Kankan: History Destroyed, Uncertain Future

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000434 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ELAB PINS EAID GV SUBJECT: Kankan: History Destroyed, Uncertain Future ¶1. (U) Summary. Kankan, Guinea's second largest city, is still reeling from the violence and destruction unleashed during the strike and state of siege earlier this year. The fact that it is a traditional stronghold of opposition party Rally for the Guinean People (RPG),led by Alpha Conde, did not spare it from damage. In February, the disgruntled population set fire to Kankan's public archive, destroying colonial records dating back to 1891 and all the administrative records from the region. More than 100 prisoners were "liberated," and there is nothing left in the offices of the governor, prefect, or mayor. ¶2. (U) On April 3, university students began a strike to demand better teaching standards, facilities, and resources for more than 6,000 students at Julius Nyerere University. Although students returned to their classes on April 17, life in Kankan "will never be the same." In the aftermath of Guinea's political upheaval, reconstruction and reconciliation have become the priorities, but in Kankan as in many other cities in the interior, there are few resources and no plan for where to begin this process. End Summary. -------------- Our History Up in Flames -------------- ¶3. (U) An important site in the colonial history of Guinea, Kankan is Guinea's second largest city. Located approximately 900 km from Conakry, it is the regional capital of Upper Guinea. In the early 1990s when Guinea began its experiment with multi-party democracy, the majority Malinke area became a stronghold of the opposition party Rally for the Guinean People (RPG),led by Alpha Conde. In the local and municipal elections of December 2005, RPG regained control of Kankan and all of the 26 elected officials represent opposition parties. However, its proud history and political orientation were not enough to protect Kankan from the furor unleashed during the strike and state of siege at the beginning of this year. On a trip to the city April 11-13, Poloff witnessed the aftermath of the violence, efforts at reconciliation, and a population that is unclear as to how it will be able to rebuild a more positive future. ¶4. (SBU) Violent protests erupted in Kankan on February 9, the day that President Conte named Former Minister of Presidential Affairs and close political ally Eugene Camara to the post of Prime Minister. Mayor Fatoumata Maty told Poloff this appointment was a "direct provocation." She noted that all of the damage occurred on February 10 and 11, most of it carried out by crowds of youth, the majority under the age of 20, who "only have known the regime of Lansana Conte." Rioters descended on all the symbols of state power in Kankan. They began at the prefecture, sacking and looting the building before they set it aflame. Moving next door in the same compound, they did the same to the mayor's office before targeting the governor's office. Maty said that both the prefect and the governor, concerned only about their personal well-being, went into hiding with their families at the military camp. ¶5. (SBU) There is absolutely nothing left in the buildings that once housed the appointed and elected government representatives. All of the computers, furnishings, books and records -- even railings and the glass from the windows and railings -- are gone. Ahmadou Bailo Diallo, General Secretary of Decentralized Collectivities (and the number two at the prefecture),recounted that "they descended on the prefecture, taking everything they could and then destroying the rest." Diallo said the state archives housed there, including colonial records dating back to 1891, did not burn easily. To finish the job, a group of youth returned to the site with gasoline which they used to set ablaze all of the official correspondence between France and its colonial outpost, the records during the independence struggle, and the administrative documents from the region. The registries recording the births, deaths, and marriages of the citizens of Kankan are all destroyed, Diallo confirmed. He concluded, "They burned the proud history of Kankan." -------------- -------------- State Symbols and Administrators Have Disappeared -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The protesters did not discriminate on the basis of party, ethnicity or status as elected or appointed official in their violent rampage. They associated all state symbols and public goods with the regime, seeing Eugene Camara's appointment as the final straw, and violence as their only recourse. ¶7. (SBU) In addition to offices, the colonial residence of the prefect, known as "the building of 100 windows" was completely ruined. Kankan was completing its designation of the building as a UNESCO historical landmark. Rioters also damaged or destroyed several private properties, belonging to ministers and individuals perceived to be close to the regime. The Office of the Treasury was looted along with the pension payments to Kankan's retirees and their family members. After eight months, these individuals have yet to receive their allowances. The prison was also ransacked, with residents "liberating" more than 100 prisoners. Authorities have reviewed the losses, but have not made a final accounting. ¶8. (SBU) Representatives from all sectors of Kankan society agree that the implementation of the state of siege was the only thing that stopped the violence. Reflecting on its escalation, many blamed the prefect and the governor, the only authorities who could have called in the military to reinforce security forces overwhelmed by the crowds. The Kankan military base, located just outside of the city, houses thousands of troops. Colonel Diarra Camara, the commanding officer of the Third Military Region of Kankan, told us that without their orders, there was nothing he could do. Siafa Beavogui, Cabinet Director of the Governor's Office, accepted some responsibility for the outcome stating, "We saw it coming and let it happen - we even helped it along." Most officials expressed the common sentiment that change was needed, and unfortunately the necessary cost was high. -------------- Looking for Change at the Top -------------- ¶9. (SBU) On April 12, Poloff met with the majority of Kankan's 26 elected local counselors at the mayor's office, where the community leaders arranged for a few chairs to be delivered. The day before, Poloff met with the mayor under a mango tree outside the building - she told us it where she conducts most official business since there is nothing left in her office. The counselors were saddened by the destruction of their administrative facilities, but especially by the loss of the archives. They emphasized that what happened in Kankan, was the same fate of cities across Guinea. It was not caused by political, ethnic, or religious conflict, and not fueled by external threat -- it was a result of an accumulation of reprehensible behavior at all levels of the government. The magnitude of the crisis was exacerbated because people took to the streets at the same time the state was at its weakest, they said. One commented, "We need this in our history to announce a new phase of life - it was an obligatory passage." They also averred that Guinea deserved kudos for resolving its own issues and not sinking into the civil wars that have plagued its neighbors. ¶10. (SBU) Poloff asked if they felt that real change was possible while the highest government official was still in power. The counselors, the majority of whom represent the RPG opposition party, responded that while they feel somewhat optimistic, fundamental changes cannot occur until President Conte is removed from office. "With Lansana Conte at the head, it will fail - guaranteed." They wished openly that the "consensus government" was instead a "government of transition". One stated, "Conte is asleep right now and does not really know what has happened; once he wakes up and finds out his hands are tied, he will strike back." There was general consensus that Guinea will experience another wave of violence before fundamental change occurs. -------------- Trouble at the University -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Students at the University of Kankan were eager to ride the wave of change and emulate the labor unions in social activism. When the strike canceled classes, many students went home to wait out the conflict. Those who remained in Kankan took part in peaceful protest marches but denied any involvement in the violence or property destruction, despite being goaded by Kankan youth to get involved. It was in the aftermath of the strike that trouble bubbled up at Julius Nyerere University. For months, student leaders tried to meet with the university rector to address their concerns but stated that they were rebuffed at every turn. On April 3, students went on strike to protest low educational standards, poor living conditions, lack of resources, and the corruption of university officials. ¶12. (SBU) On April 11, Poloff met with three leaders of the student unions who eloquently detailed their situation and their demands. Active negotiations were taking place at the time of our visit, mediated by the local civil society president, union leaders, and Colonel Camara. Under the specter of a lost academic year, on April 12, student barricaded university entrances, administrative buildings, and demanded a swift resolution. Just prior to this turn of events, our visit to one of the dormitories at the center of campus revealed deplorable conditions. ¶13. (SBU) The four-story structure houses more than 1,300 students without electricity or an internal source of water. There were two spigots at the front of the building where students retrieved water for their daily needs. The morning of our visit, we found more than 50 students crowded in the courtyard, bathing, brushing their teeth, washing clothes - all less than 200 yards from the university rector, administrative offices, and classrooms. The larger dorm rooms house more than 30 students on thin metal bunk beds squeezed into a space that does not provide room for desks or personal storage. Most students live from boxes, trunks, or suitcases crammed under their beds. The students were eager to ensure that Poloff witnessed their living situation, especially the bathrooms. ¶14. (SBU) Prior to our tour of the dormitory, Poloff made a courtesy visit to the university rector and his administrative staff. We encouraged them to continue the dialogue with the students and to do everything in their power to reach a resolution. These sentiments were echoed later that evening in a "family dinner" Poloff hosted for Mayor Maty, Col. Camara, Emmanuel Felemou Bishop of Kankan, union and civil society leaders, and the student leaders. Kankan's leaders urged the students not to let the conflict drag on because they would soon realize, as had the Conakry-based union leaders, they could no longer control the actions of their followers. The students promised to communicate these sentiments to the entire student body. After an April 14-15 visit by newly appointed Minister of Education Ousmane Souare, himself a labor leader, students and university administrators reached an agreement. On April 17, students resumed their classes. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶15. (SBU) While the most recent crisis at the University of Kankan has been resolved, the underlying issues facing the city have not. In the aftermath of the political upheaval that marked the last few months, residents in Kankan are still reeling from the effects. There have been no town meetings to reconcile or resolve intense sentiments that are just below the quiet demeanor of the majority of the population. Many noted an up tick in crime as the "bandits" released from the prisons take advantage of the relative absence of security officers. The unemployed and out-of-school youth who ransacked the state edifices have yet to be placed into productive activities. All of the individuals with whom we met made a plea for U.S. assistance of any kind to help them begin rebuilding efforts. Without offices, equipment, or resources to work, officials have not devised a coherent plan on where to begin. All agreed that international partnerships would be necessary to help empower Kankan its residents to leave the past behind and begin collectively to build a new future. McDONALD