TRIP REPORT - MIDDLE GUINEA VIEWS ON ELECTIONS AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 001175

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ECON GV
SUBJECT: TRIP REPORT - MIDDLE GUINEA VIEWS ON ELECTIONS AND
THE GENERAL POLITICAL/ECONOMIC SITUATION


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SUMMARY
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1. A four-day journey into Middle Guinea, home to
approximately four million Guineans, revealed that this part
of the country is generally willing to wait for elections in
order to allow sufficient time to prepare the population and
guarantee transparency. People were more concerned about
improving basic economic condition, which they saw as a more
pressing need. Despite assurances that the government,
political parties and civil society are working well
together, some divisions were apparent, notably between the
ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) and the opposition
political parties.

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WATERSHED OF WEST AFRICA
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2. (U) During the week of October 15, poloff traveled to the
regional capitals of Mamou and Labe in Middle Guinea to meet
with recently appointed government officials and
representatives from political parties, civil society and
unions. More than 85% of Middle Guinea,s approximately four
million inhabitants are from the Peuhl ethnic group. Middle
Guinea is considered a significant watershed as it is home to
the sources of two of West Africa,s major river systems as
well as two hydroelectric dams supplying power to both Lower
and Middle Guinea. The region,s economy is largely
agricultural and dominated by small family farms. The
regional capitals serve as economic hubs with approximately
50% of commercial activity generated by small-scale merchants
selling goods and services.


3. (SBU) Meetings with government officials included:
- Elhadj Safioulaye Bah, Prefect of Mamou
- Bah Mamadou Saliou, Governor of Mamou
- Elhadj Ibrahima Bah, Prefect of Labe
- Elhadj Ibrahima Sory Diabate, Governor of Labe
- Elhadj Amadou Thiam, Mayor of Labe

Other meetings included teachers, youth associations, union
representatives, political party representatives, and
government officials responsible for liaising with civil
society. Poloff also did press interviews with local printed
press and national radio and television representatives in
Labe.

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RECONCILIATION AND COOPERATION
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4. (SBU) In reference to the significant political unrest
and destruction of public property that took place in Middle
Guinea during the January/February strike, both government
officials and other contacts were eager to assure poloff that
peace has been restored and opposing groups have reconciled.
The governor of Mamou emphasized that development cannot
progress without peace in the country while the prefect of
Mamou said that the population sincerely regrets the damage
inflicted on government buildings and other infrastructure.
Political parties and union representatives confirmed that
there is a high degree of cooperation amongst themselves and
with the government as they discuss the political situation,
elections, and the path forward.

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WE ARE WILLING TO WAIT FOR ELECTIONS
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5. (SBU) There was a general consensus among most contacts,
both government and civilian alike, that no one is worried
about delayed legislative elections. The real issue here
is not the elections,, the Governor of Mamou said, but the
underlying economic conditions., He added that people want
elections, but they have to be convinced that they will be
transparent and are therefore willing to wait for the
appropriate mechanisms to be put into place in order to
ensure that transparency. Most contacts agreed that the
government should focus on immediate economic needs and take
the time it needs to guarantee free and fair elections.

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GOVERNMENT NEUTRALITY IS CRITICAL
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6. (SBU) Government and civilian contacts alike emphasized
that it is critical that the government administration appear
neutral for the elections. Some were doubtful as to whether

CONAKRY 00001175 002 OF 003


the current administration could achieve that neutrality,
pointing to the fact that only a handful of key government
officials have actually changed while the rest, especially
the government bureaucrats at the regional and local levels,
remain the same. A number expressed concern that these same
government officials, who will largely be responsible for
carrying out elections at the polling stations, are long-time
supporters of the ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP).

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POPULATION NOT PREPARED FOR ELECTIONS
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7. (SBU) The governors and prefects of Mamou and Labe said
that Guinea lacks the democratic mentality necessary to
participate in effective elections. This comment was echoed
by a number of civil society representatives who said that
the average citizen is not prepared to vote. A group of
teachers told poloff people don,t really know the
difference between presidential and legislative elections, or
a referendum., In addition, contacts pointed to the
legacies of past elections that must be overcome in order to
ensure transparent democratic participation. They noted that
many people may not understand that the results of these
elections, unlike those of the past, are not pre-determined.
In addition, many reportedly abstained from voting in
previous elections for fear of being simultaneously
registered to pay income taxes.


8. (SBU) Although political parties have traditionally been
responsible for educating voters before elections, several
contacts suggested that civil society should take the lead
this time around in order to avoid partisanship. Political
party representatives were less than enthusiastic about this
suggestion although they welcomed cooperative efforts with
civil society colleagues.

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PEOPLE LIKELY TO VOTE BASED ON ETHNICITY
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9. (SBU) There was a general consensus among government and
civilian contacts alike that people in Middle Guinea are
likely to vote based on ethnicity. The prefect of Mamou
commented that since the parties do not have any clear
platform or program, people will likely vote what they are
familiar with. Since most of the parties are organized
according to ethnic background, contacts felt that the
population would divide itself accordingly.

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WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR MENTALITY
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10. (SBU) Government officials also discussed the need for a
mentality shift within the government. The prefect of Mamou
said when we talk about change, we are talking about
changing our mentality., He added that there is a new
dynamism and solidarity among people, even at the village
level. It was the poor comportment of political and
judicial officials that gave birth to the revolt,, he said,
adding that people will no longer tolerate poor governance.
The Labe governor said that government officials need to
adjust. They simply don,t know how to govern and need
training in order to implement better practices., However,
the Labe governor also felt that it was not necessary to
change all former government officials and likened the
government system to a train ) We have a new engine in
place, the rest will follow,, he said.


11. (SBU) The prefect of Mamou, Elhadj Bah, suggested that
the current political set-up may be flawed. He said that
most political parties represent very small groups and really
only function as long as their founder is involved and
financing activities. In addition, no parties have a clear
program or agenda other than winning elections. Bah added
that this is one reason the unions have taken on a more
political role. The unions are supposed to defend
workers,, he said, but instead are actively involved in
politics. However, the unions, political role is impeded by
the fact that only political parties can participate in
elections, according to Guinean law.

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COMMENT
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12. (SBU) Although contacts were eager to emphasize the
degree of cooperation and communication between political
parties, civil society and the government, divisions were

CONAKRY 00001175 003 OF 003


apparent. The Mayor of Labe joined the meeting of political
parties as the representative from the PUP. He was initially
hesitant to attend and then once there, contributed little to
the discussion. Every time he attempted to speak up, he was
quickly overtaken by one of his opposition colleagues. When
poloff intervened to give him an opportunity to speak,
opposition members joked that the PUP is dead., In Mamou,
the PUP representative said he would come, but then did not
show up. His opposition colleagues spoke even more harshly
than those in Labe and said that they no longer need to
consider the PUP because they no longer hold the power.
Poloff encouraged parties to continue to work together and
emphasized that a strong democracy provides for participation
from all elements of society. END COMMENT
BROKENSHIRE