NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS, BUT NOT MUCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000104

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV ELAB PHUM KDEM GV
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS, BUT NOT MUCH
ON THE DOCKET

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

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Aboubacar Sompare, President of the National
Assembly, officially opened the spring legislative session on
April 7. Despite speaking for 30 minutes, Sompare did not
say much substantively, instead focusing on broad-based
themes without going into much depth. He made no reference
to upcoming legislative elections. In a meeting with Poloff,
the legislative majority leader, Banire, claimed ignorance as
to what would be on the congressional docket, although he
said that the deputies would be looking at a "Child Code" and
a bill improving protections for handicapped people, but that
any questions of constitutional reform should be handled by
referendum. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) The opening ceremony was initially planned to begin
at 10:00, but upon arrival, diplomatic guests were informed
that it had been rescheduled for 16:00. The National
Assembly's "session of laws" lasts for 45 days, or about six
weeks.

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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
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3. (U) Speaking from 17 pages of prepared text, Sompare
touched on a number of broad themes, including democracy,
human rights, national unity, the need for change and reform,
security, economic development, and globalization. He did
mention that he was opening the final session of laws for the
current National Assembly, but said nothing about the
country's upcoming legislative elections. He spoke at some
length about the need for national dialogue and the framework
that has been set up to facilitate that dialogue, namely the
Committee de Suivi. Sompare referred to Guinea's underlying
political and economic troubles in vague terms, stressing
that dialogue is the only mechanism for addressing these
problems. Later, Sompare specifically mentioned inflationary
prices and rising fuel costs as factors that exacerbate the
country's chronic economic problems.


4. (U) As he ended his speech and officially opened the
session of laws, Sompare told the assembled deputies that the
session gives them the opportunity to have a "big debate."
He did not mention any specific objectives or bills to be
considered.

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ON THE DOCKET
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5. (SBU) Poloff met with Aliou Banire Diallo, President of
the ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) within the
National Assembly, and a member of the PUP's executive board,
on April 8. When asked about the planned docket for the
legislative session, Banire said that the National Assembly
was in the process of electing its internal executive bureau,
an annual process that must take place at the beginning of
the spring session of laws. He told Poloff that once the
executive bureau had been elected, they would decide on the
official docket.


6. (SBU) Poloff pressed Banire for more information,
pointing out that as the majority leader, he must surely have
an idea of what will be discussed. Banire laughed and said
that he was sure they would be discussing the new "Child
Code," which was submitted by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
In addition, he said they had received something dealing
with the rights of handicapped people.


7. (C) When asked whether the National Assembly would be
considering any changes to the constitution or laws affecting
the structure of power within the government. Banire said
that the Committee de Suivi has not yet come out with its
official recommendation so it is unclear whether they will be
proposing statutory changes. Poloff joked with Banire,
saying he has likely heard something about what the Committee
is talking about and what the likely conclusions will be.
Banire said he has not been privy to the discussions, but
when asked what the National Assembly would do if presented
with a recommendation to change the law, Banire said that he
will recommend that such a decision be handled by referendum.
"I will not encourage the National Assembly to address such
a question," he said.

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CONAKRY 00000104 002 OF 002


COMMENTS
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8. (C) Given the fact that deputies have now been in office
almost one year longer than their elected term and there is
some question as to the legitimacy of the institution, it is
unlikely that much will come out of this session. In his
lengthy opening remarks, Sompare did not say much of import.
The proposed "Child Code" has been in the drafting stage for
a number of years and is supposed to address a wide range of
children's issues including child labor. Based on the
majority leader's comments, there did not seem to be much on
the agenda for the National Assembly to consider. According
to Banire, the National Assembly is unlikely to address the
key question of constitutional reform. END COMMENT.

CARTER