VZCZCXRO1921
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0087/01 0341613
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031613Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3416
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000087 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: TROUBLING ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
CNDD 
 
REF: A. CONAKRY 078 
     ¶B. CONAKRY 079 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  Moussa Dadis Camara, President of the 
National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), has 
been highly visible on national television and radio over the 
past few days.  On February 3, Dadis issued a blanket 
authority to security personnel to shoot anyone caught 
committing crimes of drug trafficking, armed robbery, child 
trafficking, or money laundering.  He also officially moved 
key government institutions involved in revenue management 
directly under presidential authority, effectively cutting 
out the Prime Minister.  A respected political leader 
publicly described Dadis as the Moses of Guinea, claiming 
that God appointed Dadis and that he enjoys divine 
protection.  Embassy is concerned over these developments and 
continues to monitor the situation closely.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------ 
BLANKET AUTHORITY TO SHOOT CRIMINALS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On February 3, over national television, Dadis 
authorized security personnel to "shoot anyone" involved in 
drug trafficking, armed robbery, child trafficking, or money 
laundering.  Dadis reportedly claimed that the country's 
prisons are overcrowded and there is no space for additional 
prisoners.  He emphasized that any individual caught 
committing these crimes would be immediately subject to the 
death penalty.  Dadis stated that he considered himself 
personally accountable to the international community and the 
International Court of Justice for his decision.  He referred 
to a recent incident involving an attack on a local 
businessman, which he cited as an example of the types of 
crimes that are driving investors away from Guinea. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
EXERTING CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL RESOURCES 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Also on February 3 over national television, Dadis 
read a presidential decree moving key revenue-managing 
offices directly under the presidency.  These offices, which 
previously reported to the Prime Minister, include the 
Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Bureau of Customs, the Tax 
Bureau, the Social Security Office, and the Port Authority. 
Dadis stated that the decision was necessary in order to 
ensure proper management of internal revenues.  He added that 
all state revenues must go through the Presidency "for the 
sake of transparency."  Dadis promised to periodically inform 
the public on the status of Guinea's financial resources. 
 
------------------------------ 
RECALLING DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (U) The Guinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued 
a communique on February 2 inviting all holders of Guinean 
diplomatic passports to return their documents to the 
Protocol Department at MFA.  CNDD members and their spouses 
were specifically excluded from this request. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Dadis Appointed by God, Hailed as the Moses of Guinea 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Religious leaders visited Dadis at Camp Alpha Yaya on 
February 2.  The meeting was broadcast over national 
television.  They specifically prayed for Dadis, and for a 
peaceful transition to constitutional rule.  Dadis emphasized 
that the CNDD is determined to combat corruption, stating 
that anyone embezzling public funds will be tried.  An 
internet news source (guineenews.com) reported that Dadis 
promised 100 million GnF ($21,000) to religious authorities 
in each of the country's four geographic regions. 
 
¶6.  (U) After the prayers, a highly respected former member 
of Conte's Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) and former 
President of the National Assembly, Elhadj Boubacar Barry, 
was asked for advice.  Barry declared that God had made Dadis 
Guinea's head of state and that Dadis will continue to enjoy 
"divine protection."  He advised Dadis to continue his "good 
work," to be firm, and to refuse to yield to external 
pressure or influence.  Barry emphasized that Dadis should 
focus on organizing a smooth transition, which could take 
several years.  He said that elections should not be the 
immediate priority, but rather, that the government and civil 
society should take the time necessary to fully revise the 
 
CONAKRY 00000087  002 OF 002 
 
 
constitution.  Specifically referring to international 
pressure, Barry emphasized that Dadis do what is necessary to 
advance the country, again stating that the transition may 
take several years. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Noting that Guineans have suffered for fifty years, 
Barry compared Dadis to Moses, describing him as the people's 
savior.  Barry asked the assembled military personnel to work 
together to support Dadis.  (COMMENT.  Barry was a vocal 
critic of the late President Conte and of the former 
President of the National Assembly, Aboubacar Sompare. 
During his tenure at the National Assembly, Barry was 
suspended from the PUP for having defied and criticized 
Conte.  There is an unconfirmed rumor that Dadis recently 
appointed Barry's daughter as the Chief of Staff at the 
Presidency.  END COMMENT). 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Embassy is concerned about these developments.  The 
blanket authority to military personnel is problematic in 
terms of security, but also in terms of human rights.  It is 
unclear who this authority extends to, how it will be 
perceived, and ultimately, how it will be implemented. 
Embassy will issue a warden announcement to advise American 
citizens, and is considering diplomatic measures to register 
human rights concerns.  Dadis is also consolidating control 
over financial resources while simultaneously making the 
Prime Minister virtually irrelevant as a government figure. 
These public announcements and posturing follow on similar 
incidents last week (reftels).  END COMMENT. 
RASPOLIC