Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY1350
2007-12-19 11:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

PRIME MINISTER'S HOMETOWN LOOKING FOR SPECIAL ATTENTION

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM GV 
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VZCZCXRO5641
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1350/01 3531125
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191125Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1983
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001350 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM GV
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER'S HOMETOWN LOOKING FOR SPECIAL ATTENTION


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001350

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM GV
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER'S HOMETOWN LOOKING FOR SPECIAL ATTENTION



1. SUMMARY. Government leaders in Prime Minister Kouyate's
hometown are visibly proud of their newfound political connections -
connections they hope will result in increased attention and
investment from the central government. One of the country's
poorest prefectures, Kouroussa is looking for help to improve basic
infrastructure and leaders say they are ready and willing partners,
not beggars looking for a handout. The new prefect seems to be well
respected as people look to him to implement improved governance.
END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) During a recent trip to Upper Guinea, poloff met with the
prefect and mayor of Kouroussa, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate's
hometown. The prime minister's brother, Laye Kouyate, served as
poloff's self-appointed host, accompanying Embassy personnel to all
meetings.

--------------
COMPLEMENTS SHARED AROUND THE TABLE
--------------


3. (SBU) Over an informal dinner, both the mayor and Laye Kouyate
said that Kouroussa is lucky to have Mr. Abdoulaye Telly Diallo as
prefect since he is engaged and working to improve the prefecture's
administrative governance. Both the mayor and the prefect were also
complementary of Mr. Laye Kouyate whom they described as a local
leader and intellectual. They were equally complementary of the
prime minister and his administration's progress on reforms.

--------------
IT'S OUR TURN NOW
--------------


4. (SBU) The prefect proudly noted that Kouroussa is home to Prime
Minister Kouyate and said that Kouroussa is looking forward to
realizing concrete benefits under Kouyate's administration. He
pointed to the increased government investment and attention to
Conte's hometown, Dubreka, after Conte assumed power. Similarly, he
said that Sekou Toure's home region had also benefited from
increased government largess under Toure's regime. The mayor agreed
and suggested that Kouroussa could expect similar increased
attention from the central government.


5. (SBU) According to the prefect, Kouroussa is desperate for
assistance in general. He said that the prefecture is located in
the center of the country with poor roads and infrastructure, which
makes transportation and communication difficult. In addition, he

said Kouroussa is one of the poorest prefectures in the country and
that its 160,000 residents live in conditions of extreme poverty.
We currently do not have any electricity or running water at all, he
said, since many of the power lines and much of the equipment were
stolen or destroyed during the strikes in January/February 2007.


6. (SBU) At the same time, the prefect said that he considers
himself and his administration good, effective partners. "We're not
looking for a handout," he said. "We're not sitting here with our
arms crossed waiting for mama to come help us," he added. He said
he is looking for help from both the Guinean Government and from the
international community, but that Kouroussa is ready to put in equal
effort.

--------------
HOME TO GOVERNMENT
--------------


7. (SBU) Returning to Kouroussa's connection to the prime minister,
the prefect noted that the prefecture is also home to a number of
the prime minister's cabinet as well as several of the country's new
governors and prefects. He added that Kouroussa boasts the
country's oldest school, which was founded in 1902. "This is the
school all of our fathers went to," he said. According to the
prefect, many of the government's current and former leaders are
products of the same education system, which means they think
alike.

--------------
LOOKING TO ELECTIONS
--------------


8. (SBU) Turning to elections, both the mayor and Laye Kouyate said
that the previous prefect sabotaged past elections and they have
every confidence that the new prefect will ensure credible,
transparent elections.

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


9. (SBU) Both the prefect and the mayor were noticeably deferential
to Kouyate's brother and quick to complement both him and the prime
minister. Similarly, Laye Kouyate and the mayor were equally
complementary of the prefect although they did not mention any
concrete actions the prefect had taken to improve government

CONAKRY 00001350 002 OF 002


administration. There was a tangible air of optimism at the table
as participants discussed the new consensus government - and a sense
of entitlement to increased government attention as a result of the
prefecture's political connections.


10. (SBU) Wealth derived through political connections, however,
tends to be ephemeral. Another recent Embassy visit, to Sekou
Toure's hometown of Faranah, revealed few concrete benefits to show
for 26 years in power. The paved runway built to accommodate the
concorde jet is now only occasionally used by drug-running small
aircraft. The once imposing Toure family home, built during Sekou
Toure's presidency, looks like an abandoned Soviet style apartment
complex. The dwelling has no electricity and the family members who
live there cook on the verandah with charcoal.


11. (SBU) Although Kouyate's brother participated in all of the
Embassy's activities (reported septel),he was generally quiet and
reluctant to discuss his family connections. He seemed far more
concerned about protocol, making sure the Embassy had a personal
escort throughout the visit and that this escort was himself. END
COMMENT.

CARTER