QADHAFI'S ROAD TRIP THROUGH GUINEA

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000736 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID LY GV SUBJECT: QADHAFI'S ROAD TRIP THROUGH GUINEA ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Libyan leader Mu'ammar Qadhafi's road trip to the AU Summit in Accra brought him through Guinea for 48 hours. Guineans celebrated Qadhafi's visit with a national holiday as they looked forward to new promises of aid for Guinea, which Qadhafi gave. On its side of the promise, Guinea announced its support for Qadhafi's United States of Africa. Guinea's cabinet came out with a strong show of support for the Libyan delegation, accompanying them, by road, across the country. To the Guinean military, the visit was seen as a victory for the hale and hearty Prime Minister over the infirm Conte. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) On June 24, Libyan leader Mu'ammar Qadhafi arrived in Conakry to pay a visit to Guinean President Lansana Conte, as part of his road trip to the AU summit in Accra. However, the visit turned out to be more of a showcase for Prime Minister Kouyate and his cabinet than Conte. Qadhafi was welcomed at the Malian border by Kouyate and several of his ministers and then drove to Conakry, where he was welcomed by President Conte. In honor of the visit, Monday was declared a holiday, "Qadhafi Day," so that everyone could attend a rally/speech at the national stadium in Conakry. ¶3. (U) At the rally, Kouyate pledged his (and Conte's) support for Qadhafi's "United States of Africa," which the Libyans are pushing while making their way to the Summit. Kouyate stated that Guinea would be willing to give up some sovereignty in favor of integration into the proposed U.S. of Africa. As for Qadhafi, while his speech sounded the now familiar theme of support for African integration, he also blamed the ills of the continent on others. The Libyan leader did offer new promises of aid to Guinea. ¶4. (U) Qadhafi promised several hundred thousand dollars in aid for projects in the energy sector, the construction of housing, and support for agricultural development projects in Guinea. He also promised to help with restoration of a pineapple factory project in Salguidia, new uniforms for the military, as well as cooperation between their Central Banks to help stabilize the Guinea Franc. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT. This visit was Kouyate's second Libyan connection in the last few weeks. Earlier this month, Kouyate stopped in Libya just before beginning his U.S. visit. Military sources report that Guinean soldiers saw the visit as a victory for Kouyate. Kouyate enjoyed significant face time with the Libyan leader and widespread press coverage. During Qadhafi's visit with Conte, the Guinean President could only stand for 3 or 4 seconds during the meeting before collapsing back into his chair. Qadhafi's visit was his first to this part of Africa in a long time. His speech did not reveal anything new, and it remains to be seen if Qadhafi will deliver on his promises. Many Guineans expressed some doubt about real support for Guinea, instead seeing the trip as more of a PR event for an ideology of the past, a notion no doubt reinforced when Qadhafi referred to Guinea using the name the country went by during Sekou Toure era. We will continue to follow the relationship between Kouyate and Qadhafi. In his outreach to non-traditional partners, Kouyate seems determined to get help any way he can. END COMMENT. KAEUPER