Armed Forces, included the relaxation in his daily broadcast 
evening of February 18.  He did not lift the state of siege, 
nor have the unions suspended the general strike.  After a 
slow start to the day, there is significantly more vehicular 
traffic, including taxis, than there has been since February 
¶9.  Some small shops and market stalls are open.  The 
environment is similar in the interior. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The military continues to decrease its visible 
presence.  Few military are deployed in the streets, and 
there is little gunfire during their patrols through 
Conakry's neighborhoods.  In his February 18 radio address, 
General Kerfalla thanked the entire population for following 
the orders of the state of siege and asked them to continue 
vigilance and good behavior.  He stated, "I remain optimistic 
that we can achieve peace and development through the 
participation of all Guineans."  Kerfalla emphasized that the 
state of siege is a temporary measure, necessary to return to 
peace. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Police and gendarmes are taking the lead on patrols 
and at checkpoints.  Checkpoints remain, but fewer than last 
week; most operated only during curfew hours.  Red berets 
remain at the checkpoint at Castro bridge, the chokepoint to 
downtown, which is continuous in curfew and non-curfew hours. 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) On the February 18 national news, Minister of 
Justice Gomez discussed the ongoing investigation into 
"Guineans who have killed other Guineans."  Gomez explained 
that international investigations take place only when a 
government refuses to undertake an inquiry, which was not the 
case in Guinea.  He said that Guinea has sufficient human 
resources and expertise to mount the investigation, but would 
not hesitate to call on international assistance for 
technical questions they could not answer.  Gomez concluded, 
"This problem is Guinean -- it happened in Guinea, by 
Guineans, and it will be managed by Guineans." 
 
¶5.  (C) The government continues its operations to identify 
and arrest "foreign actors;" security forces are targeting 
persons believed to be connected with LURD, ULIMO, or other 
militias.  Our sources confirm the arrest of at least 100 
persons who are being detained at various military facilities 
in Guinea.  Over the weekend, military arrested Lieutenant 
Manou Cisse, active military officer and counselor at the 
presidency, for her connection with former LURD leader Aisha 
Conneh, the reported lead organizer of the militia force. 
Contrary to earlier reports, our sources tell us that Conneh 
did not intend to use the militias to support Conte. 
Instead, Conneh, in connection with former Minister of 
Presidential Affairs Fode Bangoura and others, is suspected 
of organizing efforts to seize power. 
 
-------------------- 
U.S. Press Statement 
-------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The press statement released by the Embassy 
February 16 has received widespread coverage in the 
international media and on the internet.  National outlet RTG 
did not publish it.  Reports from contacts suggest that many 
Guineans heard the statement on shortwave broadcasts from RFI 
or BBC.  The statement was disseminated quickly on the web, 
as editors on our initial address list responded that they 
were passing to others who would be interested. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Reaction has been positive.  A Guinean professor in 
the U.S. said the statement was "encouraging and conforms to 
the traditions which represent the ideal and honor of the 
United States."  Other international representatives were 
highly appreciative of its forthrightness.  An Embassy FSN 
currently in Labe, about 8 hours from Conakry, said that 
 
CONAKRY 00000195  002 OF 002 
 
 
Guineans there were very happy with the statement, which they 
heard on shortwave.  There was confusion in some quarters as 
to whether this is an official U.S. Government position or 
simply an Embassy statement. 
---------------- 
Political Update 
---------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) Following the Ambassador's appeal on Feburary 16 for 
implementation of Article 34 to remove President Conte, 
National Assembly President Sompare, Supreme Court President 
Sidime, and Economic and Social Council President Kamano 
consulted with religious leaders.  Then, on February 17, they 
all (the three institutional presidents and the religious 
leaders) called on President Conte and reportedly told him 
that the American ambassador was advising that he should step 
down "before its to late."  Conte reportedly reacted 
negatively, criticizing them for not coming to see him as 
fellow Guineans but rather at the behest of a foreigner. 
General Kerfalla was also present. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) A planned meeting February 17 including union 
leaders, religious leaders, and presidents of the national 
assembly, supreme court, and ecnomic and social council did 
not take place.  Although they have not made a formal 
statement, union leaders told us that since the military did 
not honor Rabiatou Serah Diallo's February 15 request to lift 
the state of siege, they would not begin negotiations.  The 
union leadership has not met since February 9 and has thus 
not been able to prepare a common position to advocate in 
negotiations.  Taibou Diallo, USTG executive committee 
member, told Poloff that it is imperative for them to meet if 
they are to move forward.  Thus far, they have not received 
approval for any meetings under the state of siege, even with 
the relaxed curfew hours. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) On February 18, union leaders met with religious 
leaders.  We understand the union demarche was for the Muslim 
and Christian clerics to ask Conte to lift the state of 
siege.  The religious leaders reportedly asked the unions 
whether they would be able to guarantee continued calm if 
this were to happen.  Unable to make this guarantee, the 
unions asked for an eased curfew.  That evening, General 
Kerfalla announced the new curfew hours. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) The unions told us they are willing to go back to 
the table if there is a firm basis for discussion.  They have 
been asked by the presidents of the national assembly, 
supreme court, and ecnonomic and social council to propose 
names for new prime minister.  However, the unions are 
seeking assurances that Conte has personally issued this 
directive.  The unions maintain that they have already 
engaged in dialogue, resulting in the January 27 agreement. 
Unions leaders urge the government to follow the signed 
roadmap.  Until the government lives up to its side of the 
bargain, the unions plan to continue the general strike. 
 
------------------ 
Mission Operations 
------------------ 
 
¶12.  (SBU) On February 18, Mission staff went to modified 
standfast for non-curfew hours to allow employees to shop and 
visit friends.  They are required to have their radios and 
cell phones in possession at all times.  There have been no 
direct threats to AmCits of staff during the recent unrest. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Consular staff are seeing steady traffic at the 
ACS window; about 7 people came in on special Saturday hours, 
and another dozen so far today.  Most are dual nationality 
minors, whose guardians are looking for assistance to travel 
to the U.S.  Conoffs received about 24 calls from Friday 
evening to this morning.  The airport remains open, with 
several flights scheduled.  Amcits desirous of leaving on 
commercial air have been able to do so. 
MCDONALD