GUINEA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER ASSURES AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000229 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL GV SUBJECT: GUINEA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER ASSURES AMBASSADOR CARTER ON ELECTIONS, ECONOMIC REFORM REF: CONAKRY 201 Classified By: DCM Kent C. Brokenshire ¶1. (C) Summary: In a friendly and informative hour-long meeting with Guinea's new Prime Minister, Ambassador Carter highlighted U.S. policy priorities, and urged Prime Minister Souare to improve communication with the populace and move towards election and economic reform. The Prime Minister admitted that he faces daunting difficulties, but said elections were Guinea's best option to avert civil violence or a military coup. He vowed to move forward with National Assembly elections, though he mentioned no date. Fighting corruption, improving the country's investment climate and increasing food security also topped his list of priorities. Souare was particularly concerned with corruption, claiming it has permeated every aspect of government. In the same breath he vowed to support President Conte 'to the end,' stating that Conte has done much good for the country for which he never received credit. While Prime Minister Souare said all the right things, the halls and living rooms of his house were crowded with anxious job seekers, several of whom are known scoundrels. End Summary. -------------- PM's FIRST MEETING WITH A FOREIGN AMBASSADOR -------------- ¶2. (C) In a May 24 meeting at the private residence of Guinea's new prime minister, Ambassador Carter and Ahmed Tidiane Souare exchanged views on a range of topics touching on US-Guinea relations including elections, economic reform, good governance, narcotics and food security. The meeting was Souare's first encounter with a foreign Ambassador since being sworn in as prime minister the previous day. The meeting was arranged by a senior LES, who has known Souare intimately since the pair were students together in high school and later at the Boke College of Mining. LES described Souare who received a degree in mining engineering, as an excellent student who was consistently ranked number one in his class throughout his academic career. The meeting, which DCM and LES also attended, took place in the Prime Minister's stately private residence. Souare's neighborhood was a bustling scene, with official vehicles crowding the streets, soldiers of the Presidential Guard keeping order, crowds of curious onlookers strolling around, and market women on the sidewalk tending cooking fires and selling food. Inside the dwelling, the living and dining rooms were crowded with likely job seekers waiting for an interview with the PM. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador was immediately shown into a separate room where the Prime Minister greeted him warmly. The Ambassador congratulated Souare on his appointment as prime minister, and assured the PM that the US is prepared to help Guinea in its transition towards democracy. He stated that US goals in Guinea rest on three pillars of policy, namely elections, economic reform, and good governance. To these he added a fourth pillar - food security, for which the Bush Administration is seeking funds from Congress. The Ambassador noted that the Government of Guinea had made no official request for food assistance from the US despite informing the Embassy that it is in need of relief. Ambassador Carter said food security is directly linked to the other three issues, since poor governance and ill-conceived economic policies, namely the banning exports of all food items, are greatly exacerbating the food situation in the country. The Prime Minister readily agreed, saying the export ban is short-sighted and economically destructive in the long term. -------------- A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador went on to state that Souare has inherited a difficult situation. He noted the government of Guinea faces a crisis of confidence with its own population in part because it makes no effort to get its message across to the people, or to communicate with the population in the provinces. Crumbling infrastructure, unchecked corruption and government collusion with drug traffickers all undermine public confidence in the state. As a result, the average Guinean has no faith in the government or the President. However, one positive legacy of the previous government was the nomination of a number of talented and dedicated governors and prefets in the provinces who have gained the confidence of the people. The Ambassador assured the Prime Minister that despite the challenges ahead, the US is prepared to assist, but not lead Guinea through its transition process. CONAKRY 00000229 002 OF 003 -------------- COCAINE CONNECTION -------------- ¶5. (C) Going back to the issue of narcotics trafficking, the Ambassador said that if current trends continue, Guinea could soon replace neighboring Guinea Buissau as the drug transit center of West Africa. Elements of the government, including the presidential guard and President Conte's son, Ousmane Conte, are implicated in drug trafficking. The Ambassador related how in a recent drug bust (reftel) police confiscated a ton of cocaine and arrested a number of Latin American suspects. Two weeks later, all the suspects had been released, and the weight of the confiscated drugs had dropped to 345 kilos. The following week the police put on a show of destroying the drugs, but refused the Ambassador's request for a sample to analyze, calling it an affront to 'national sovereignty.' The Ambassador said drug trade is organized but not institutionalized in Guinea; there is still time to eradicate it before drugs begin to find their way to users in the local population. The Ambassador stressed that the US views narcotics as a security issue. -------------- TOP PRIORITY: ELECTIONS -------------- ¶6. (C) Ambassador Carter said free and fair elections are the best way for the government to regain the confidence of the people. Thus far, however, the government has been satisfied letting the donor community foot the bill for democracy, while providing only token amounts to the Independent National Electoral Commission. "If elections are the government top priority, the government should fund it like a top priority." he said. By moving forward with elections, the Souare government could convincingly demonstrate that there are peaceful ways to bring about positive change, that there are alternatives to widespread unrest or the threat of a military coup. For this reason the USG and the rest of the international community will be looking very carefully at the Souare's choices for various cabinet posts. Ambassador Carter shifted to the positives, stating that Guinea has enormous natural and human capacity potential. It was once the rock of stability in the region, as well as the breadbasket and watershed of West Africa. Through elections, economic reform and good governance, Guinea can regain its former status. ¶7. (C) Ambassador Carter then informed the Prime Minister that he would be departing Guinea in July for an assignment with the Bureau of African Affairs. While he was saddened to leave, he said he will follow developments in Guinea, and will continue to play an active role in the region from Washington. Ambassador Carter urged the PM to work closely with the Charge following his departure. -------------- THE PRIME MINISTER: AGREEMENT ON MAJOR POINTS -------------- ¶8. (C) The Prime Minister, who appeared to have been closely listening to the Ambassador's points despite the frequent ringing of the three cellular telephones in front of him, said he shared nearly all the concerns raised by the Ambassador. He stated that his first priority will be to name a cabinet with the credibility to regain public trust. He also agreed that free and open elections are the surest way to avoid violence and promote stability. He said he will address elections as well as the other issues once he appoints his cabinet. Note: He made no mention of specific appointments or the ministries that would be affected. End Note. ¶9. (C) The PM said he had worked for 10 years in the Ministry of Finance, and therefore took particular interest in some of the economic and governance issues raised by the Ambassador. He said that after 50 years of independence Guinea remains a country 'on the negative side of the ledger' because initiatives to improve the country are consistently derailed by other interests. He noted that the first export ban, which passed over his objections, was a quick-fix solution designed to appease an ignorant public that knew nothing about economics or international trade. "We all knew it was idiotic but no one dared stand up to is since it was a populist move" (designed to prevent unrest). "This is no way to build Guinea. Our economy is suffering," he said. -------------- THE MANY, THE CORRUPT -------------- CONAKRY 00000229 003 OF 003 ¶10. (C) He admitted that one of his biggest concerns is the level of corruption in government. According to Souare, corruption is evolving into part of the national character and establishing itself as a legitimate trait in the mores of the people. He noted that the recent audit of a number of government ministries provided some figures on how much money had disappeared from government coffers, but the audits left out the names of those responsible. "What the audits implied was that everyone was guilty, which means that no one was guilty," said Souare. "Now all bureaucrats are busy trying to get as rich as possible through corruption." ¶11. (C) Turning to political forces in Guinea, the PM said that, contrary to press reports, he enjoys excellent relations with the unions, and was once publicly praised by the unions for his honesty in governance. He hoped to further his partnership with Guinea's influential unions during his tenure as PM. He particularly wished to work with unions to implement needed economic reforms. -------------- PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINING INDUSTRY -------------- ¶12. (C) The Prime Minister noted with some dismay that Guinea does not properly exploit its economic wealth, and that having two thirds of the world's reserves of bauxite provides few benefits if the proceeds are not properly channeled for the public good. On the subject of multinational companies, he said the government needs to work with corporations willing to do business in Guinea and not drive them away. He does not favor revising agreements with mining companies, saying that such revisions would strain relations between the government and international companies. "We need to act professionally with our partners," he said. ¶13. (C) The PM closed the discussion by praising the legacy of President Conte, saying that Conte has done much for the country for which he never received credit. While making no mention of specific contributions from Conte, the PM said it is unfair to claim that the President has done nothing positive for Guinea in 26 years of rule. "We need to support him to the end," he said in closing ¶14. (C) Upon leaving the residence LES noted the presence of a sizable number of former cabinet ministers, governors and prefets waiting to see the new Prime Minister. He recognized a number of familiar faces, and later noted that all had served in the discredited pre-Kouyate government, and none were known for holding enlightened views on democracy and transparency. LES believed they were waiting to see the PM in the hopes of finding employment in the new government. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶15. (C) Prime Minister Souare said all the right things, but he came up short on depth and specifics. He mentioned no date for elections, made no suggestions on using the audits to dig deeper into the issue of government corruption, and did not respond to the Ambassador's remarks on Guinea's growing narcotics trafficking problem. During a meeting with donor countries on May 26, Souare told the international community that the government is ready to hold elections, but is counting on donors to play a critical financial and technical role. It was clear that while he extolled the importance of elections, human rights and economic reform, the new PM deftly kept his options open to foist the success (and failure) of these issues on the donors. As Ambassador Carter cautioned him, "We will not judge your government but we will measure your actions carefully." CARTER