LABOR UNIONS REJECT NEW PRIME MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000218

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2018
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: LABOR UNIONS REJECT NEW PRIME MINISTER

REF: CONAKRY 0209

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


1. (U) Guinea's trade unions issued two separate
declarations on May 22 criticizing President Conte's decision
to appoint Dr. Ahmed Tidiane Souare as the country's new
prime minister (reftel). The Unions-Intersyndicale, which is
an umbrella organization representing four independent trade
unions, and the Education-Intersyndicale, which represents
two independent unions, signed the declarations. Both
organizations reject Dr. Souare's nomination, claiming that
it represents a violation of the 2007 tripartite agreement.


2. (U) According to the Unions-Intersyndicale, the 2007
requirement "obligates the president to nominate a prime
minister of competence and integrity, and who has not taken
part in or been implicated in any embezzlement schemes." The
Education-Intersyndicale stated that the replacing the prime
minister of consensus by a member of a previous government
that has already been rejected represents a "flagrant
provocation aimed at the proponents of change." They further
identified Dr. Souare as one of the individuals responsible
for Guinea's economic, social, and political woes.


3. (U) Both union organizations stated that they do not
accept the appointment. Neither groups specifically
mentioned plans for a labor strike to protest the decision.
However, both union groups noted that they "reserve the
right...to use all legal means at their disposition."


4. (C) Over the telephone Unions-Intersyndicale leader,
Rabiatou Serah Diallo, told Pol LES that the unions are
waiting to gauge the government's reaction to the declaration
before discussing the next step to be taken. Embassy was not
able to get ahold of Rabiatou's co-chair, Dr. Ibrahima Fofana.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) Rabiatou initially told Embassy staff that she had no
objection to Souare as prime minister and that the unions
would wait to see how the new PM structures his government
before reacting (reftel). Fofana, who tends to prefer more a
more aggressive approach, was apparently traveling up country
when the announcement detailing the new PM's appointment was
made. The unions only issued the declarations after Fofana
returned to Conakry, suggesting that he was probably pushing
for a stronger reaction.


6. (SBU) Union leaders may simply want to put out a marker
in order to demonstrate that they are watching and expecting
to participate in the process of appointing a new government.
They did not make an outright threat to strike, which leaves
them a little room to maneuver, but not much. The unions
have been losing support in recent months and it is unlikely
they can mobilize the kind of support necessary to implement
an effective strike of the same magnitude as that of early

2007. However, if Souare appoints a controversial cabinet,
that may be just the push the population needs to once again
back the unions. END COMMENT.
CARTER