VZCZCXRO2636
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0583/01 2661624
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231624Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4071
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000583 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC GV
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTRY RESPONDS TO CONCERNS ABOUT 
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  In response to diplomats' growing 
concerns about the security situation in Conakry, the 
Minister of Foreign Affairs organized a meeting on September 
¶18.  He outlined a number of actions the GoG plans to take to 
address these concerns, but the audience seemed largely 
unconvinced.  In addition to concern for the personal safety 
of their diplomats, Ambassadors also expressed concern for 
the safety of their countries' citizens.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexandre 
Cece Loua, convoked members of the diplomatic corps to a 
meeting on September 18 to discuss growing security concerns. 
 The Moroccan Ambassador, as the dean of the dip corp, had 
formally expressed the community's concerns after a series of 
security incidents, which included an attack on the Ghanaian 
Ambassador (reftel).  A/DCM represented the USG at the 
meeting. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) In his opening remarks, Minister Loua condemned the 
threatening activities and assured the dip corp that the 
Guinean Government is taking the matter seriously. 
Accompanied by senior colleagues from the Ministries of 
Security and High Crimes and Banditry, Minister Loua outlined 
the following measures to be undertaken by the GoG: 
 - the revitalization of the anti-crime brigade assigned for 
diplomatic security 
 - the establishment of a emergency "hotline" to be used by 
members of the dip corp to contact police officials directly 
 - the organization of an information campaign, to include 
the use of local media, targeting military and 
"para-military" forces in the capital regarding diplomatic 
privileges and immunities 
 - arrests and prosecutions of perpetrators of crimes against 
members of the diplomatic community 
 - the immediate dismissal of any military personnel found to 
be involved in crimes against the diplomatic community 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The diplomatic corps generally expressed 
appreciation for the Minister's efforts, but emphasized that 
they are looking for results.  The French Ambassador pointed 
out that the emergency hotline was already in existence, but 
rarely functioned while the anti-crime brigade lacked the 
equipment and resources needed to respond effectively.  The 
Director of the Police acknowledged these criticisms, but 
said that the phone line will be fully operational and the 
anti-crime brigade fully equipped. However, Minister Loua 
intervened and admitted that the brigade is short two 
vehicles, which he used as a platform to ask the diplomatic 
community to assist with filling this gap. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Several diplomats (including the Ambassadors of 
China, South Africa, Japan, and Senegal) emphasized that the 
GoG should be focused not only on security for diplomats, but 
also security for foreigners in general, as well as Guinean 
citizens.  Using highly diplomatic but pointed language, the 
South African Ambassador told the Minister that the state has 
a responsibility to protect its citizens, and that this task 
becomes particularly problematic when the state itself is 
implicated in criminal activities.  "No organ of the state 
should be superior to another, nor to the people," he stated. 
 Using roadblocks as an example, the Ambassador added that 
the police should have total autonomy over law enforcement 
issues.  "The military's job is to protect citizens from 
invasion...not engaging in anti-crime initiatives," he said. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Senegalese Ambassador stated that Senegalese 
citizens are being specifically targeted as retaliation for 
seemingly pro-Dadis comments made by Senegalese President 
Wade a few weeks ago, which she claimed were misunderstood. 
"There are 10,000 Senegalese in Guinea and 3,000 Guineans in 
Senegal...if our citizens are not protected here, I cannot 
guarantee what will happen on our side," she said. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) One of the last speakers to stand up was the 
Malaysian Ambassador, who was visibly emotional.  He relayed 
how a group of soldiers accompanied by a number of civilians 
had recently broken into his private residence.  They broke 
through the entry gate and then demanded that they be allowed 
to search the premises.  When the Ambassador explained his 
diplomatic status, the soldiers reportedly told him "you are 
not in Malaysia, you are in Guinea and all these houses 
belong to Guineans."  They then forced their way into the 
residence, breaking some personal items and vandalizing the 
walls by painting them. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Minister Loua essentially listened to the 
complaints and concerns, but offered little substantive 
response.  With respect to the incident at the Malaysian 
 
CONAKRY 00000583  002 OF 002 
 
 
Ambassador's residence, he commented only "we have received 
your complaint and regret that it happened, but you have to 
understand that these people are not educated...they do not 
know what an Ambassador is and these are the kinds of 
challenges we are dealing with.8 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
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¶9.  (SBU) Although the Minister seemed to be making an effort 
to address security concerns, the assembled diplomats did not 
look convinced.  As A/DCM got up to leave, the British 
Ambassador whispered tongue in cheek "well now, don't we all 
feel safer?"  Diplomatic security was clearly a concern, but 
Ambassadors were equally concerned about the security of 
their citizens, an issue to which the Minister did not at all 
speak.  END COMMENT. 
 
BROKENSHIRE