VZCZCXRO3358
OO RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0215/01 0521513
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211513Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0702
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 000215 
 
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 47: GUINEA UNREST, FEB. 21, 2007, 
1630 GMT 
 
REF: CONAKRY 201 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: PolOff Jessica Davis Ba, Reason 1.4 (b,d) 
 
----------------------- 
Situation on the Ground 
----------------------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Conakry is calm, with moderate traffic, and no 
security incidents reported today.  There is limited public 
transportation.  Some small shops have tentatively opened 
their doors halfway.  Most of the larger food markets 
continue to extend "backdoor" service.  Apart from this 
informal market activity, most economic actors continue to 
observe the general strike. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Fuel shortages remain a problem, particularly in 
the interior.  Several gas stations have been open in Conakry 
the last two days.  Outside of Conakry, fuel is only 
available on the black market at highly inflated prices.  In 
the Forest Region, Guinea's export ban has made it difficult 
for residents and transporters to purchase fuel from 
neighboring countries.  During prior strikes and when road 
conditions cut off the region, people purchased fuel from 
Liberia.  At present, Liberian suppliers, seeking retribution 
for Guinea not making agricultural products available, have 
refused to make petroleum products available across the 
border. 
 
---------------- 
Political Update 
---------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Presidents Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and 
Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone spent several hours in 
country on February 20.  The official purpose of the visit, 
as announced on national radio, was for the neighboring heads 
of state to learn about the evolution of the crisis and the 
present socio-political situation and to reinforce the peace 
and security of the Mano River Union region.  In her 
statement to the press, President Johnson-Sirleaf stated the 
presidents had a positive and frank discussion with Conte and 
"He is ready to listen to suggestions from all sectors of 
society in order to find a solution for peace." 
 
¶4.  (C) During the first part of the meeting, we understand 
that Minister of State for Internal Affairs Moussa Solano 
made a lengthy presentation about the presence of foreign 
infiltrators and their efforts to destabilize Guinea. 
Johnson-Sirleaf and Kabbah reinforced the need to maintain 
security at the borders, as outlined in existing treaties and 
agreements, with zero tolerance for any rebel incursions. 
After the larger discussion, the three heads of state spoke 
privately.  Johnson-Sirleaf and Kabbah reportedly urged a 
dignified departure for Conteand repeated some of the same 
messages that the Ambassador has delivered in recent days -- 
if Conte does not concede, there may be a violent transition. 
 
 
¶5.  (C) Union and religious leaders met February 20 with 
military representatives and the Presidents of the National 
Assembly, Supreme Court and Economic and Social Council. 
National Assembly President Aboubacar Sompare took the lead, 
asking (begging) the unions to accept Eugene Camara as the 
Prime Minister.  Sompare reported that Conte is resisting 
appointing a new prime minister, insisting he has already met 
union demands.  Sompare asked union leaders to work with 
other interlocutors to propose a broad consensus government. 
In a meeting with PolOff earlier in the day, Rabiatou Serah 
Diallo, CNTG General Secretary, said the unions have nothing 
personally against Camara and, in fact, had not even 
determined an official position on his appointment.  (Note: 
Due to the state of siege, union leaders have been prevented 
from holding meetings.)  It is the people who have rejected 
Camara, and the population would not allow the unions to 
accept him as prime minister, Diallo concluded. 
 
¶6.  (C) Participants in yesterday's meeting reconvened this 
morning at 1000 hours at the Palais du Peuple to continue the 
dialogue.  Taibou Diallo, a member of the union coalition 
executive board, called PolOff to ask for advice on how they 
should proceed.  We recommended that the unions use the 
opportunity (and protection) of this sanctioned meeting to 
strategize with one another about their priorities, redlines, 
and potential areas for compromise or conciliation.  We urged 
that they broaden their contacts with the military and, if 
 
CONAKRY 00000215  002 OF 002 
 
 
they had not done so, talk directly with the Prime Minister 
as well.  At the same time, DATT encouraged our military 
contacts to reach out to the unions.  We suggested that all 
actors need to recognize the role they each play and to focus 
on how they might collectively work on stepping back from 
both the risk of unrest and/or an untenable longer-term state 
of siege. 
 
¶7.  (C) On February 21, Sompare announced that the National 
Assembly would be called into session on February 23 at 1000 
hours -- the day the current state of siege expires.  The 
constitution stipulates that only a vote of the National 
Assembly can extend a state of siege beyond 12 days.  Ousmane 
Bah, President of the parliamentary opposition group UPR, 
confirmed that all the deputies are expected to attend, but 
said that he has not been informed of the agenda.  Bah told 
us that he suspects the representatives will be asked to 
extend the state of siege; a "dangerous" proposition.  While 
he expressed his concern for a continued state of siege, Bah 
said that he expected the majority of deputies, affiliated 
with the ruling PUP and associated parties, would back the 
measure, even to the detriment of the country. 
 
------------------ 
Mission Operations 
------------------ 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The Mission has returned to relatively normal 
operations.  The majority of the staff is at work.  With the 
shortage of public transportation, we are providing shuttle 
service for key FSNs from some neighborhoods to the Embassy 
compound. 
 
¶9.  (U) Consular Section reports a moderate level of American 
citizen visits and calls, largely focused on passport renewal 
and advice on options. 
MCDONALD