VZCZCXRO2117
OO RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0201/01 0511331
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 201331Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0686
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 000201 
 
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: 02/20/2017 
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC ELAB PINS AEMR GV
SUBJECT: TFGV01: SITREP 46: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 20, 2007, 
1100 GMT 
 
REF: CONAKRY 195 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: PolOff Jessica Davis Ba, Reason 1.4 (b,d) 
 
 
----------------------- 
Situation on the Ground 
----------------------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) With extended non-curfew hours, we are seeing 
increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic.  Many Guineans 
are using the opportunity to restock, with moderate activity 
in markets, gas stations, and other small shops.  Most large 
stores remained closed, as they have been since January 10. 
The presence of security forces remains at approximately the 
same level as yesterday.  Most of the patrols are being 
carried out by police and gendarmes.  Military continue to 
man the checkpoint into downtown, but this morning, they were 
not searching vehicles that passed.  Little gunfire was 
reported from Conakry's neighborhoods. 
 
¶2.  (C) Despite the current calm, the security situation in 
Guinea remains volatile.  The "state of siege" is scheduled 
to lift February 23 unless the National Assembly approves its 
extension.  We are seeking to pin down whether the National 
Assembly (which is not in session although the constitution 
requires it to be during an emergency) will in fact take 
action Friday.  Due to the uncertainty of events this 
weekend, Embassy Conakry has requested the Emergency Survey 
and Assessment Team (ESAT) to remain at post until Sunday, 
February 25.  This would allow post to maintain the robust 
communications the team currently offers in case the 
situation worsens.  If the weekend remains calm and order is 
maintained without further violence, the ESAT team would be 
prepared to depart as soon as travel is arranged.  The 
Regional Survey Team (RST) here since January 27, has 
completed its work and will depart Thursday, Feb. 22. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Severe fuel shortages have been reported from the 
interior.  We understand the Fouta Jallon and Forest regions 
are most affected.  Shell and Total have begun making 
deliveries, under military escort, from the fuel depot 
downtown to gas stations in Conakry.  The companies told us 
they will resume supplying stations in the interior once the 
security situation improves. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Some mining companies have resumed their 
operations.  On February 16, the Guinean Bauxite Company 
(CBG) resumed minimal activities.  They have been loading a 
ship that plans to leave the port in Kamsar today.  We 
understand that the Russian mining conglomerate RUSAL has 
re-initiated mining in Kindia.  The gold mining companies 
continue to operate at minimal levels. 
 
---------------- 
Political Update 
---------------- 
 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and 
Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone are meeting today with 
Conte and representatives from the government.  We understand 
that other regional presidents (as yet unidentified) may/may 
visit sometime during the week. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) A scheduled February 19 meeting between the 
presidents of the National Assembly, Supreme Court and 
Economic and Social Council, the unions, and some religious 
leaders was canceled.  Institution presidents met without the 
unions to look at a course of action to convince Conte to 
name a new prime minister, since the unions were unwilling to 
negotiate over specific candidates without Conte's express 
commitment to make a new appointment. We understand that the 
meeting has now been rescheduled to 1600 today, and union 
leaders are planning to attend.  The unions have not held 
formal internal meetings since the declaration of the state 
of siege, since freedom of assembly is abrogated.  Lacking a 
forum for discussion, our union contacts agree that their 
bottom line is for the government to uphold the January 27 
agreement, appointing a new prime minister and a broad 
consensus government. 
 
------------------ 
Mission Operations 
------------------ 
 
 
CONAKRY 00000201  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶8.  (U) All American and the majority of locally-engaged 
staff are at work today, permitting us to turn our attention 
to non-crisis responsibilities and tasks. 
 
¶9.  (U) The Consular Section continues to see a steady but 
not unmanageable stream of amcits and guardians of amcit 
children seeking passport renewals and advice.  Dakar Consul 
General Beth Payne departed Conakry this morning after a 
highly welcome and productive stay with us. 
MCDONALD