VZCZCXRO6113
OO RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0243/01 1501233
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291233Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2587
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
PROG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000243 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PMIL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONAKRY - SITUATION REPORT 10 
 
REF: A. CONAKRY 0224 - 0228 
     ¶B. CONAKRY 0231 - 0233 
     ¶C. CONAKRY 0236 
 
Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY.  There have been reports of an increased 
military presence outside the military camps, roadblocks 
manned by presidential loyalists, as well as possible 
movements of mutineers.  Visual evidence suggests that there 
is some truth to these reports, but the extent of military 
movements, and from which elements, remains unclear.  Some 
contacts, including the PM, are beginning to talk about a 
possible coup attempt.  At the same time, the PM says that 
the negotiations are going well and that he expects to reach 
an agreement with the mutineers.  A dearth of information is 
feeding numerous rumors, making it difficult to filter out 
fact from fiction.  Embassy has not received any concrete 
indication that a coup is underway.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------- 
INCREASED MILITARY ACTIVITY 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Embassy has begun receiving reports of an increased 
military presence outside the military camps.  The Red Berets 
(the presidential guard) are reportedly maintaining their 
roadblock at the Castro Bridge, which controls access to 
downtown.  They continue to check vehicles, but there are no 
reports of them preventing commuters from proceeding. 
Sources report that there are now also several other 
roadblocks set up throughout the city, which are manned by 
soldiers presumably loyal to the president.  Embassy has 
received reports of military movements toward the downtown 
area with soldiers described as wearing older uniforms but 
heavily armed, no red berets, and no evidence of rank, 
suggesting that they may be elements of the mutiny.  RSO did 
a short tour of neighborhoods close to the Embassy around 
11:30 and did not see any increased military presence. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) An American contractor staying at the Hotel 
Camayenne, which is halfway to downtown, reported that he had 
been advised by hotel staff to stay in the hotel.  Embassy 
has received reports of tire and vehicle burnings, but has 
not seen any evidence of such activities. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The main open air market of Medina is closed.  Gas 
stations remain closed.  Following reports of increased 
military activity, the American School closed. 
 
------------------------ 
REPORT FROM THE INTERIOR 
------------------------ 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The Director of Surety in Faranah (Upper Guinea) 
told RSO LES that soldiers in the area have been "out of 
control since yesterday."  He reported that one of the 
soldiers was killed by a higher ranking military officer when 
the "mutineers" were attempting to raid the armory for 
ammunition.  The Governor of Faranah told RSO LES that he had 
just come from a meeting where he advised all soldiers to 
remain calm.  He said that he would call the Embassy to 
advise when "it is safe to travel to Faranah."  He did not 
comment directly on any alleged mutinous activities in the 
region. 
 
----------------- 
WHO IS BEING HELD 
----------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) Embassy has confirmed with another source an earlier 
report indicating that the Deputy Chief of the Navy, Colonel 
Traore, is being held by the mutineers at Camp Alpha Yaya. 
The reasons for his detention remain unclear, but he was part 
of the initial negotiation team that went in with General 
Sampil. 
 
---------------------------------- 
PHONE CALL FROM THE PRIME MINISTER 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare called Ambassador 
Carter at 11:38 to discuss the current situation.  The PM 
said that he thinks the GoG and the mutineers are moving 
closer to an agreement.  However, he also said that he is 
getting the sense that there are certain elements taking 
advantage of the momentum behind the mutiny to possibly 
organize a coup d'etat.  He mentioned that President Conte is 
 
CONAKRY 00000243  002 OF 002 
 
 
currently at Camp Samory Toure, which is located downtown. 
When the Ambassador asked about the payments to soldiers, 
Souare said that they were going to start releasing the 
payments soon, but then interrupted himself to say that they 
had already started. 
 
¶10.  (C) The Ambassador mentioned the incident at the airport 
yesterday evening with a U.S. support flight.  The PM said 
that the airport is open and apologized for the behavior of 
what he called "undisciplined" troops.  He said the lack of 
discipline is the root of the problem and that the population 
does not support the military's actions.  The PM said that 
the mutiny represents an effort to destabilize the 
government.  The Ambassador encouraged the PM to communicate 
with the population, noting that there has been little 
official information disseminated as to what is going on. 
The PM called the Ambassador's suggestion an "excellent 
recommendation." 
 
------ 
RUMORS 
------ 
 
¶11.  (C) A dearth of information has given rise to numerous 
rumors.  There is now active discussion of the possibility of 
a coup attempt, but Embassy has not received any clear 
indication that a coup is in fact underway.  Contacts may 
provide information that they believe to be fact, but that 
they may have only heard as a rumor from someone else. 
Embassy continues to take in information and filter it as 
much as possible in order to provide an accurate account of 
the situation. 
CARTER