Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY105
2008-04-16 14:42:00
SECRET
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
FIRST LADY SAYS ALL IS WELL
how-toVZCZCXRO9910 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHRY #0105/01 1071442 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 161442Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2406 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000105
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL CVIS ASEC GV
SUBJECT: FIRST LADY SAYS ALL IS WELL
Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000105
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL CVIS ASEC GV
SUBJECT: FIRST LADY SAYS ALL IS WELL
Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
1. (S) SUMMARY. During a private meeting with Poloff on
April 15, the First Lady emphasized that all is well in
Guinea. She said that relations between the president and
the prime minister are "fine," that the president is making
his own decisions without undue influence from his entourage,
and that most of the country's villagers are at peace and
unconcerned with the politics of the capital. The First Lady
agreed that elections are critical and that "they will
happen." Although she pretended that she is not involved
politically and that all is well, the reality is that the
political situation is highly volatile and she is busy behind
the scenes trying to hold everything together. END SUMMARY.
2. (S) Poloff met privately with Guinean First Lady
Henriette Conte for about an hour on April 15 at Mme Conte's
residence, located in the heart of Conakry's military base.
This was the second time Poloff had met Mme Conte, the first
being an official visit in late 2007 when Poloff publicly
delivered a personal letter from First Lady Laura Bush to Mme
Conte thanking her for her participation in a luncheon during
the UN General Assembly. Although the First Lady was formal
and somewhat stiff during the first meeting, she was very
warm and welcoming for the private meeting. She seemed
comfortable and the overall feel was quite casual despite the
obvious opulence of her surroundings. Mme Conte has a
reputation for being shy, but she spoke willingly and openly
throughout the discussion. President Conte had left the
residence shortly before Poloff's meeting.
--------------
ALL IS WELL
--------------
3. (S) Mentioning the numerous rumors about the
deteriorating relationship between the PM and the president,
Poloff asked the First Lady to discuss how the power sharing
arrangement is working out. Mme Conte emphatically stated "I
assure you, all is fine between the PM and my husband. Don't
believe everything you hear." According to the First Lady,
the two leaders are working well together and there is no
reason for concern. She made the same statement about the
relationship several times throughout the conversation.
--------------
THE PRESIDENT IS FINE
--------------
4. (S) In response to a question about the president's
health, the First Lady said "he is doing fine." At one point
in the discussion, she said "my husband has been sick since
2002; how many people have died since then and my husband is
still here?"
--------------
ADVISORS ARE FOR ADVICE
--------------
5. (S) Poloff asked about the president's entourage and
whether certain individuals are manipulating the political
situation as many people seem to believe. The First Lady
stressed that the president makes all his own decisions. She
said that members of his entourage are advisors and they
offer advice, but they do not make the decisions. She said
many people may speak to him and that he must weigh their
counsel as he comes to his own conclusion. However, the
First Lady did say that members of the entourage have
differing agendas, although she did not elaborate.
6. (S) Referring again to rumored dissension between the two
leaders and pushing on the issue of interference from within
the president's entourage, Poloff gave the example of the
controversial prefect the president recently appointed to
Kindia. The First Lady said that all of the ministers,
governors, prefects, and sous-prefects were appointed by the
PM, emphatically adding "the President has not appointed
anyone in this administration." She added that if a new
prefect was appointed, the appointment would have had to come
through the Ministry of Interior and Security to the PM for
approval before going to the president. (COMMENT. Embassy
contacts indicate that the president made this decision
unilaterally. END COMMENT).
--------------
PEACE ABOVE ALL ELSE
--------------
7. (S) The First Lady repeatedly said that the country is
CONAKRY 00000105 002 OF 003
calm and will remain calm, noting that the president is
committed to maintaining peace. She said that the president
agreed to the power sharing agreement and the consensus
government because he was not willing to jeopardize the
country's peace and stability. "Is it normal for the
president to cede all his power and let someone else appoint
a new government? He did that because he wants peace," she
said.
--------------
CHANGE, AND THEN WHAT?
--------------
8. (SBU) Discussing the political situation in general, Mme
Conte said that people continue to talk about change, but no
one is able to define it or clarify what they would do once
they got it. "People say regime change, get rid of the
president, or get rid of the PM, but then what?" she asked.
The First Lady pointed out that the PM has been in office for
less than a year, but that people are already frustrated with
his performance. "A year is a very short time," she said,
"he needs more time to do what people want him to do." Mme
Conte emphasized that Guinea most needs U.S. assistance with
respect to these discussions of change and reform. "We need
to help people understand that change does not happen
overnight." She said that her husband brought democracy to
Guinea, but that it is still a very new democracy.
9. (SBU) Poloff agreed that many of the advocates for change
lack a defined objective or any kind of program for achieving
their goals. Poloff stressed that in the many meetings the
embassy has with various interlocutors, American officials
urge contacts to clarify their definition of change and then
publicize a concrete agenda to achieve that change. Giving
weak governance as an example, Poloff said that when
political leaders talk about reducing corruption, embassy
officials challenge them to explain how they will avoid the
same problems if they are in power. The First Lady agreed
and said this is exactly the message that needs to be sent.
10. (SBU) Poloff also emphasized that the upcoming
legislative elections are critical to maintaining stability.
Mme Conte agreed and said that elections are very important
and "they will happen."
--------------
LET THEM EAT CASSAVA
--------------
11. (S) Turning to the general economic conditions and the
growing popular frustration with food prices, the First Lady
said "Sekou Toure ruined this country. Before Toure, we ate
all kinds of things, but now people think that they cannot
live without rice." She agreed that rice is a Guinean
staple, but said that there is plenty of other food in the
country that can sustain people's needs. "We have cassava,
corn, fornio (a local grain),potatoes - we have everything."
According to the First Lady, people are simply insisting on
rice even though they are in no danger of starving if they
are willing to temporarily alter their diets. "The problem
is that if you tell people to eat corn or fornio, they will
tell you that only the Peuhl people eat those foods."
12. (S) The First Lady also commented on labor union efforts
to close the borders and ban exports. She said that this is
a bad plan that has not worked in the past. Mme Conte
pointed out that the economic issues are related to rising
world prices and closing borders will only exacerbate the
problem. She mentioned the march that was being planned for
April 10 (reftel) and questioned "What would they be marching
for, against who?"
13. (S) Mme Conte emphasized that the political situation in
Guinea is stable and the people are calm. She said that the
political troubles are centered in the capital, but that most
of the people, especially those in the villages, are living
their lives peacefully. "They do not have any interest in
what is going on in Conakry," she said.
--------------
I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE
--------------
14. (SBU) Referring to a recent package of visa applications
for her staff to travel to the U.S. with her, Poloff asked
about the First Lady's upcoming trip. Visibly confused, she
said "what trip? I'm not going anywhere. Why do you think
I'm going to the U.S.?" When Poloff explained that the
embassy had applications for six individuals supposedly
CONAKRY 00000105 003 OF 003
accompanying her to the U.S., the First Lady got angry. She
said that she had noticed her passport missing a few days ago
and had asked her staff where it was. When they told her it
was at the U.S. Embassy, she said she asked them what it was
doing there since she already has a U.S. visa that does not
expire until 2009.
15. (SBU) Mme Conte said she was aware of only one person
traveling to the U.S. and provided the name to Poloff. She
asked that the embassy send over copies of all the other
applications so that she could review them. "Whenever you
get visa applications from my office, you can send them over
to me and I will tell you whether they are legitimate or
not," she said.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
16. (S) Although the First Lady was very open in her speech,
she had a clear message she wanted to send: everything is
fine. She denied having any political role, at one point
saying "I'm just the spouse." However, other contacts and
information point to exactly the opposite: all is not well
and the First Lady is working behind the scenes to try and
hold it together. Despite the fact that Mme Conte was
unwilling to dig too deep beneath the surface, the meeting
was still a very good one. She was comfortable and relaxed
and the meeting ended with the door being open for continued
discussions. When the political situation erupts into more
of an immediate crisis, it will be important to have open
lines of communication with the First Lady who is a
significant behind the scenes actor.
17. (SBU) On the consular issues, Embassy sent the requested
documents to the First Lady on April 16 and will be following
up on possible visa fraud. END COMMENT.
CARTER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL CVIS ASEC GV
SUBJECT: FIRST LADY SAYS ALL IS WELL
Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
1. (S) SUMMARY. During a private meeting with Poloff on
April 15, the First Lady emphasized that all is well in
Guinea. She said that relations between the president and
the prime minister are "fine," that the president is making
his own decisions without undue influence from his entourage,
and that most of the country's villagers are at peace and
unconcerned with the politics of the capital. The First Lady
agreed that elections are critical and that "they will
happen." Although she pretended that she is not involved
politically and that all is well, the reality is that the
political situation is highly volatile and she is busy behind
the scenes trying to hold everything together. END SUMMARY.
2. (S) Poloff met privately with Guinean First Lady
Henriette Conte for about an hour on April 15 at Mme Conte's
residence, located in the heart of Conakry's military base.
This was the second time Poloff had met Mme Conte, the first
being an official visit in late 2007 when Poloff publicly
delivered a personal letter from First Lady Laura Bush to Mme
Conte thanking her for her participation in a luncheon during
the UN General Assembly. Although the First Lady was formal
and somewhat stiff during the first meeting, she was very
warm and welcoming for the private meeting. She seemed
comfortable and the overall feel was quite casual despite the
obvious opulence of her surroundings. Mme Conte has a
reputation for being shy, but she spoke willingly and openly
throughout the discussion. President Conte had left the
residence shortly before Poloff's meeting.
--------------
ALL IS WELL
--------------
3. (S) Mentioning the numerous rumors about the
deteriorating relationship between the PM and the president,
Poloff asked the First Lady to discuss how the power sharing
arrangement is working out. Mme Conte emphatically stated "I
assure you, all is fine between the PM and my husband. Don't
believe everything you hear." According to the First Lady,
the two leaders are working well together and there is no
reason for concern. She made the same statement about the
relationship several times throughout the conversation.
--------------
THE PRESIDENT IS FINE
--------------
4. (S) In response to a question about the president's
health, the First Lady said "he is doing fine." At one point
in the discussion, she said "my husband has been sick since
2002; how many people have died since then and my husband is
still here?"
--------------
ADVISORS ARE FOR ADVICE
--------------
5. (S) Poloff asked about the president's entourage and
whether certain individuals are manipulating the political
situation as many people seem to believe. The First Lady
stressed that the president makes all his own decisions. She
said that members of his entourage are advisors and they
offer advice, but they do not make the decisions. She said
many people may speak to him and that he must weigh their
counsel as he comes to his own conclusion. However, the
First Lady did say that members of the entourage have
differing agendas, although she did not elaborate.
6. (S) Referring again to rumored dissension between the two
leaders and pushing on the issue of interference from within
the president's entourage, Poloff gave the example of the
controversial prefect the president recently appointed to
Kindia. The First Lady said that all of the ministers,
governors, prefects, and sous-prefects were appointed by the
PM, emphatically adding "the President has not appointed
anyone in this administration." She added that if a new
prefect was appointed, the appointment would have had to come
through the Ministry of Interior and Security to the PM for
approval before going to the president. (COMMENT. Embassy
contacts indicate that the president made this decision
unilaterally. END COMMENT).
--------------
PEACE ABOVE ALL ELSE
--------------
7. (S) The First Lady repeatedly said that the country is
CONAKRY 00000105 002 OF 003
calm and will remain calm, noting that the president is
committed to maintaining peace. She said that the president
agreed to the power sharing agreement and the consensus
government because he was not willing to jeopardize the
country's peace and stability. "Is it normal for the
president to cede all his power and let someone else appoint
a new government? He did that because he wants peace," she
said.
--------------
CHANGE, AND THEN WHAT?
--------------
8. (SBU) Discussing the political situation in general, Mme
Conte said that people continue to talk about change, but no
one is able to define it or clarify what they would do once
they got it. "People say regime change, get rid of the
president, or get rid of the PM, but then what?" she asked.
The First Lady pointed out that the PM has been in office for
less than a year, but that people are already frustrated with
his performance. "A year is a very short time," she said,
"he needs more time to do what people want him to do." Mme
Conte emphasized that Guinea most needs U.S. assistance with
respect to these discussions of change and reform. "We need
to help people understand that change does not happen
overnight." She said that her husband brought democracy to
Guinea, but that it is still a very new democracy.
9. (SBU) Poloff agreed that many of the advocates for change
lack a defined objective or any kind of program for achieving
their goals. Poloff stressed that in the many meetings the
embassy has with various interlocutors, American officials
urge contacts to clarify their definition of change and then
publicize a concrete agenda to achieve that change. Giving
weak governance as an example, Poloff said that when
political leaders talk about reducing corruption, embassy
officials challenge them to explain how they will avoid the
same problems if they are in power. The First Lady agreed
and said this is exactly the message that needs to be sent.
10. (SBU) Poloff also emphasized that the upcoming
legislative elections are critical to maintaining stability.
Mme Conte agreed and said that elections are very important
and "they will happen."
--------------
LET THEM EAT CASSAVA
--------------
11. (S) Turning to the general economic conditions and the
growing popular frustration with food prices, the First Lady
said "Sekou Toure ruined this country. Before Toure, we ate
all kinds of things, but now people think that they cannot
live without rice." She agreed that rice is a Guinean
staple, but said that there is plenty of other food in the
country that can sustain people's needs. "We have cassava,
corn, fornio (a local grain),potatoes - we have everything."
According to the First Lady, people are simply insisting on
rice even though they are in no danger of starving if they
are willing to temporarily alter their diets. "The problem
is that if you tell people to eat corn or fornio, they will
tell you that only the Peuhl people eat those foods."
12. (S) The First Lady also commented on labor union efforts
to close the borders and ban exports. She said that this is
a bad plan that has not worked in the past. Mme Conte
pointed out that the economic issues are related to rising
world prices and closing borders will only exacerbate the
problem. She mentioned the march that was being planned for
April 10 (reftel) and questioned "What would they be marching
for, against who?"
13. (S) Mme Conte emphasized that the political situation in
Guinea is stable and the people are calm. She said that the
political troubles are centered in the capital, but that most
of the people, especially those in the villages, are living
their lives peacefully. "They do not have any interest in
what is going on in Conakry," she said.
--------------
I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE
--------------
14. (SBU) Referring to a recent package of visa applications
for her staff to travel to the U.S. with her, Poloff asked
about the First Lady's upcoming trip. Visibly confused, she
said "what trip? I'm not going anywhere. Why do you think
I'm going to the U.S.?" When Poloff explained that the
embassy had applications for six individuals supposedly
CONAKRY 00000105 003 OF 003
accompanying her to the U.S., the First Lady got angry. She
said that she had noticed her passport missing a few days ago
and had asked her staff where it was. When they told her it
was at the U.S. Embassy, she said she asked them what it was
doing there since she already has a U.S. visa that does not
expire until 2009.
15. (SBU) Mme Conte said she was aware of only one person
traveling to the U.S. and provided the name to Poloff. She
asked that the embassy send over copies of all the other
applications so that she could review them. "Whenever you
get visa applications from my office, you can send them over
to me and I will tell you whether they are legitimate or
not," she said.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
16. (S) Although the First Lady was very open in her speech,
she had a clear message she wanted to send: everything is
fine. She denied having any political role, at one point
saying "I'm just the spouse." However, other contacts and
information point to exactly the opposite: all is not well
and the First Lady is working behind the scenes to try and
hold it together. Despite the fact that Mme Conte was
unwilling to dig too deep beneath the surface, the meeting
was still a very good one. She was comfortable and relaxed
and the meeting ended with the door being open for continued
discussions. When the political situation erupts into more
of an immediate crisis, it will be important to have open
lines of communication with the First Lady who is a
significant behind the scenes actor.
17. (SBU) On the consular issues, Embassy sent the requested
documents to the First Lady on April 16 and will be following
up on possible visa fraud. END COMMENT.
CARTER