Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07FREETOWN112
2007-02-15 20:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Freetown
Cable title:  

TFG01: SIERRA LEONE PRESIDENT KABBAH SAYS CONTE'S

Tags:  PREL SL GV LI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHFN #0112/01 0462020
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O 152020Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0791
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000112 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017
TAGS: PREL SL GV LI
SUBJECT: TFG01: SIERRA LEONE PRESIDENT KABBAH SAYS CONTE'S
TIME IS OVER, OFFERS REFUGE

Classified By: Ambassador T. N. Hull, Reasons 1.5 b/d

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000112

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017
TAGS: PREL SL GV LI
SUBJECT: TFG01: SIERRA LEONE PRESIDENT KABBAH SAYS CONTE'S
TIME IS OVER, OFFERS REFUGE

Classified By: Ambassador T. N. Hull, Reasons 1.5 b/d


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with Sierra Leone
President Kabbah on February 15. Kabbah was eager to discuss
the situation in Guinea. Kabbah emphasized that the United
States has great credibility in Guinea and agreed that Conte
must cede power to a transitional civil authority in line
with the constitution. Conte, he said, is isolated and
distrustful of most African leadership, and therefore would
be unlikely to listen to an ECOWAS delegation. Kabbah
believes he still has some influence with Conte, but would be
willing to intercede only if he felt confident of Conte's
resignation. He is hesitant to put himself in a position
that would seem to endorse Conte's continuance in office
fearing that it would disrupt Sierra Leone's fragile
stability. Nevertheless, recognizing the support Conte gave
to Sierra Leone during the time of war, Conte could have
refuge in Sierra Leone, should he decide to step down. Kabbah
is looking forward to the upcoming visit of Liberian
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to discuss options, but is
undecided about a possible joint visit to Guinea, proposed by
her. End Summary

--------------
Kabbah Deplores the Situation
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, met with Sierra Leone
President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah at his office during the
afternoon of February 15. The Ambassador, earlier in the
day, had discussed Guinea on the margins of a public event
with the Presiden, who indicated his desire to speak
privately about the situation and to share his views on the
way ahead. The Ambassador conveyed U.S. concern for the
situation in Guinea. Kabbah agreed and noted that early in
the present crisis the Guinean Ambassador in Sierra Leone had
delivered an emotional appeal asking him to speak use his
personal influence to tell Conte to "back off". The Guinean
Ambassador urged Kabbah to speak with President Conte's wife,
First Lady Henriette Conte, if Conte himself were
unavailable. At that time the First Lady had told Kabbah
that Conte would welcome a visit. Before Kabbah could go,
however, Conte had agreed to name a Prime Minister. Kabbah

decided that a visit would be inappropriate because he did
not want to appear to be endorsing any one candidate. "Our
fragile peace," he emphasized, "should not be obstructed" by
people thinking Sierra Leone might be taking sides.


3. (C) Kabbah called Conte an old man who is not taken
seriously by other African leaders and therefore had
disengaged himself from most African leadership. Kabbah said
Conte is not likely to accept an ECOWAS delegation and would
only be willing to see personal friends, such as President
Kabbah, President Jammeh of The Gambia and President Vieira
of Guinea-Bissau. Kabbah had been approached by Nigerian
President Obasango to represent ECOWAS, commenting that "they
are pushing me to say to him to retire. I was prepared to go
before Eugene Camara was appointed as Prime Minister."


4. (C) Kabbah indicated that a political solution to
Guinea's crisis must still involve Conte. He feels that
Conte must have a dialogue with key players and civil society
leadership in Guinea. In the interest of public order, Conte
must agree to a transfer of power and the appointment of an
interim Prime Minister who is not chosen by him.
Regrettably, Kabbah said, Conte has chosen to buy military
loyalty by giving them money to "keep them happy." Kabbah
recently called General Kerfalla to express his concern with
the situation. Kerfalla, he said, told him he was getting
everything "under control." Kerfalla did ask the Sierra
Leone Ambassador to Guinea, apparently, for crowd control
equipment. He was told no, Kabbah said.

-------------- -
Conte Must Go, Sierra Leone Would Offer Refuge
-------------- -


5. (C) Presently Kabbah is considering a proposal by
Liberian President Helen Johnson Sirleaf that they visit
Conte. She is expected to be in Sierra Leone after her
Washington visit in a few days. Kabbah indicated, however,
that he is dubious about visiting President Conte unless he
can expect a positive outcome. In an election year in Sierra
Leone, he does not want to appear to be supporting Conte and
his cohorts, he said. The only message he would be willing
to convey to Conte would be for Conte to step aside and
accept a turnover of authority. This message should also
include justice on behalf of those civilians killed during
the demonstrations. Authority must be held accountable,
Kabbah emphasized.


6. (C) Should Conte cede power and be uncomfortable

FREETOWN 00000112 002 OF 002


remaining in Guinea, he would be welcome in Sierra Leone,
Kabbah said. Kabbah has not forgotten the support Conte and
Guinea provided when he and his government were in exile
during the civil war. Kabbah is confident that Sierra
Leoneans would respect such an outcome. "I would remind my
people that he helped us during our problems."

--------------
The U.S. Has Influence
--------------


7. (C) The Ambassador shared with President Kabbah U.S.
concerns for the future of Guinea and the need to respect the
rights of Guineans. The strikes, he pointed out, were merely
symptomatic of the larger problems of Guinea whose citizens
were fed up with their deplorable situation. He noted that
Ambassador McDonald had conveyed these concerns to Prime
Minister Camara and General Kerfalla during separate
meetings. The military state of siege must end and political
dialogue must begin, the Ambassador said. Kabbah agreed that
there needs to be a political, not a military solution and
that the leadership must be held accountable for any abuse of
power.


8. (C) Kabbah indicated that the United States is the most
credible interlocutor to carry this message. The U.S. is not
perceived to have a vested interest in Guinea beyond a desire
for Guinea's democratic and economic growth and understands
that Guinea has an important regional role for the future
stability of the Mano River area. The vast majority of
Africans, he commented, do not take Conte seriously, and he
in turn does not like them much. Conte would be unlikely to
be willing to meet with an ECOWAS delegation and certainly
would not listen to them if he did, Kabbah concluded.

--------------
Comment
--------------


9. (C) President Kabbah recognizes that he may be the only
democratic African leader who has influence with Conte, but
he is cautious about using it for a variety of reasons. He
does not want to be the one to tell an old friend that his
time is past, but appears to be willing to do so if Conte is
willing to listen. Knowing how stubborn Conte is, Kabbah is
concerned that Conte will not read the handwriting on the
wall, especially with his back to it. Kabbah is not a risk
taker, but may be more willing to intervene if President
Johnson Sirleaf provides support. Kabbah knows that Conte
must go. Delivering that message is the hard part, and
clearly he would prefer the U.S. to do so. End Comment
HULL