VZCZCXRO5308
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0218 1111649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211649Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3615
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000218 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: NEWS ROUND-UP: FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS, 
PIVI'S PROMOTION, AND READYING THE PALACE 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY.  Over the course of the weekend, the CNDD 
banned all foreign currency transactions, promoted the 
controversial Claude Pivi to the rank of Captain, and began 
cleaning the Presidential Palace in preparation for the 
arrival of its anticipated occupant, CNDD President Moussa 
Dadis Camara.  This information was reported in local media. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U) The CNDD declared on April 18 that foreign currency 
transactions, and specifically transactions in USD or Euros, 
are now illegal in Guinea.  Within the written decree, the 
CNDD underscored the sovereignty of the Guinean franc as the 
national currency.  The CNDD listed the following 
transactions as examples of illegal activities:  real estate 
purchases and rentals, payment of hotel bills, airline ticket 
sales, and salary payments.  The CNDD further declared that 
all Guineans and foreigners caught engaging in such 
transactions will face prosecution and "severe sanctions." 
Pol/Econ Chief raised the issue during a meeting with the 
Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 
¶20.  He was completely unaware of the announcement, but 
promised to look into it.  Embassy is reviewing its existing 
contracts and purchasing procedures in order to determine 
where issues may arise. 
 
¶3.  (U) Claude Pivi, the controversial leader of the May 2008 
military mutiny and now the Minister of Presidential 
Security, was promoted to the rank of Captain over the 
weekend.  His rank is now equal to that of CNDD President 
Moussa Dadis Camara.  Press reports indicate that Pivi was 
promoted in recognition of his strong performance as minister. 
 
¶4.  (U) Following a public invitation from the residents of 
Kaloum on April 16 for Dadis to move into the Presidential 
Palace, press reports indicate that Conakry Governor Mohammad 
Diop has launched a campaign to clean the palace.  He 
reportedly hired a team of women and armed them with brooms, 
mops, and soap.  Shortly after seizing power on December 23, 
Dadis announced that he would not move into the palace 
because he did not want to even "begin to taste the trappings 
of power."  Last week's invitation, followed by the cleaning 
campaign over the weekend, suggest that Dadis has changed his 
mind. 
RASPOLIC