CONTE SIGNS LAW CREATING CENI

UNCLAS CONAKRY 001225 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: PREL PREL KDEM ASEC GV SUBJECT: CONTE SIGNS LAW CREATING CENI ¶1. (SBU) On November 8, President Conte signed the law that the National Assembly passed in May 2007 to create a new National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) to administer the country's elections. Under Guinean law, once legislation is passed, the President should sign it or reject it within ten days. However, if the President does not react within that time period, the legislation automatically becomes law. In practice, Guineans have traditionally been reluctant to enforce laws that the President has not signed, regardless of whether the ten-day period has passed or not. ¶2. (SBU) While Conte signed the law establishing the CENI, he has not yet signed the decree designating the twenty-five CENI members. However, Elhadj Amadou Bailo Diallo, Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is optimistic. He told Embassy staff that the President's signature on the law itself indicates that he will likely sign the CENI decree soon. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT. While not legally necessary, Conte's signature of the law demonstrates some willingness to move forward on elections and will lend credibility to the CENI when it is finally established. END COMMENT. CARTER