VZCZCXRO6655
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0248/01 1251549
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051549Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3650
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000248 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI GV
SUBJECT: GOG CUTS OFF FOOD DELIVERIES TO PRISONS 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. According to multiple sources, the 
Government of Guinea has stopped delivering food to the 
country's prisons. Prison directors now rely upon charities, 
international organizations and others to provide food for 
1,100 prisoners and described the situation as 
"catastrophic."  A recent prison visit by PolOff revealed two 
unequal systems of incarceration: the majority of inmates are 
malnourished, poverty-stricken prisoners living in 
life-threatening conditions while elite prisoners routinely 
receive food, water and personal items from the outside. The 
deplorable situation in the jail mirrors the cultural, 
economic and political realities of Guinean society today. 
END SUMMARY. 
------------------------ 
"CATASTROPHIC SITUATION" 
------------------------ 
¶2. (SBU) Post was contacted April 29 by a local prison 
advocacy NGO who reported that the government had stopped 
providing food and medicine to Surete National, Conakry's 
central prison, an overcrowded facility that incarcerates 
approximately 1,100 individuals. PolOff, accompanied by NGO 
ASWAR (Support for Refugees and Displaced Persons in 
Detention) Director Soraya Laghfiri, visited Surete that same 
day and confirmed the lack of government-provided food. 
PolOff was given access to all parts of the prison and was 
able to question prisoners directly. 
 
¶3. (SBU) During the visit, PolOff spoke with the Director of 
Surete National and the National Director of Prisons, both of 
whom work for the Guinean Ministry of Justice, who confirmed 
that the prison is now totally reliant on charities, NGOs, 
and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to 
feed the entire prison population.  Without the assistance of 
these organizations, the Prison Director said that the 
situation would be "catastrophic". When asked why no food or 
medicine is being provided, both men looked deflated and 
stated separately that "there is no budget." When asked about 
his next step in terms of securing government food for the 
prisoners, the Prison Director stated that he was waiting for 
the Minister of Justice to return from a trip to Brussels. 
PolOff reminded both Directors of the government's 
responsibly to provide food, medicine, and water to 
prisoners. The Prison Director admitted that he was equally 
concerned about prisons up-county and indicated that they 
were also not receiving food or assistance. 
------------------------ 
DEATHS FROM MALNUTRITION 
------------------------ 
4.(SBU) The prison's doctor confirmed that 12 prisoners had 
died of malnutrition since January 1.  Laghfiri claimed that 
three other prisoners were released from the jail early and 
died within a day. 
 
¶5. (U) In each cell that PolOff visited, at least one very 
ill inmate was identified and told to visit the prison 
doctor. In one very crowded cell, a skeletal inmate was 
pushed forward by the other prisoners who identified him as 
having tuberculosis. (Note: There are nine identified 
tuberculosis cases in the prison.) 
 
-------------------------------------- 
PRISONERS APPEAR SKELETAL AND LISTLESS 
-------------------------------------- 
¶6. (U) PolOff observed several minimally ventilated cells 
holding between 35 and 40 prisoners in very crowded 
conditions. Prisoners in these cells appeared skeletal; some 
were completely listless, others were lying on the floor and 
did not look up. Prisoners appeared dirty, dispirited, and 
quiet. At 1400 no prisoner had yet received food for the day. 
--------------------------- 
VIP PRISONERS AND GENDARMES 
--------------------------- 
¶7. (U) A neighboring cell housed roughly a dozen gendarmes 
accused of international drug trafficking. Although the cell 
was crowded, these men stated that they bought food and water 
from the outside or received it from their families.  They 
appeared robust and unlike the prisoners next door, they were 
sitting up, playing cards, and alert.  When asked by PolOff 
why they were in jail, they replied that they had no idea. 
 
¶8. (U) Poloff also visited the special quarters reserved for 
19 VIP prisoners including ex-ministers, Ousmane Conte (son 
of the former president and alleged narco-kingpin), and other 
former high-level government officials. These prisoners are 
housed in one free-standing building consisting of a single 
large cement room furnished with beds, mattresses and linens 
brought from their homes.  Each bed had a fan and a large 
color television was playing. 
 
 
CONAKRY 00000248  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶9. (SBU) The VIP building has a comfortable and shady veranda 
furnished with plastic chairs, plush bucket seats removed 
from old cars where two older men were involved in 
discussion, and a large table spread with food and water 
supplied by their families. Several prisoners were sitting on 
chairs relaxing, while others were eating plates heaped with 
rice, meat and sauce. In contrast to the life-threatening 
conditions across the courtyards, these prisoners were well 
fed, comfortable, and generally free to move around outside 
their quarters. In fact, PolOff was directed to another cell 
until the VIPs had returned from the mosque located in the 
prison courtyard. 
------------- 
LACK OF WATER 
------------- 
¶10. (U) Prisoners complained about not having enough water to 
drink and bathe. In one cell, four plastic containers of 20 
liters were provided for 40 prisoners for bathing and 
drinking. They were empty at the time of the visit. Although 
a new well was dug last year, the electric pump is broken. It 
has been replaced several times by ASWAR, but is no longer 
working. Water for the entire prison population is hauled by 
hand out of the well. 
------------ 
BARE KITCHEN 
------------ 
¶11. (U) During Embassy's last tour of the prison on February 
4, the kitchen contained only three 50-pound bags of rice; 
this time the kitchen was completely bare and workers were 
waiting for food delivery from the Sisters of Charity who 
provide one meal a day, three days a week. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
¶12. (SBU) The government's inability to provide regular food 
deliveries to Conakry's main prison reflects the serious 
economic disorder of the current administration and suggests 
a systemic disregard for human rights. 
 
¶13. (SBU) The drastic inequality between those prisoners who 
are suffering from severe malnutrition and those who are 
relaxing on a shady porch after a full meal from home, 
reflect current social, political and cultural realities in 
Guinea.  Military officers, former members of the government, 
and alleged drug dealers continue to receive special 
treatment, while others suffer life-threatening conditions. A 
complacent press, and an uneducated population struggling 
with harsh economic conditions and an unstable political 
situation are unlikely to advocate on behalf of desperate 
prisoners. Embassy will continue to monitor the situation and 
explore ways to register our concerns. END COMMENT. 
 
 
 
 
RASPOLIC