PUP MOBILIZES FOR POSSIBLE MARCH ELECTIONS -

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000991

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: PUP MOBILIZES FOR POSSIBLE MARCH ELECTIONS -
MAINTAINS MODERATE POLITICAL STANCE

REF: CONAKRY 00960

Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. SUMMARY. Guinea's ruling political party, the Party for
Unity and Progress (PUP) says its August 17 rally (reftel)
was largely misunderstood as it was intended only to
demonstrate support for the President and revive the party,s
image. While the general party message is one of moderation,
certain PUP personalities continue to play a destabilizing
role within the political arena. On the elections front,
unconfirmed reports indicate that the Government may finally
be moving toward a fixed election date of March 29. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) On August 29, poloff met with Aliou Banire Diallo,
member of the Executive Board of the Party for Unity and
Progress (PUP) and President of the PUP Parliamentary Group
within the National Assembly.

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PUP ) WE'VE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD
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3. (SBU) Speaking of the large rally the PUP held on August
17 (reftel),Diallo said the event was widely misinterpreted
by the press, civil society and opposition political parties.
The PUP,s purpose was simply to demonstrate support for
President Lansana Conte and to show that the PUP is alive and
well as the country gears up for legislative elections. The
party considers the rally a big success, but Diallo said some
players, notably unions and civil society organizations,
interpreted it as a demonstration against change. Diallo
said that this is simply not true. &The PUP has always been
a party of peace and tolerance,8 he said. Furthermore, the
party absolutely supports change. &The Government must
improve the overall quality of life ) no one is opposed to
that idea,8 Diallo added.


4. (C) However, Diallo said that certain party leaders may
have gone too far and been &overly emotional8 in their
discourse. Specifically, MBemba Bangoura, a controversial
figure who is widely considered an extremist within the
party, may have made some comments that helped fuel the press
and others in thinking the event was more inflammatory than
it was intended to be. (Note: Bangoura is currently a
member of the Executive Board of the PUP as well as the
President of the NGO, the Guinean Association of Solidarity,
that co-sponsored the PUP rally. He previously served terms
as Governor of Conakry and Governor of Faranah.)

5. (SBU) Diallo said that the PUP does not intend to counter
negative press through internet news sites or even printed
press. According to Diallo, the internet is primarily a
mechanism by which to communicate to the Guinean diaspora and
a small group of young intellectuals in Guinea who support
the opposition. Since more than 80% of Guinea,s population
does not have access to internet and most are illiterate,
Diallo said the PUP will rely on more traditional means of
communication such as radio and public appearances.

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PRESIDENT'S PARTY MOBILIZES REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
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6. (SBU) Diallo also mentioned that several members of the
PUP,s executive board, including Mamadou Sylla and Sekou
Konate (party Secretary General),are currently traveling up
country to hold meetings with party representatives
throughout the country. Diallo characterized the trip as
mainly a mission to share information, but also to sympathize
with party members who were victimized during the unrest
earlier this year. Diallo stressed that the party is not
meeting with voters at this point, but rather, mobilizing
representatives as they prepare for upcoming elections.
Meetings are planned in each of the seven administrative
regions ) Faranah, N,Zerekore, Kankan, Mamou, Labe, Kindia
and Boke.

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WE ARE ALL FOR CHANGE
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7. (C) In a candid discussion of politics in general, Diallo
said there is clearly a problem of leadership at the national
level that is wearing everyone down, majority and opposition
parties alike. He emphasized that change is necessary, but
that there is real disagreement among players as to what
change entails. Diallo said that for the PUP, change must
happen within the context of continuity, which means
maintaining respect for the Constitution and strict adherence
to the core values of the republic: sovereignty, integrity,
and freedom. Diallo added that violence should not be

CONAKRY 00000991 002 OF 002


necessary to effect change. &We should not have to wait
until people take to the streets; we don't need strikes with
over 100 people dead to push us to act.8

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RUMORS OF NEW ELECTION DATE
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8. (SBU) Turning to the elections, Diallo said he has not
been able to confirm yet, but he understands that the
Ministry of Interior sent letters to all parties suggesting a
timeline for elections preparations leading up to an actual
election date of March 29. He added that the Minister of
Interior is scheduled to meet with parties on August 31,
which should clarify where things stand.

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WHAT IS TRANSPARENCY?
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9. (C) Diallo also commented on the issue of transparency
with respect to the elections. Every participant has a
different definition of transparency, which could ultimately
lead to conflict when the elections finally take place, he
said. &If one is within the losing party, that person will
automatically claim that the elections were not
transparent.8 He added that observers should be aware of
this problem and work to help minimize its potential impact.
Diallo then joked &if the PUP sat down with all the parties
tomorrow and said that it had decided to abstain from the
elections, everyone would stop talking about the need for
transparency.8

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COMMENT
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10. (C) While Diallo's message seems to be that the PUP is a
party of moderation ultimately looking to improve the overall
political situation just like everyone else, the party does
have some extreme elements (led by MBemba Bangoura and
Mamadou Sylla) that are potentially destabilizing and may be
spurring the backlash of response from various sectors of
society. Other poloff contacts within the PUP have, like
Diallo, also said that they truly want a peaceful transition.
However, Mamadou Sylla is a powerful influence with deep
pockets and it is unclear how far his network extends or how
far he and his cronies are willing to go to assure that they
remain within the power nexus.


11. (SBU) The report that the Ministry of the Interior and
political parties may finally be moving towards a realistic
election date with a set timeline for the necessary
preparatory activities is encouraging. The population is
eager to see progress on this front and an official
announcement by the Government would do much to help dampen
the general undercurrents of civil unrest. The fact that PUP
party leadership is making its first trip upcountry since the
events in January and February indicates that the party is
mobilizing its membership for the elections, another positive
sign that things are moving forward.
BROKENSHIRE