VZCZCXRO2644
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0670/01 3091320
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041320Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3115
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000670 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV ELAB PREL GV
SUBJECT: CIVIL UNREST CONTINUES IN CONAKRY 
 
REF: A. CONAKRY 0663 
     ¶B. CONAKRY 0668 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  Although the night was relatively quiet 
in Conakry, protestors and security forces were already 
mobilizing at 0700 for renewed demonstrations at key traffic 
intersections throughout the city.  Embassy continues to 
receive reports of protest activity, including tire burning, 
road blocks, and gunfire.  Police and gendarmes are 
responding to the situation, and the military remain confined 
to their barracks.  The GoG does not appear to have 
coordinated a response, essentially delegating crisis 
management responsibilities to the new Minister of Security. 
Available information suggests that these protests are random 
and spontaneous, but the continued lack of security may 
encourage other groups to take advantage of the civil 
disorder to advance their own agendas.  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
PROTESTORS DESTROY LOCAL POLICE COMMISSARIAT 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) During yesterday's demonstrations (reftels), police 
reportedly arrested about 50 protestors and detained them at 
a local police commissariat in Cosa.  Youths in the area 
banded together and attacked the commissariat, breaking down 
the doors to release the detainees.  They then completely 
destroyed the building.  A new, reportedly unarmed police 
recruit was inadvertently killed during the melee.  (COMMENT. 
 This death is likely the same one reported yesterday in 
reftel B.  END COMMENT). 
 
---------------------------------- 
RELATIVE CALM THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The situation in Conakry was relatively calm 
overnight after a day of sporadic demonstrations across the 
city.  LES staff reported hearing gunfire throughout the 
night, although there were no reports of large gatherings or 
other demonstrations.  Embassy employees driving home 
yesterday evening saw evidence of rock throwing and tire 
burning, as well as broken glass and road blockages.  Groups 
of youths were sitting by the roadside.  Market stalls along 
the Bambeto traffic circle had been completely destroyed. 
Government officials went on national radio last night, 
encouraging citizens to remain calm and join together in 
peace.  The Minister of Education was on air earlier in the 
day encouraging parents to keep their children home from 
school.  Airport contacts report that all flights came in as 
scheduled and that the aiport remains open. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Two members of the Embassy's contracted guard force 
were reportedly robbed while walking on the T2 road between 
Bambeto and the Embassy.  They were stripped down to their 
underwear and robbed of everything they were carrying, 
including 180,000 GnF ($37.50) and a cellular phone. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) At approximately 1700 yesterday, an Embassy staff 
member was attacked after leaving the Embassy, while walking 
towards Bambeto.  One of the demonstrators reportedly stabbed 
him in the arm with a pair of scissors, and the employee 
returned to the Embassy for medical treatment. 
 
------------------------------------- 
RENEWED DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE MORNING 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Protestors began mobilizing again on Tuesday 
morning, and police and gendarmes were out in full force.  At 
07:00, RSO staff reported seeing 40 police deployed to the 
Bambeto traffic circle and 20 police along the Rue de la 
Prinze leading to the Hamdallaye traffic circle.  On his way 
into work, DATT saw approximately 75 gendarmes at Hamdallaye 
Circle patrolling towards Bambeto.  He also saw a large 
police contingent along Rue de la Prinze, including members 
of the specialized MAMBA unit, who were clearing debris from 
the road and working their way towards Hamdallaye.  A GSO 
staff member reported seeing a large group of armed police 
walking on the T2 road towards Bambeto. 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) By 0800, Embassy employees could hear gunfire 
coming from the Bambeto traffic circle, which is located 
about a half a mile from the Embassy.  ECON LES, who must 
walk through the circle to get to work, reported that one 
person had already been shot. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) DATT reported that at 0940, police and gendarmes in 
 
CONAKRY 00000670  002 OF 003 
 
 
Hamdallaye had started firing their weapons.  There were 
unconfirmed reports of two dead and several injured.  The 
youths had reportedly moved from the area and were heading 
down the road to the Touiyah market. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) As of noon on Tuesday, Embassy continued to receive 
reports of civil disturbances, road blockages, and sporadic 
gunfire from various parts of the city. 
 
------------------ 
SECURITY POSTURING 
------------------ 
 
¶10.  (SBU) The GoG beefed up security this morning around the 
national public broadcast station, Radio Television Guinean 
(RTG), which is located across the street from the Embassy. 
The guards were wearing helmets and carrying light weapons, 
actively dispersing youths who were congregating near the 
building. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) A convoy of 14 military trucks reportedly went 
into Camp Boiro (located in the downtown area) around 0900. 
The military continue to remain in the camps and have not 
attempted to intervene in the civil disturbances.  The 
Minister of Defense has reportedly restricted travel of 
military personnel through Saturday.  General Camara, the 
Chief of Defense, told DATT to assure the American Charge 
that the military will observe its constitutional role and 
let the police handle local security. 
 
------------------------------ 
RELATIVE QUIET IN THE INTERIOR 
------------------------------ 
 
¶12.  (SBU) Embassy contacts in cities throughout the country 
indicate that the civil unrest is currently limited to the 
capital.  In Kindia (two hours away), a contact reported that 
the local population is unhappy with the new fuel price, but 
that they are not yet ready to demonstrate. A contact in Labe 
(six hours away) said that the city is calm, but that there 
is no fuel available locally.  He noted that the population 
is "waiting for a signal from Conakry" before reacting. 
Despite riots over the weekend, the Boke region remains calm. 
 However, a contact indicated that residents of Kola Boundji 
(a town between Kamsar and Boke) are threatening to block the 
roads and railroad if the GoG does not provide them with 
water and electricity.  Contacts in N'Zerekore (Forest 
Region), Siguiri (Upper Guinea), and Koundara (on western 
border with Senegal) indicate that all is calm, but people 
are unhappy about fuel prices.  Similar sentiments were 
reported from Kankan, which has also reportedly experienced a 
general slowdown in regular economic activities. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Military contacts in the interior also reported 
that the situation is calm, but said that they have increased 
military patrols and canceled weekend leave.  They told DATT 
that they have been instructed to use force if the civilian 
population begins to attack government buildings. 
 
------------------- 
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE 
------------------- 
 
¶14.  (SBU) The Guinean Government has not coordinated a 
response to the security situation, essentially leaving the 
crisis to the Minister of Security, who was just appointed to 
his position a few weeks ago.  The Chief of Defense told DATT 
that he had not received any instructions from the 
government, and that he had already visited the prime 
minister twice before 1000 this morning.  A youth leader told 
DATT that he had met with the Director General of the Police 
yesterday evening to try and encourage mediation and 
restraint.  The Police DG reportedly told contact that he had 
been instructed by the "highest authority" to maintain a 
police presence and ensure order. 
 
¶15.  (SBU) The leader of Haal Pular, an ethnically based 
organization closely tied to the Peuhls, told POL LES that he 
accompanied the Minister of Security this morning to meet 
with local elders and young protestors in Bambeto.  They 
reportedly encouraged the elders and the youths to work 
together to resolve the situation and restore calm. 
(COMMENT.  Many of the demonstrations are taking place in 
predominantly Peuhl neighborhoods, such as Bambeto and 
Hamdallaye.  Haal Pular is closely linked to Prime Minister 
Souare, who is Peuhl.  END COMMENT). 
 
----------------------- 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 
 
CONAKRY 00000670  003 OF 003 
 
 
----------------------- 
 
¶16.  (SBU) DATT met with representatives of the French, 
German, and Spanish embassies yesterday evening.  They all 
expressed concern about the situation, agreeing that it was 
likely to escalate over the next few days.  They noted that a 
number of youths had been severely beaten by the security 
forces and suggested that the protestors may be prompted to 
retaliate with more violence.  The Spanish representative 
said that his embassy would be closed on Tuesday, although 
both the French and the Germans said that they planned to 
open as usual.  Embassy was able to confirm that the Germans 
did open on Tuesday morning, but a German diplomat said that 
they are "nervous." 
 
------------- 
CIVIL SOCIETY 
------------- 
 
¶17.  (SBU) Diplomatic contacts suggested that union leaders 
may soon take an official position in this crisis.  Embassy 
sources report that the labor unions have not yet been able 
to meet, but that they are scheduled to get together at noon 
today.  Union leader Rabiatou Serah Diallo left for Geneva 
last night to attend an International Labor Conference. 
 
¶18.  (SBU) POL LES contacted several youth leaders who claim 
that they and their organizations have nothing to do with the 
protestors in the streets.  One prominent leader said that he 
would be joining the labor union meeting later today in order 
to encourage calm, and to establish a group of civil society 
leaders who can negotiate with the government on behalf of 
the population. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶19.  (SBU) Available information suggests that the protests 
are currently more random and spontaneous in nature.  Key 
Embassy contacts throughout civil society (including youth 
leaders), the military, opposition political parties, 
etcetera claim to be completely uninvolved.  The unions tend 
to respect the letter of the law, providing a 
pre-notification of strike and then an actual notification of 
strike before taking action.  Although various contacts have 
been advocating for change over the past several months, they 
tend to prefer to first organize a core group of committed 
supporters, articulate a clear agenda with specific 
objectives, and then move forward, usually within the 
confines of the law. 
 
¶20.  (SBU) The general lack of security in Conakry is 
emboldening criminal elements and making citizens uneasy. 
Markets are closed, traffic is blocked, and the city has 
essentially shut down.  While the protests currently appear 
largely unstructured, the GoG's lack of a coordinated 
response could prompt other civil and/or military groups to 
take advantage of the civil disorder to advance their own 
agendas.  As the demonstrations continue, the potential for 
violence increases. 
 
¶21.  (SBU) Embassy convened an EAC at 0830 (reported septel). 
 Many locally engaged employees were unable to get to work 
this morning and the Embassy is operating with under a 
reduced staffing pattern.  The EAC agreed to cancel the 
Embassy's election night celebration later this evening.  END 
COMMENT. 
RASPOLIC