VZCZCXRO7774
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHRY #0762 3381346
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 041346Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4280
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

S E C R E T CONAKRY 000762 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC GV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT OF GUINEA SHOT, EVACUATED FROM COUNTRY 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kent C. Brokenshire for Reason 1 
.4 b/d 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: President Dadis Camara was shot and wounded 
yesterday allegedly by his personal security chief Diakite 
"Toumba," who later fled. Dadis reportedly received a bullet 
wound to the head. His condition has not been disclosed but 
the Government has evacuated him to a nearby country, 
reportedly to Morocco through Senegal. Toumba, who is 
believed to be largely responsible for the September 28 
massacre, is currently at large with an unknown number of 
armed soldiers. These incidents occurred as the UN Commission 
of Inquiry on the September 28 violence was visiting Conakry. 
It is not clear what effects Dadis departure from the country 
will have on political developments within Guinea. Claude 
Pivi is heading the government until the return of Defense 
Minister Konate later tonight. Konate will assume the role of 
caretaker head of state. End Summary 
 
¶2. (S) President Moussa Dadis Camara was shot and wounded by 
his personal security chief Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite "Toumba" 
at approximately 1745, December 3 at the Koundara military 
installation in downtown Conakry. Though details remain 
sketchy it appears as though Dadis had arrested a number of 
Toumba associates the previous day, reportedly for their role 
in the September 28 massacre. Toumba then reportedly set out 
to free his cohorts, and eventually confronted Dadis at the 
Koundara base. In the altercation which ensued, Toumba is 
believed to have fired on Dadis, wounding him in the head. 
 
¶3. (U) CNDD spokesman Idrissa Cherif issued a public 
statement at 2230 the same night acknowledging that Dadis had 
been shot but that he was doing well. Government radio and 
television made no mention of the attack. 
 
¶4. (S) President Wade of Senegal reportedly dispatched a 
medical aircraft to Conakry on the night of December 3, and 
offered to evacuate Dadis to Dakar for medical treatment. 
Sources indicate that the ruling junta, or possibly Dadis 
himself, initially refused the offer, but allowed Senegalese 
medical personnel who traveled with the aircraft to treat 
Dadis in Conakry. Embassy contacts reported that Dadis did in 
fact depart Conakry December 4 in the late morning, probable 
destination Morocco. 
 
¶5. (C) Toumba is reportedly at large in Conakry with an 
unknown number of armed loyal troops. Military units have 
sealed off the airport and established a roadblock near the 
Conakry city limits at Kilometer 36. Military units continue 
to patrol the city. A strong presence of military was also 
reported at the Castro Bridge downtown choke point, Camp 
Alpha Yaya, and the RTG radio-television facility in downtown 
Conakry. A military helicopter is now aloft, circling the 
capital. 
 
¶6. (C) The violence erupted as the UN's Commission of Inquiry 
on the September 28 massacre at Conakry's football stadium 
was winding down a visit to Guinea. It is not clear if the 
commission's presence possibly prompted Dadis to attempt to 
arrest associates of his security chief Toumba, who is seen 
as responsible for the killing unarmed demonstrators at the 
stadium and the public raping of several dozen women. 
 
¶7. (C) It is also unclear what effects Dadis' sudden and 
unexpected departure from Conakry will have on the current 
political and military dynamic inside Guinea's capital. This 
is his first departure from Guinea since taking power in the 
December 23 Coup. 
 
8 (C) Top ranking military officer reportedly held and 
emergency meeting this morning at Camp Alpha Yaya and 
determined that Minister of Presidential Security Claude Pivi 
will head the government until the return of Minister of 
Defense Konate later tonight. Konate is currently visiting 
Lebanon. Members of the Forces Vibes are reportedly 
maintaining a low profile. 
 
Moller