Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY1354
2007-12-26 10:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

KANKAN YOUTH CRITICAL OF POLITICAL PROGRESS

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM GV 
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VZCZCXRO9443
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1354/01 3601059
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261059Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1989
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001354 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM GV
SUBJECT: KANKAN YOUTH CRITICAL OF POLITICAL PROGRESS

REF: CONAKRY 1287

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001354

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM GV
SUBJECT: KANKAN YOUTH CRITICAL OF POLITICAL PROGRESS

REF: CONAKRY 1287


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. A recent poloff roundtable discussion with Kankan
youth leaders demonstrated that the younger generation feels
increasingly marginalized from its political leaders. Kankan's
youth are generally frustrated and disappointed, and feel that the
consensus government has not really changed the political
environment. Skeptical of government outreach efforts, they said
Guinea's political actors seek to manipulate the youth in order to
achieve their own political agendas. Youth leaders also expressed
concern about the potential for increased violence as the country
approaches the anniversary of the events in January and February

2007. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) During a recent road trip to Kankan, poloff met with a group
of six youth leaders and representatives in order to exchange ideas
and discuss perceptions of the current political and economic
situation.

--------------
CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE
--------------


3. (SBU) A general air of frustration and disappointment seem to
hang over the table as Kankan youth leaders vented about the
government's lack of understanding of the problems and concerns of
the younger generation. One said that there is a general "crisis of
confidence" among younger people who feel that the government
largely ignores them. Another asked why there are no youths
represented in government, pointing to the fact that most government
officials are at least 40 years old and many of them over 50.


4. (SBU) The group agreed that it was Guinea's youth that generated
the political momentum leading to the consensus government in
January and February. However, one said, "concretely, what have we
really achieved? - practically speaking, we are faced with the same
problems." Another mentioned that many of their compatriots died on
January 22 when security forces fired into crowds of demonstrators
and asked if these individual sacrifices had really brought any
fundamental change.

--------------
WHAT YOUTH CONFERENCE?
--------------


5. (SBU) When asked about the recent government-sponsored youth
conference in Kindia (reftel),the group was visibly skeptical. One
said that only two representatives from each prefecture were invited

to the event, and that these representatives were chosen by the
government without any consultation of the actual youth
associations. Another said he didn't even find out about the event
until it was already over. The group said the government has its
favorites and it picks who it wants to represent the young people.
Picking up on that theme, one participant said that the government
actively seeks to divide the younger generation and manipulate them
in order to achieve their respective political agendas.


6. (SBU) Around the table, each agreed that one of the biggest
challenges facing youth is the fact that they are disorganized.
They said that they have leaders, but there is no central
organization through which they can unify themselves and advance a
comprehensive political agenda. One noted that even within Kankan,
they don't necessarily know all the youth associations.

--------------
SPIRIT OF VIOLENCE
--------------


7. (SBU) Commenting on local politics, the group said that Kankan
is particularly volatile and has a "high spirit of violence." They
also said that increased political frustration has brought increased
criminality. As an example, they highlighted an October incident
that involved a mototaxi driver that was beheaded. A group of
mototaxi drivers immediately banded together and reasoned that it
must have been a group of bandits that beheaded their colleague and
that bandits naturally congregate in bars and restaurants where they
can get alcohol. In retaliation, they vandalized or destroyed a
number of the city's bars and restaurants. They also went to the
local gendarmerie, believing that the culprit had been apprehended,
and threatened to destroy the gendarmerie if he was not released
into their custody. The situation resolved itself, but the youth
representatives told poloff that this type of violence and
criminality is increasingly common in Kankan.


8. (SBU) Drawing on the same idea, one participant expressed
concern about how the city will react as the country approaches the
January 22 anniversary of the killings in Conakry. He said that
nothing has been done and people may react violently to the lack of
progress when faced with the anniversary as a catalyst.

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

CONAKRY 00001354 002 OF 002


--------------


9. (SBU) Youth sentiments in Kankan echo those Embassy has heard
elsewhere, both in Conakry and on road trips to other regions.
There is a real sense of marginalization within the younger
generation and an increasing self-realized need to organize
themselves politically. At the same time, there is a marked
disregard for this segment of the population throughout government
and civil society. Many government, civil society, and political
leaders do not seem to realize that the younger generation does not
identify with them at all. Others do not seem to recognize that the
youth have a political role to play, which is due in part to an
ingrained cultural tradition of deference to elders. The youth's
biggest challenge seems to be their lack of organization and
cohesion. Increasing frustration within this potentially powerful
societal sector could be a critical catalyst for political change
and Embassy is seeking opportunities to reach out to youth leaders
in order to provide guidance and encourage peaceful, constructive
political engagement. At the same time, when meeting with other
contacts, Embassy continues to emphasize the need for political
actors to reach out to the younger generation. END COMMENT.

CARTER