Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY386
2007-04-04 15:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
GUINEA: REQUEST TO LIFT ORDERED DEPARTURE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0012 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRY #0386 0941559 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 041559Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0920 INFO 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 000386
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FROM THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES
DEPT FOR M, AF/W, AF/EX, CA/OCS, DS/CC, DS/IP/AF
PLEASE PASS ALSO TO PEACE CORPS AND AID/AA/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC PREL PINR AMGT GV
SUBJECT: GUINEA: REQUEST TO LIFT ORDERED DEPARTURE
REF: A. STATE 37763
B. CONAKRY 348
C. CONAKRY 370
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000386
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FROM THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES
DEPT FOR M, AF/W, AF/EX, CA/OCS, DS/CC, DS/IP/AF
PLEASE PASS ALSO TO PEACE CORPS AND AID/AA/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC PREL PINR AMGT GV
SUBJECT: GUINEA: REQUEST TO LIFT ORDERED DEPARTURE
REF: A. STATE 37763
B. CONAKRY 348
C. CONAKRY 370
1. (SBU) I would like to request that Ordered Departure for
Eligible Family Members be lifted effective April 10, 2007,
i.e., 15 days ahead of the current 30-day deadline of April
25. Ambassador McDonald is aware of and concurs in this
request.
2. (SBU) Per Ref A, the Under Secretary for Management
extended Ordered Departure for EFMs for 30 days from March 26
to April 25, 2007. The action followed Mission's submission
March 23 of Ref B, in which we stated that we could not at
that time recommend an end to Ordered Departure status. We
noted, however, that we expected President Lansana Conte to
issue a decree naming a new government soon, and that if he
named a government acceptable to the Guinean public, we would
explore lifting Ordered Departure prior to the end of the
next 30-day extension. Per Ref C, President Conte approved a
new government evening of March 28. On April 2, post
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met to review state of play.
3. (SBU) Public reaction to the names has been positive.
Recently named Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate consulted
extensively before finalizing the roster Conte approved. A
key popular demand, that no member of the former government
be retained, has been met. Guineans largely assess this as
evidence that Kouyate was able to convince Conte when the
latter would have preferred to retain some of his former
supporters. Senior union officials were selected for two
ministerial posts. Civil society leaders specifically opted
out of membership in the government but have greeted the
naming of the new team favorably. The Guinean population is
calm and looking forward now to seeing the new government
translate into action their commitment to implement clean and
effective governance; they will give the new team some time
to make progress. Kouyate has already issued several
"instructions" aimed at curbing corrupt practices including
diversion of public funds and assets.
4. (SBU) As discussed Ref B, the security situation has been
calm since February 25, when ECOWAS brokered the deal that
led to President Conte's agreement to name a Prime
Minister/Head of Government agreeable to the unions and civil
society, to grant that person broad delegated powers, and to
approve a cabinet of broad consensus. Life in the capital
has returned to its usual patterns. Fuel and food are
readily available, stores and businesses are open, and
schools, including the International School of Conakry and
the French Lycee, have resumed classes. American and local
employees come to work as usual and without incident. The
last week did see some student unrest at the universities in
Labe and Kankan, in the interior, but these incidents
resulted directly from dissatisfaction with university
management.
5. (SBU) My assessment is that the climate permits our EFMs
to return to post. Accordingly, I request that Ordered
Departure be lifted effective April 10 so that those family
members who wish to do so may come back to Conakry.
WINN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FROM THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES
DEPT FOR M, AF/W, AF/EX, CA/OCS, DS/CC, DS/IP/AF
PLEASE PASS ALSO TO PEACE CORPS AND AID/AA/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC PREL PINR AMGT GV
SUBJECT: GUINEA: REQUEST TO LIFT ORDERED DEPARTURE
REF: A. STATE 37763
B. CONAKRY 348
C. CONAKRY 370
1. (SBU) I would like to request that Ordered Departure for
Eligible Family Members be lifted effective April 10, 2007,
i.e., 15 days ahead of the current 30-day deadline of April
25. Ambassador McDonald is aware of and concurs in this
request.
2. (SBU) Per Ref A, the Under Secretary for Management
extended Ordered Departure for EFMs for 30 days from March 26
to April 25, 2007. The action followed Mission's submission
March 23 of Ref B, in which we stated that we could not at
that time recommend an end to Ordered Departure status. We
noted, however, that we expected President Lansana Conte to
issue a decree naming a new government soon, and that if he
named a government acceptable to the Guinean public, we would
explore lifting Ordered Departure prior to the end of the
next 30-day extension. Per Ref C, President Conte approved a
new government evening of March 28. On April 2, post
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met to review state of play.
3. (SBU) Public reaction to the names has been positive.
Recently named Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate consulted
extensively before finalizing the roster Conte approved. A
key popular demand, that no member of the former government
be retained, has been met. Guineans largely assess this as
evidence that Kouyate was able to convince Conte when the
latter would have preferred to retain some of his former
supporters. Senior union officials were selected for two
ministerial posts. Civil society leaders specifically opted
out of membership in the government but have greeted the
naming of the new team favorably. The Guinean population is
calm and looking forward now to seeing the new government
translate into action their commitment to implement clean and
effective governance; they will give the new team some time
to make progress. Kouyate has already issued several
"instructions" aimed at curbing corrupt practices including
diversion of public funds and assets.
4. (SBU) As discussed Ref B, the security situation has been
calm since February 25, when ECOWAS brokered the deal that
led to President Conte's agreement to name a Prime
Minister/Head of Government agreeable to the unions and civil
society, to grant that person broad delegated powers, and to
approve a cabinet of broad consensus. Life in the capital
has returned to its usual patterns. Fuel and food are
readily available, stores and businesses are open, and
schools, including the International School of Conakry and
the French Lycee, have resumed classes. American and local
employees come to work as usual and without incident. The
last week did see some student unrest at the universities in
Labe and Kankan, in the interior, but these incidents
resulted directly from dissatisfaction with university
management.
5. (SBU) My assessment is that the climate permits our EFMs
to return to post. Accordingly, I request that Ordered
Departure be lifted effective April 10 so that those family
members who wish to do so may come back to Conakry.
WINN