Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY1136
2007-10-11 14:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

UNION LEADER SAYS NO STRIKES PLANNED, BUT

Tags:  PGOV PREL ELAB ASEC GV 
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VZCZCXRO7093
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1136/01 2841429
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111429Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1747
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001136 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ELAB ASEC GV
SUBJECT: UNION LEADER SAYS NO STRIKES PLANNED, BUT
SITUATION IS GRIM


Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001136

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ELAB ASEC GV
SUBJECT: UNION LEADER SAYS NO STRIKES PLANNED, BUT
SITUATION IS GRIM


Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The leader of Guinea,s largest labor
union painted a grim picture of the country,s political and
economic situation in a meeting with poloff, but said that
the unions are not planning any strikes in the near future.
She added that the international community can play an
important role in staving off further unrest by speaking
frankly to key leaders and urging action. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On October 4, poloff met with Elhadja Bah Diallo
Rabiatou Serah, Secretary General of the CNTG (National
Confederation of Guinean workers) labor union at her private
residence. The CNTG is Guinea,s largest union, representing
approximately 100,000 government workers. Rabiatou is also
co-chair of the inter-syndicale, an organized labor
association consisting of the CNTG, the USTG (Labor Union of
Guinean Workers ) 67,000 members),the ONSLG (National
Organization of Independent Labor of Guinea ) small
membership),and the UDTG (Democratic Union of Guinea Workers
) small membership). The inter-syndicale, under the
leadership of Rabiatou and her co-chair, Dr. Ibrahim Fofana,
Secretary General of the USTG, led Guinea,s January/February

SIPDIS
2007 strikes.

--------------
BIO NOTES
--------------


3. (SBU) Rabiatou arrived at the meeting under the escort of
her personal, armed bodyguard who was wearing army fatigues.
Her home is modest, but comfortable. At least a dozen
people, many of them children, were milling about the
compound. Rabiatou introduced one young girl as her daughter
from Liberia and mentioned that most of the other people
there were also family members, which she reportedly supports
financially. Rabiatou belongs to the Peuhl ethnic group by
birth, but was raised in Soussou culture.


4. (SBU) Widowed a few years ago, Rabiatou,s husband was a
high-ranking official within the Ministry of Interior and
Security. During his career, he served as the National
Director of Police and as the Governor of Mamou. A number of

the family members living with Rabiatou are reportedly
members of the military or police forces.

--------------
FROM BAD TO WORSE
--------------


5. (SBU) Rabiatou was relaxed and spoke candidly. She noted
that her opinions did not necessarily reflect the official
position of the CNTG or the inter-syndicale.


6. (C) Rabiatou said that Guinea,s political and economic
situation is worse than it was before the January/February
strikes. Referring to Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate,s
failure to achieve the key objectives of the January 27
Accords, Rabiatou said &the protocol has not been respected;
we are not on the path of change.8 She added that the
country,s population is seriously divided, pointing to
ideological divisions among youth groups, political parties,
civil society organizations, and the unions. &Everything is
sick,8 she said. &If we all continue to focus on our
individual agendas, the country will not advance.8 Despite
her apparent frustration with the current situation, Rabiatou
stated that the unions are not planning any strikes in the
foreseeable future.

--------------
NO CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS
--------------


7. (C) With respect to elections, Rabiatou said that the
population lacks confidence in the government and in the
individual political parties. Alluding to the government,s
perceived lack of political will for elections, she expressed
doubt as to whether the elections could be organized
transparently. She pointed to the fact that the Independent
National Electoral Commission (CENI) has not been established
and nothing has been done to develop the necessary electoral
lists.

--------------
UNIONS FRAGMENTING
--------------


8. (C) Rabiatou said the unions are becoming increasingly
fragmented. &We are the same unions, she said, but we no
longer speak the same language.8 She added that some union
members are being bribed by the government (Note ) although

CONAKRY 00001136 002 OF 002


poloff pressed for details, she would not specify the source
of bribes) as part of a political strategy to destabilize the
unions as a political force. Rabiatou named Yamoudou Toure
specifically, who is the Secretary General of the ONSLG,
saying that he is on someone,s payroll and is actively
trying to split the unions. She also suggested that he is
acting as an informant.

--------------
KOUYATE,S PLAYING POLITICAL GAME
--------------


9. (C) Commenting on Kouyate,s governance over the last six
months, Rabiatou said that he has essentially accomplished
nothing. Referring to the current power struggle between the
prime minister and the president, Rabiatou said that if
Kouyate had been assertive in the very beginning and assumed
his role as head of government, the key objectives of the
January 27 Accords would have already been accomplished.
&He,s playing a political game,8 she said, &and it may be
too late now.8 She added that Kouyate had the political
support in the beginning, but his current support is
questionable. &If Conte replaced him tomorrow, I doubt that
people would be in the streets protesting,8 she said.


10. (C) Rabiatou expressed skepticism as to Kouyate,s
ultimate objectives, pointing to his recent visit to Libya
and his frequent interaction with Libyan officials. She said
that people know that Kadaffi supported Liberian President
Charles Taylor and some are questioning Kouyate,s motives.
Rabiatou mentioned her recent visit to the Guinea-Sierra
Leone border and suggested that mercenaries are easily bought
and may be quietly entering the country.


11. (C) Frustrated with Kouyate,s lack of progress and the
political infighting plaguing the unions and other
organizations, Rabiatou said that her personal strategy is to
lay low. &More and more, I am simply observing and keeping
my mouth shut, she said.8 She said she is also maintaining
her distance from overt political movements. Rabiatou added
that she is afraid and is actively seeking to send her
children out of the country, fearing the possibility of
violent retaliation for her political activities.

--------------
WE NEED A REALITY CHECK
--------------


12. (C) Rabiatou said that the Guinea is still a country in
crisis and the international community needs to emphasize
that the political and economic crisis remains a reality.
&Now is the time to save the country before it is too
late,8 she said. Rabiatou said that the international
community can play an important role by maintaining focus on
Guinea,s &true condition8 and speaking forthrightly to the
president and the prime minister. She added that Conte is
acting irresponsibly by completely blocking Kouyate.
&Someone needs to ask Conte why he is blocking Kouyate. At
the same time, someone needs to tell Kouyate to be more
assertive,8 she said.


13. (SBU) Rabiatou ended the discussion with a local proverb
) &if you ask somebody to wash your back, you can,t expect
them to wash your stomach too,8 meaning that Guinea needs
outside assistance, but ultimately must help itself.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


14. (C) Rabiatou,s comments suggest that she may be
distancing herself from Kouyate and his administration and
possibly from other union leaders. Though her general
outlook was grim, Rabiatou seemed to believe that a peaceful
transition was still possible, but that the country walks a
delicate path. END COMMENT.
BROKENSHIRE