RULING PARTY DECLARES SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT CONTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000015 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2018 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL GV SUBJECT: RULING PARTY DECLARES SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT CONTE Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (U) The Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) issued a declaration on January 6 affirming party support for its long time leader, President Lansana Conte. Sekou Konate, PUP General Secretary, who reportedly signed the document, called on PUP supporters to 'mobilize in order to safeguard national unity and to preserve social peace,' noting that the PUP has always remained loyal to Conte, even during difficult political periods. Referring to the general labor strike planned to resume on January 10, Konate said that the strike is against Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate and not the president. Furthermore, Konate emphasized that the PUP has never seen a role for itself within the Kouyate government. ¶2. (C) COMMENT. The PUP's declaration does not seem to be well thought out. If Conte emerges victorious from what many Guineans are seeing as a power struggle between the PM and the president, the PUP is likely to be seen as anti-change. If Kouyate comes out on top, the PUP is likely to lose any remaining credibility it might have as a legitimate political party. By publicly declaring support for Conte and essentially denouncing Kouyate as the head of government in such strong terms, the PUP may have irrevocably tied itself to a dying regime. Furthermore, if violence erupts as it did during the January/February 2007 strike, the PUP's declaration may have just painted a bullseye on party members. END COMMENT. CARTER