US embassy cable - 08CONAKRY793

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000793 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, ASEC, KDEM, GV 
SUBJECT: COUP APPEARS TO HAVE ROUTED GUINEAN GOVERNMENT - 
TRANSITION DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE 
 
REF: A. CONAKRY 0787 
     B. CONAKRY 0788 
 
Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D 
 
1.  (S) SUMMARY.  A military coup launched by elements of the 
so-called 19th promotion following the announcement of 
President Conte's death (reftels) appears to have succeeded 
in routing the government, at least in the immediate term. 
The Ministry of Security, which includes the police force, 
appears to have joined ranks with the putschists. 
Discussions over the shape of the transition continue 
although the putschists may have decided on a president and 
deputy to lead a transitional council, both of whom come from 
the military.  The city has generally been quiet, but there 
have been reports of gunfire and intermittent, unconfirmed 
reports of soldiers being wounded.  Embassy has received 
reports that PM Souare and National Assembly President 
Aboubacar Sompare have been taken into custody.  The 
situation remains fluid, but calm.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (U) Both Prime Minister Souare and National Assembly 
President Aboubacar Sompare issued statements on Radio France 
International between 12:00 and 12:30.  Souare assured the 
population that his government continues to function and that 
he was "optimistic about a return to constitutionality." 
Sompare said he hoped for a national dialogue to resolve 
differences of opinion. 
 
3.  (S) Contacts reported that the accountants sent down to 
the Central Bank by the putschists had found the bank 
"completely cleaned out."  They reportedly left a contingent 
of guards in order to protect evidence so that they could 
consider later using forensic accounting to trace the flow of 
funds. 
 
4.  (S) Regarding the military seizure of Radio Television 
Guinean (RTG) earlier today, a reliable source working at 
Radio Familia told PAO that several trucks of soldiers 
stormed the building, accusing workers of sabotaging 
communications equipment because RTG had only been 
broadcasting intermittently throughout the day.  The 
reporter, who was at RTG at the time, said that the soldiers 
manhandled a couple of the journalists and smashed some 
telephones.  The journalists reportedly insisted that they 
had not sabotaged any equipment, and that the reason they 
were having broadcast problems was because the electric 
company had cut the power supply to the building.  The power 
was apparently working when the soldiers were there, but they 
threatened to return if broadcasts were interrupted again. 
 
5.  (S) Around 12:00, contacts reported that several generals 
had arrived at Camp Alpha Yaya, including Major General 
Diarra Camara (Joint Chief of Staff), Major General Mamadou 
Sampil (Deputy Joint Chief of Staff), and Major General 
Kandet Toure (Cabinet for Ministry of Defense).  Brigadier 
General Toto Camara, Army Chief of Staff, was already at the 
camp.  Source was unclear as to whether or not the generals 
had gone to the camp voluntarily.  Contact told DATT that 
they were still "looking for" Admiral Ally Daffe (Navy), 
Brigadier General Bah Sambah (Gendarmes), and Major General 
Syllah (Air Force). 
 
6.  (S) At approximately 13:45, dozens of vehicles carrying 
some one hundred plus soldiers armed with machine guns and 
rocket propelled grenades drove onto the RTG complex across 
from the Embassy.  Members of the police force were also 
present.  A large group of soldiers entered the building, 
reportedly to issue a press statement.  Everyone peacefully 
departed less than 15 minutes later.  As the convoy took off, 
a tank slowly rolled onto the scene only to slowly depart 
once again after seeing that everyone had already left.  A 
large contingent of soldiers later returned to RTG at 
approximately 16:30, and left again after 15 minutes. 
 
7.  (U) According to an internet news site (Guinee24.com), 
the military issued a press statement inviting all former 
government dignataries to come to Camp Alpha Yaya where they 
could be protected.  The military spokesperson reportedly 
said that the coup organizers had no intention of harming 
anyone, and that if potential targets refused the invitation, 
the military would not be responsible for any injuries that 
might befell them outside the military camp. 
 
8.  (S) DCM spoke to the former ministers of security and 
foreign affairs over the telephone between 14:00 and 15:00 
(former as in up until the coup).  The Minister of Security, 
Elhadj Madifing Diane, said that coup leaders had achieved 
 
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all of their initial objectives and were in control of the 
city and government.  At the time of the call, he was with 
his men at the main police base in Conakry.  Diane said that 
during the coup, he allowed his men (police forces) to join 
the growing ranks of soldiers and other security forces in 
their effort to take over the government.  While he 
acknowledged that he is no longer the Minister of Security, 
Diane said he was still the highest ranking police officer in 
the country, and thus his authority is still very much 
intact.  (COMMENT.  In previous discussions with DCM, Diane 
indicated that he valued peace and security over all other 
considerations, and therefore may have decided to side with 
coup leaders once it became apparent that they would easily 
sweep any opposition aside.  END COMMENT). 
 
9.  (S) Amadou Lamarana Bah, former Minister of Foreign 
Affairs, told DCM that he is "out of circulation" and staying 
at a friend's house near his own home.  He said he had no 
intention of taking up the coup leaders' offer to present 
himself at Camp Alpha Yaya in return for protection.  Bah 
said that the "did not trust Pivi and his men."  He added 
that his family had been moved to another location for 
safety, although he did not personally feel threatened. 
 
10.  (S) DCM also spoke with the PM's Chief of Protocol who 
said that Souare was still at his office and remained the 
country's prime minister since he had not been dismissed 
through an official act.  Contact said that the PM did not 
personally feel threatened by the events of the day. 
 
11.  (S) At 15:30, Embassy received a report that both 
Sompare and Souare had been "apprehended" by the putschists. 
 
12.  (S) Beginning at approximately 14:30, Embassy started 
receiving reports of gunfire at both Camp Alpha Yaya and Camp 
Samory Toure.  Gunfire had died down by 16:00.  According to 
a contact, putschists at Camp Alpha Yaya were firing into the 
air over an internal disagreement about who should lead the 
transitional council.  At least three candidates names were 
reportedly discussed:  Brigadier General Toto Camara, Major 
"Idi Amin" Camara, and Army Lt Colonel Konate (Airborne 
Battalion).  Multiple sources told DATT at approximately 
16:30 that the putschists had agreed to have Konate serve as 
the head of the Council with Moussa Camara (the spokesperson 
for the 19th promotion) as his deputy.  Sources also reported 
that negotiations had been temporarily suspended. 
 
13.  (S) The gunshots at Camp Samory Toure reportedly 
occurred during a standoff between putschists and 
presidential loyalists.  It is unclear whether shots were 
fired into the air, or exchanged directly. 
 
14.  (SBU) Contacts located outside of Conakry continue to 
report that the situation is peaceful upcountry.  A contact 
with BHP said that one of their vehicles tried to travel to 
Conakry today, but was peacefully turned around at Kilometer 
36, the main road into the city. 
 
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COMMENT 
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15.  (S) The coup appears to have succeeded, at least in the 
immediate term.  Embassy has received a few reports of 
soldiers being wounded, but has not been able to confirm 
these reports.  Youth leaders are worried about how the 
transitional government is evolving, and especially concerned 
about the selection of Konate as president and Moussa Camara 
as deputy.  However, there may be some confusion between the 
groups as a youth leader's comments suggest that he thought 
that Konate had been selected as the new president and Camara 
as the new PM.  The situation remains unsettled, but 
relatively calm, with negotiations expected to continue into 
the night and possibly longer as various actors try to shape 
the transition.  Civilian contacts have been quiet, but may 
be waiting for things to settle down before they start 
asserting their demands.  Embassy continues to closely 
monitor the situation. 
RASPOLIC