PRESIDENT DISMISSES CONTROVERSIAL MILLIONAIRE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 001066 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL GV SUBJECT: PRESIDENT DISMISSES CONTROVERSIAL MILLIONAIRE MAMADOU SYLLAH ¶1. (SBU) Reportedly, President Lansana Conte dismissed controversial millionaire Mamadou Syllah from his post of honorary president of the majority Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) on September 22. In March 2007, Conte appointed Syllah to the position, a post he had held himself until then. Conte reportedly did not name a successor. Syllah had been imprisoned in December 2006 on charges of embezzlement, but released a few days later when Conte intervened on his behalf, sparking civil unrest throughout Guinea in January and February. Since March, Syllah,s appointment has served as a divisive factor within the ranks of the PUP. ¶2. (SBU) Over the past few months, Syllah has allegedly provided significant financing to the PUP,s activities. His dismissal comes just when the party is trying to mobilize popular support in preparation for the upcoming legislative elections, a time when deep pockets could have been particularly useful. However, during a September PUP trip upcountry, Syllah was ill-received by local communities, and in some instances, even booed. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT. Syllah,s dismissal could signal an increase in party support for Aboubacar Sompare, current president of the National Assembly. In recent months, Sompare,s influence seems to have declined relative to that of Syllah,s. Removing Syllah may reunite competing factions within the PUP. END COMMENT. BROKENSHIRE