PRIME MINISTER CLEARS ONE HURDLE: APPOINTS NEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000723

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF AFRICAN NATIONS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV ELAB SOCI KDEM GV
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER CLEARS ONE HURDLE: APPOINTS NEW
GOVERNORS AND PREFECTS

REF: CONAKRY 710

Classified By: Political Officer Jessica Davis Ba. Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (SBU) Summary. On June 22, by presidential decree,
Guinea named eight new governors and 33 prefects to lead its
administrative regions. The nominations conclude months of
wrangling (reftel) resulting in an eventual compromise
between Prime Minister Kouyate and President Conte. Initial
public reaction has been muted with the majority of the
population seemingly content to give these new administrators
the opportunity to work. Keeping with population demands,
all positions have been replaced, although many were already
serving within the Ministry of Interior and Security. While
many of our interlocutors claim the administrators have close
ties to Conte by virtue of their ascendance from within the
system, the list is relatively ethnically balanced, has fewer
military representatives, and includes women for the first
time in Guinea's history. With state administrators deployed
within the interior, the government can finally begin the
work necessary to deliver on its promises announced when
first coming to office. End Summary.

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New Governors for Guinea's Eight Regions
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2. (U) The new governors of Guinea's eight administrative
regions follow:

-- Malick Sankhon, Governor of Conakry, formerly General
Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Hotels

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-- Hawa Fofana, Governor of Kindia, Formerly Professor at the
University of Sonfonia (and the first woman governor of
Guinea)
-- Siafa Beavogui, Governor of Boke, formerly Director of
Cabinet in the Kankan Governor's Office.
-- Mamadou Saliou Bah, Governor of Mamou, formerly Professor
at the University of Conakry
-- Ibrahima Blacki Bangoura, Governor of Faranah, formerly
Director General within the Ministry of Interior and Security
-- Ibrahima Sory Diabate, Governor of Labe, formerly
Political Counselor in the Ministry of Interior and Security
-- Rene Bayo Kamano, Governor of Kankan, formerly Counselor
in the Ministry of Interior and Security.
-- Oumar Traore, Governor of N'Zerekore, formerly Counselor
in the Ministry of Interior and Security


3. (C) The Mission enjoys good relations with the majority
of the newly appointed governors. We have worked very
closely with Diabate over the last two years on improving
democratic processes and preparation for local and
legislative elections. The Embassy sponsored Kamano on a
visit to N'Djamena for the International Conference Against
Terrorism and was in close contact with him about border
issues including trafficking in persons and on the status of
the Yenga area. Bangoura has been extremely supportive of
Mission initiatives in the interior, recently advocating for
the national implementation of a USAID-funded project on
grassroots democracy that led to collective decisions to stop
female genital cutting. Poloff met with Beavogui on a recent
trip to Kankan. He was extremely vocal about the need for
change, competent leadership, and the fact that Conakry had
forgotten about its responsibilities to its people outside
the capital.

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Balanced Roster, But Loyal to Whom?
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4. (C) The new governors represent all four major ethnic
groups (2 Soussou, 2 Malinke, 2 Peulh, 2 Forest Region).
Conte has appointed Guinea's first female governor for the
Region of Kindia. With the replacement of the military
governors in Kankan and N'Zerekore, all governors are now
civilians. While two professors have been named, the
overwhelming majority of the administrators come from various
positions within the Ministry of Interior and Security and
are known to have strong affiliations to Conte himself or
with the majority PUP political apparatus. Many of our
interlocutors have indicated that while their administrative
skills and management experience vary, the new governors will
abide by the directions they receive from Conakry. However,
they believed that if the mission handed down from the
Minister of Interior and Security differed with one given by
Conte, the governors would choose Conte's directives. While
they have not been vocal, key political and social actors

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have expressed concern about the newly appointed leader's
neutrality and loyalty.

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New "Old Guard" Within Guinea's Prefectures
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5. (SBU) Like its governors, many of Guinea's 33 new
prefects are familiar faces. Most were formerly serving in
the number two or three position in various prefectures prior
to their appointment. Only one prefect was retained --
Commander Bourema Conde, moved from Mandiana to N'Zerekore.
Four military prefects will represent the border areas of
Mandiana, N'Zerekore, Gueckedou, and Macenta. This is a
slight reduction from the five former military prefects. In
a historic move, Guinea also has three women prefects in
Forecariah, Dabola, and Yomou. Although the list is
relatively ethnically balanced, some counts indicate an
over-representation of Malinke prefects. Our analysis also
indicated that many of the individuals are close to Conte and
are establishment "insiders". The decrees containing the
full list of governors and prefects will be sent to the
Department via email.

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Cabinets Begin to Take Shape
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6. (SBU) One of Prime Minister Kouyate's major challenges is
that his ministers have been operating without a staff that
reflects the new government structure or their choice for
collaborators. The Treasury Representative reports that the
Ministry of Finance has finally begun naming the
administrative directors that serve within each of the
ministries. These Finance Ministry officers have overall
budgetary, management, personnel, and administrative
responsibilities, serving within each of the government
ministries. At least half of the new administrators are
women. The Minister of Finance, after posting their
nominations, told the Treasury Representative that he would
make it clear that he has supervisory authority over these
officers and they will no longer enjoy the latitude with
which others may have formerly operated. These tighter
controls are part of the financial reforms promised by the
Prime Minister. Thus far, this is the first example of
government restructuring that has occurred.

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Appointments Calm a Restless Nation
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7. (C) COMMENT. The June 22 announcement of new governors
and prefects for Guinea's eight administrative regions
represents a major milestone for Prime Minister Kouyate's
government. The "consensus" government has been under
increasing pressure to show concrete results (reftel). Since
taking office March 28, the Prime Minister required an
extended period of time to name the members of his cabinet
and appoint the administrators who represent the state in the
interior. Conte and his coterie blocked this process at each
turn as successive lists were submitted, then summarily
rejected. The final lists are a result of deep compromise
with a Head of State who is unwilling to cede true power,
shrewdly installing individuals from inside the system, who
are likely to remain faithful to the establishment. Most of
our contacts agreed that with Conte still in power, in the
best case scenario, the appointees would maintain the status
quo in order to preserve their personal interests. Yet for
the moment, Guinea's population is breathing a collective
sigh of relief and is content to give the administrators time
to deliver. End Comment.
KAEUPER