PRESIDENT APPOINTS PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000457 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2018 TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC GV SUBJECT: PRESIDENT APPOINTS PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORS REF: A. CONAKRY 0424 ¶B. CONAKRY 0447 Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D SUMMARY. (SBU) Over the August 20 evening news on Radio Television Guinean (RTG),the Government of Guinea announced a series of political appointments within the Office of the Presidency. Most of these positions have existed for some time, but a number of them have been vacant over the past few years. A contact at the Ministry of Finance told Pol LES that the president's budget will cover these positions. The political significance of these appointments is unclear, but they suggest further power plays within the presidency as different camps of influence continue to battle for position in anticipation of an eventual power vacuum. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The GoG has not yet released the complete list of appointments, but those that have been identified are listed below. When known, additional biographic information is provided. ¶3. (U) Soriba Sorel Camara (Soussou),Political Advisor of the Presidency -------------- Camara is a member of the executive bureau of the ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) and a sitting deputy in the National Assembly. As the PUP's secretary general for youth (although he is well over 50 years old),Camara has been widely heard on Radio Familia in recent weeks promoting the party in general, and reinforcing the message that the PUP remains a strong party committed to advancing the interests of Guinea's youth. Camara will have to resign from the National Assembly in order to accept the presidential appointment. ¶4. (U) Mounjour Cheriff (Malinke),Judicial Advisor of the Presidency -------------- Cheriff was previously serving as a state prosecutor in Conakry. He is considered a good contact of the Embassy's and has participated in U.S. visitor programs. Embassy legal cases are frequently referred to his court. ¶5. (U) Mamadouba Sylla (Soussou),Director General of Major Projects -------------- In the 1990s, Sylla was the National Director of the GoG's Tax Revenue Office. During that time, his deputy was arrested and convicted on embezzlement charges. His deputy then turned around and pointed a finger at Sylla, resulting in Sylla's arrest and a several month long period of incarceration. Sylla was eventually released and the charges dropped. At one point, Sylla also served as the Director General of the Port of Conakry for about a year. Sylla is considered to be close to Kadiatou Set, President Conte's second wife. ¶6. (U) Ousmane Camara (Soussou),Security Advisor -------------- Camara formerly served as the Ministry of Interior in the government immediately preceding the January 2007 civil unrest and subsequent installation of the consensus government under former Prime Minister Kouyate. In the past, he has served as the governor of Boke and of Conakry. During his tenure as the governor of Conakry, he reportedly gave opposition parties a difficult time during national elections, refusing to allow them to meet. ¶7. (U) Mamadou Malal Diallo (Peuhl),Economic Counselor of the Presidency ¶8. (U) Maitre Marthos (Peuhl),Judicial Agent of the State ¶9. (U) Seck Den (ethnicity unknown),Responsible for Patrimonial Buildings (i.e. the Presidential Palace, official presidential residences, etc.) ¶10. (U) Moris Mara (Malinke),Administrator for the People's Palace -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶11. (C) The political significance of these appointments is unclear. In the recent past, any advisors within the presidency were overshadowed by former Secretary of Protocol Idrissa Thiam and former Secretary General of the Presidency Sam Soumah, both of whom were controversially dismissed CONAKRY 00000457 002 OF 002 earlier this month (reftel A). The fact that the presidency is now moving to fill these positions raises questions about what role these individuals will play within an increasingly complex political dynamic. For example, if the president already has a prime minister and a minister for territorial administration and political affairs, a presidential political advisor seems unnecessary. These appointments follow quickly on the heels of the latest presidential decree, which appears to give a significant power boost to the new Minister Secretary General of the Presidency, Alpha Ibrahima Keira, at the expense of the prime minister's perceived influence (reftel B). BROKENSHIRE