E-Mail Chain Glencore AG: Escalating Security Concerns – Guinea Operations - August 29th, 2025

[SSgt Waller]

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
CC: EVP Africa Operations, General Counsel
INTERNAL / CONFIDENTIAL

 

Understood.

To answer your first question directly: I believe the probability of significant instability is now materially higher than at any point in the last decade.

The concern is less about a coordinated insurgency and more about state fragmentation.

The Guinean government still controls the cities, but outside the urban corridors authority is becoming increasingly negotiated between local military officers, ethnic networks, and informal armed groups. Once that process accelerates, incidents that would normally remain isolated can spread extremely quickly.

The mining sector is especially exposed because:

• We are geographically fixed

• We rely on vulnerable transit infrastructure

• We employ large numbers of foreign nationals

• We are associated — fairly or unfairly — with state elites and foreign influence

Regarding deterrence:

I am not proposing a paramilitary occupation of our sites.

The recommendation would be a low-visibility but highly capable contractor presence consisting primarily of former military personnel providing:

• Hardened perimeter security

• Discreet overwatch teams

• Route reconnaissance

• Emergency extraction capability

• Executive protection for senior staff movement

The point is not to fight militias.

The point is to convince militias that attacking us would be costly, complicated, and unlikely to succeed.

Right now, we are visibly vulnerable.

That perception matters.

I’ll have the full assessment package prepared before EOD.

Philippe

 

Kind regards

Philippe de Hautcloq

Global Risk Assessment Director

 

D +41 41 709 20 20

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Glencore AG - Energizing today, Advancing tomorrow

Baarermatstrasse 3

6340 Baar

Switzerland

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From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
CC: EVP Africa Operations, General Counsel
INTERNAL / CONFIDENTIAL

 

Hi Philippe

Understood.

I want hard clarity on two issues before we move further:

1. Are we talking about a genuine threat to operational continuity, or are we overreacting to regional instability that may remain politically contained?

2. What does “visible deterrence” actually look like in practice?

The last thing this company needs is photographs circulating online of foreign contractors in armored vehicles outside one of our facilities while opposition politicians accuse us of building a private army.

I appreciate the security rationale, but the reputational and legal exposure here could become significant very quickly.

Please prepare:

• A formal threat projection covering the next 90 days

• Cost estimates

• Candidate firms

• Political risk analysis if deployment becomes public

• Assessment of whether host government approval would be required or merely “encouraged”

Also include evacuation timelines for expatriate personnel under worst-case conditions.

Let’s review tomorrow morning.

Gary

 

Kind regards

Gary Nagel

Chief Executive Officer

 

D +41 41 709 20 10

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Glencore AG - Energizing today, Advancing tomorrow

Baarermatstrasse 3

6340 Baar

Switzerland

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From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
CC: EVP Africa Operations, General Counsel
INTERNAL / CONFIDENTIAL

 

Hi Gary,

Following this week’s field reporting from our regional security chiefs Nzérékoré and Kankan, I need to reiterate my growing concern regarding the trajectory of the security environment in Guinea.

The situation remains officially “stable,” but our local contacts, subcontractors, and security personnel are all reporting a marked increase in ethnic hostility, checkpoint activity, and militia mobilization in the interior regions surrounding several of our logistical corridors.

Of particular concern:

• Increased movement of armed community groups along secondary roads used by company convoys

• Anti-foreign rhetoric spreading through local radio and political youth networks

• Growing hostility toward mining operators perceived as aligned with the government

• Reports that local military units are increasingly unreliable outside major urban areas

• Escalating clashes between Fulani self-defense groups and pro-government militias in rural prefectures

At present, our sites remain operational, but the current posture is insufficient if the situation deteriorates further.

I strongly recommend we immediately expand our contracted security footprint in-country.

Specifically, I propose engaging a reputable private military/security contractor capable of rapidly deploying:

• Static site security

• Convoy escort teams

• Aviation security detachments

• Intelligence and surveillance personnel

• Crisis response / extraction capabilities for expatriate staff

To be clear, this would not be an offensive deployment. The objective is deterrence.

Right now, local militias view corporate infrastructure and foreign personnel as soft targets. A visible, professional security presence would significantly reduce the likelihood of opportunistic attacks, kidnappings, sabotage, or labor unrest escalating into direct violence against company personnel.

We are approaching the point where waiting for a triggering event may leave us reacting instead of shaping the environment.

I recommend we discuss this urgently before the board call on Friday.

Philippe

 

Kind regards

Philippe de Hautcloq

Global Risk Assessment Director

 

D +41 41 709 20 20

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Glencore AG - Energizing today, Advancing tomorrow

Baarermatstrasse 3

6340 Baar

Switzerland