YOUTH EXCHANGE BLOWS OVER POLITICAL AGENDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000565

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2018
TAGS: KDEM PGOV ASEC GV
SUBJECT: YOUTH EXCHANGE BLOWS OVER POLITICAL AGENDA

REF: A. CONAKRY 0538

B. CONAKRY 0520

C. CONAKRY 0525

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


1. (C) Some of Conakry,s youth leaders came to blows the
evening of September 18 over differences of political
opinion. Over the past few weeks, a group of twelve youth
leaders have been trying to organize a massive youth movement
to force President Conte,s resignation and a complete
dissolution of the national government. Ethnic issues,
individual political agendas, and high-level bribes have
undermined the youths, ability to coalesce (reftels). The
youth leaders were planning to finalize their public
declaration on September 18 and had scheduled a press
conference. However, sources report that the various players
could not come to consensus.


2. (C) According to Mouctar Diallo, leader of a new
opposition political party and one of Guinea,s key youth
leaders, the youths were divided according to their
individual political allegiances. Some groups wanted to keep
Conte in power and fire the prime minister, while other
groups maintained that a complete dissolution of the
government was the only way to assure change.


3. (C) A fistfight broke out when youths from a group called
&Haal Pular8 showed up unexpectedly and claimed that the
assembled groups had no authority to speak on behalf of all
youths. Diallo said that Haal Pular, which is described as
an ethnic organization for the Fulani (Peuhl),supports Prime
Minister Souare and former prime minister/opposition
political leader Cellou Diallo, both of whom are Peuhl.
According to various sources, some of the youths started
throwing punches while others broke chairs. The scuffle
reportedly ended relatively quickly and the various players
went home.

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COMMENT
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4. (C) Youth leaders have told Poloff that they are
continuing with their agenda and still trying to bring
everyone together. However, contacts outside the core group
of youth leaders have expressed skepticism about the strength
and motivations of the movement. Some key contacts are
informed and unwilling to participate for various reasons
while others claim that they know nothing about it. Sources
indicate that Prime Minister has given a significant amount
of cash to Haal Pular in order to buy their support, and to
undermine the youth movement. The youths as a whole could
potentially be one of the most influential players in Guinean
politics, but their continued failure to overcome ethnic
divisions, corruption, and petty politics continues to leave
them as little more than political pawns for the big players.
END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC