VZCZCXRO3431 
OO RUEHPA 
DE RUEHRY #0787/01 3581218 
ZNY SSSSS ZZH 
O 231218Z DEC 08 
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3245 
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0551 
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY 
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000787 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PMIL ASEC PHUM GV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT CONTE DIES, MILITARY ELEMENTS LAUNCH 
COUP D'ETAT 
 
REF: A. CONAKRY 0568 
¶B. CONAKRY 0588 
¶C. CONAKRY 0620 
¶D. CONAKRY 0739 
 
Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 
B AND D 
 
¶1. (S) SUMMARY. At 02:00 on December 23, the Guinean 
Government announced that President Conte had died the 
previous evening. Shortly thereafter, Embassy began 
receiving reports of military elements launching various 
operations. By 07:30 it was clear that members of the so- 
called 19th promotion, within the military, had launched a 
coup attempt. A military spokesperson announced that they 
had seized power and suspended the constitution. It is as 
yet unclear whether or not the 19th promotion has been able 
to successfully seize and consolidate power. Conakry is 
relatively quiet and calm, and there have been no reports 
of casualties despite a significant military presence. The 
situation remains fluid and Embassy continues to monitor 
events closely. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) At approximately 02:00 on December 23, Aboubacar 
Sompare, the President of the National Assembly, announced 
over national television that President Conte had died the 
previous evening. Accompanied by Prime Minister Souare and 
the Minister of Defense, Sompare called for the Supreme 
Court to uphold Guinea's constitution, which names the 
President of the National Assembly as the constitutional 
successor to an elected president. The PM asked that the 
military maintain the country's security, especially at its 
territorial borders. The PM also announced that the 
country would observe 40 days of national mourning. 
 
¶3. (S) Following the official broadcast, Embassy officers 
began to receive multiple reports of military movements in 
various parts of the city. Elements of the so-called 19th 
promotion, which have been plotting a coup d'etat for the 
past three months (reftels), told DATT that they planned to 
launch their operation. At 04:00, Embassy received reports 
that Red Berets (presidential guards) had taken control of 
Castro Bridge, which controls traffic flow into and out of 
downtown Conakry. 
 
¶4. (S) At 05:40, approximately 30 military troops stormed 
Radio Television Guinean (RTG) headquarters, which is 
located directly across the street from the Embassy. Some 
of the soldiers were later identified as members of the 
19th promotion. They maintained control of the building 
until approximately 07:45 when they reportedly left for a 
second RTG building because the broadcast equipment in the 
first building was not working properly. The soldiers 
generally let traffic flow freely on the road, although 
they were armed with rocket propelled grenades and machine 
guns. At 06:35, contacts within the 19th promotion 
confirmed to DATT that they had launched their plan to take 
over the government. 
 
¶5. (U) At 07:30, a military spokesperson identified as 
Captain Moussa Gadiss Camara announced that the military 
had seized power and was suspending the constitution. He 
declared that the National Assembly and the current 
government, including the prime minister, were being 
dismissed. He declared the suspension of all political and 
union activity. Camara said that the military would be 
establishing a transition council, comprised of both 
military and civilian representatives, the composition of 
which would be detailed later in the day. He emphasized 
that the new government plans to fight rampant corruption. 
Camara said that an ethnically balanced transition council 
would name a new prime minister to handle administrative 
affairs, and that the council would organize presidential 
elections. Continuing, Camara said that the transitional 
government planned to "restore the authority of the state," 
liberalize the media, and revise the constitution. 
 
¶6. (S) By mid-morning, Embassy was receiving reports that 
elements of the 19th promotion had successfully seized 
control of three of Conakry's four military camps: Camp 
Alpha Yaya, Camp Boiro, and Camp Camayenne. Reports 
indicated that the 19th promotion also had partial control 
of Camp Samory Toure although Red Berets maintained control 
of First Lady Henriette's Conte's house, which is where she 
and President Conte's body are believed to be located. 
According to contacts, the 19th promotion has arrested all 
but two of Guinea's military generals and have sent out 
teams to search out other "targets," including the prime 
minister, Conte's wives, current ministers, controversial 
business figure Mamadou Syllah, and high-level officials 
from the ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP). 
 
¶7. (S) A contact told DATT that the coup plotters had sent 
a delegation of accountants, accompanied by armed guards, 
down to the Central Bank early in the morning in order to 
control the flight of financial assets. 
 
¶8. (S) The 19th promotion appears to have control of a 
significant number of troops, heavy armor, and a 
significant number of Red Berets. They also appear to have 
strong relations with officers from the police Anti-Crime 
Brigade (BAC) since two BAC vehicles stopped outside RTG 
and gave "high-fives" to the military personnel there this 
morning. 
 
¶9. (S) As of 10:00, contacts within the 19th promotion had 
not revealed the name of the individual leading the 
initiative, nor indicated who would ultimately take control 
of the transitional council. They have reported that 
mutiny leader Claude Pivi is on their side, and under their 
control. 
 
¶10. (S) Conversations with youth leaders indicates that 
the youth are well aware of what is going on, but as of 
yet, are distancing themselves from the military operation, 
despite the fact that some of them helped plan the coup. 
One youth leader told DATT that the 7:30 radio announcement 
was worrisome, and that they are not sure exactly what the 
military plans to implement. The youth also mentioned that 
the ethnic composition of the proposed transitional council 
could be worrisome, especially since the 19th promotion 
appears to consist primarily of Malinke and Forest tribes. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶11. (S) The situation in the capital is relatively calm. 
The streets are quiet and although there have been some 
reports of gunfire, there have been no reports of 
casualties. Many contacts have indicated in the past that 
they expected the military to intervene when Conte died, 
and they now appear to be cautiously observing how things 
will play out. It as yet unclear whether the 19th 
promotion has successfully seized power. Sensitive sources 
indicate that other groups may not accept the proposed 
transitional government, and may launch their own counter 
initiative. The situation remains fluid and the Embassy 
continues to monitor events slowly. Embassy convened an 
EAC at 9:00, which will be reported septel. A second EAC 
is planned for 15:00, unless the situation necessitates an 
earlier meeting. END COMMENT.