Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY348
2007-03-23 11:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

GUINEA: RECOMMENDATION ON ORDERED DEPARTURE

Tags:  AMGT ASEC CASC PREL PINR GV 
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VZCZCXRO3616
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0348 0821122
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231122Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0877
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHFT/GOLFCO MSGBN AMCONGEN FRANKFURT GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2/J5// PRIORITY
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000348 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FROM THE AMBASSADOR
DEPT FOR M, CA/OCS, DS/CC, DS/IP/AF, AF/W, AF/EX
PLEASE PASS ALSO TO AID/AA/AF AND PEACE CORPS
TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF FOREIGN NATIONS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASEC CASC PREL PINR GV
SUBJECT: GUINEA: RECOMMENDATION ON ORDERED DEPARTURE

REF: A. STATE 21638

B. CONAKRY 200

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000348

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FROM THE AMBASSADOR
DEPT FOR M, CA/OCS, DS/CC, DS/IP/AF, AF/W, AF/EX
PLEASE PASS ALSO TO AID/AA/AF AND PEACE CORPS
TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF FOREIGN NATIONS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASEC CASC PREL PINR GV
SUBJECT: GUINEA: RECOMMENDATION ON ORDERED DEPARTURE

REF: A. STATE 21638

B. CONAKRY 200


1. (SBU) Given continued uncertainty surrounding Guinea's
near-term future, I am unable, as of March 23, to recommend
that the ordered departure for EFMs be lifted. We expect
President Lansana Conte to issue a decree naming a new
cabinet of ministers soon. If he does so in the coming days
and if our assessment is that the new ministerial line-up is
broadly acceptable to the Guinean public, I may follow up to
explore lifting ordered departure before the end of an
additional 30-day period.


2. (SBU) The U.S. Mission's Emergency Action Committee (EAC)
met this morning, March 23, to review security conditions and
to determine whether to recommend that ordered departure
status for EFMs, which expires March 26, be lifted or
extended.


3. (SBU) The EAC agreed all were eager to lift ordered
departure, but the EAC also recommended unanimously against
doing so at this time. Since an ECOWAS delegation brokered
an agreement that led to the naming of a new "prime minister
of consensus" and an end to the general strike, security
conditions have been calm throughout the country. Stores,
businesses, and government offices have been open,
transportation normal, and all schools open (including the
International School and French Lycee).


4. (SBU) That said, Guinea's political situation remains
tenuous. President Lansana Conte has not yet named a new
broad-based government, as promised in the ECOWAS-brokered
accord of February 25. Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate has
been in place almost a month and has been consulting widely
with all sectors of society. Unions, civil society, and the
general public agree that the new ministerial roster must
represent a complete break with the past, with no current
ministers retained and no one suspected of corruption given a
nod. All indications are that the population will react
promptly and violently if Conte names an unacceptable
government. On February 9, Guineans took to the streets
within hours of Conte's naming Eugene Camara -- an unpopular
choice -- as prime minister.


5. (SBU) Under these circumstances, I cannot recommend
lifting ordered departure as of today. An announcement on
the new government could come as early as this weekend. As
soon as a government is named and we are able to assess its
make-up, I will be in a better position to determine if, in
fact, the security outlook in Guinea will permit the return
of EFMs.
MCDONALD