Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY501
2008-09-05 13:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
FIRED PORT OFFICIAL REFUSES TO GIVE UP POST
how-toVZCZCXRO6275 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHRY #0501 2491342 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051342Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2898 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000501
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PREL GV
SUBJECT: FIRED PORT OFFICIAL REFUSES TO GIVE UP POST
UNCLAS CONAKRY 000501
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PREL GV
SUBJECT: FIRED PORT OFFICIAL REFUSES TO GIVE UP POST
1. (U) The recent spate of presidential decrees coupled with
several controversial "false decrees" over the last few
months, has some Guineans questioning the legitimacy of these
newest presidential appointments. In the case of the Port of
Conakry, the former Director General of the Port, Oulaba
Kabassan Keita, is refusing to cede his post to his
successor, Mamadouba Sankon, who was appointed by
presidential decree on August 27.
2. (U) According to an article on an internet news site
(Aminata.com),Keita maintains that the president did not
authorize his dismissal. Keita, who was transferred to
another post at the Ministry of Transportation by the same
August 27 decree, is quoted as saying "I went to meet the
president to thank him for renewing his confidence in me by
transferring me to my new post. The president was astonished
that I was talking about a new decree...and told me to stay
in my current post."
3. (SBU) Union leader Mme Rabiatou Serah Diallo had brought
up the case during a meeting with A/DCM on September 3. She
said that the president told the former port official that he
had never authorized his transfer and ordered him to return
to his regular post.
4. (SBU) A contact at the Bureau of Customs confirmed the
same story with Pol LES, adding that the new Director General
has tried to report to his office, but that he has been
blocked by Keita. According to contact, the Port is in a
kind of limbo since no one is sure who is authorized to fill
the position.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) The incident has sparked numerous rumors in Conakry
with some citizens questioning whether the August 27 decree
was yet another "false decree" that the president never
signed, while others are suggesting that the president may
have signed it, but did not know what he was signing. Both
scenarios are possible. Contacts are increasingly concerned
about what is going on within the presidency, and who is
actually governing the country. END COMMENT.
BROKENSHIRE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PREL GV
SUBJECT: FIRED PORT OFFICIAL REFUSES TO GIVE UP POST
1. (U) The recent spate of presidential decrees coupled with
several controversial "false decrees" over the last few
months, has some Guineans questioning the legitimacy of these
newest presidential appointments. In the case of the Port of
Conakry, the former Director General of the Port, Oulaba
Kabassan Keita, is refusing to cede his post to his
successor, Mamadouba Sankon, who was appointed by
presidential decree on August 27.
2. (U) According to an article on an internet news site
(Aminata.com),Keita maintains that the president did not
authorize his dismissal. Keita, who was transferred to
another post at the Ministry of Transportation by the same
August 27 decree, is quoted as saying "I went to meet the
president to thank him for renewing his confidence in me by
transferring me to my new post. The president was astonished
that I was talking about a new decree...and told me to stay
in my current post."
3. (SBU) Union leader Mme Rabiatou Serah Diallo had brought
up the case during a meeting with A/DCM on September 3. She
said that the president told the former port official that he
had never authorized his transfer and ordered him to return
to his regular post.
4. (SBU) A contact at the Bureau of Customs confirmed the
same story with Pol LES, adding that the new Director General
has tried to report to his office, but that he has been
blocked by Keita. According to contact, the Port is in a
kind of limbo since no one is sure who is authorized to fill
the position.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) The incident has sparked numerous rumors in Conakry
with some citizens questioning whether the August 27 decree
was yet another "false decree" that the president never
signed, while others are suggesting that the president may
have signed it, but did not know what he was signing. Both
scenarios are possible. Contacts are increasingly concerned
about what is going on within the presidency, and who is
actually governing the country. END COMMENT.
BROKENSHIRE