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DE RUEHRY #0534 1341541
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O 141541Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1087
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000534 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2017 
TAGS: PINS ASEC CASC GV
SUBJECT: SITREP NO. 4: MILITARY UNREST, MAY 14, 1530 HOURS 
GMT 
 
REF: CONAKRY 529 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Conakry remains calm.  Traffic patterns are normal. 
Schools, shops, stores, and offices are open.  Some 
businesses in the Matam district, the site of looting on the 
night of May 12-13, remain closed. 
 
¶2.  (C) This morning, May 14, Minister of Defense General 
Arafan Camara formally relinquished his position to General 
Bailo Diallo at a brief ceremony at Camp Samory Toure in 
downtown Conakry where the Ministry of Defense is located. 
The turnover unfolded without incident. 
 
¶3.  (C) At about the same time, General Diarra Camara, newly 
appointed Chief of Defense Staff, arrived in Conakry by road 
from Kankan.  He is supposed to succeed General Kerfalla 
Camara at a ceremony tomorrow morning, May 15, also at Camp 
Samory Toure. 
 
¶4.  (C) According to unconfirmed reports, on the night of May 
13-14, Chinese-trained commandos arrested six military 
personnel identified as leading the protest movement.  In 
addition, according to MOD sources, approximately 100 
military personnel have been arrested for looting and 
incarcerated at the Red Berets barracks in downtown Conakry. 
 
¶5.  (C) The anti-gang police informed the RSO that they will 
conduct joint police-military patrols to prevent renewed 
looting.  The civilian police will patrol the warehouse 
districts, but they will step aside and let the military deal 
with any military looters.  (There is a long history of 
rivalry between the police and military in Guinea, and the 
police do not want to find themselves in the position of 
arresting military personnel.  We wonder why the paramilitary 
gendarmes are not playing this law-enforcement role rather 
than the civilian police twinned with the regular military.) 
 
¶6.  (C) This morning, May 14, additional Chinese-trained 
soldiers arrived at Camp Alpha Yaya.  These soldiers have 
reportedly said they will be responsible for escorting 
President Lansana Conte to Camp Alpha Yaya to speak with 
other military personnel tomorrow. 
 
¶7.  (C) While the civilian population has remained relatively 
silent over the last week, the union confederation issued a 
statement on May 11 urging the military to pursue dialogue 
and non-violent protest in the pursuit of its goals.  Prime 
Minister Kouyate echoed this sentiment in his address to the 
nation on May 12.  The Prime Minister emphasized the 
concessions the government has made in response to the 
soldiers' demands.  Kouyate implored the soldiers to make any 
legitimate demands solely through non-violent means.  He 
deplored the current escalation that has already resulted in 
six deaths, 70 persons injured, and significant property 
destruction. 
 
¶8.  (C) During a brief conversation with the Ambassador this 
morning, Prime Minister Kouyate intimated that President 
(General) Lansana Conte was now taking the lead in resolving 
this dispute within the military.  That said, we detect that 
the rank-and-file are beginning to lose confidence in 
President Conte, who has stood them up repeatedly. 
 
¶9.  (C) The U.S. Mission remains open and fully staffed.  All 
American are safe.  We continue to monitor the situation 
closely. 
MCDONALD