Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY57
2008-01-18 17:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

RELIGIOUS LEADER SHARES POLITICAL INSIGHTS, OFFERS

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM ELAB ASEC GV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6422
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0057/01 0181711
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 181711Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2087
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000057 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ELAB ASEC GV
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS LEADER SHARES POLITICAL INSIGHTS, OFFERS
TO MEDIATE

REF: A. CONAKRY 0029


B. CONAKRY 0046

C. CONAKRY 0010

D. CONAKRY 0013

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000057

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ELAB ASEC GV
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS LEADER SHARES POLITICAL INSIGHTS, OFFERS
TO MEDIATE

REF: A. CONAKRY 0029


B. CONAKRY 0046

C. CONAKRY 0010

D. CONAKRY 0013

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


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Archbishop of Guinea,s Anglican
Church shared a number of useful insights on Guinea,s
political situation and the various actors with the
Ambassador. A highly respected leader and one of the key
players during the civil unrest in early 2007, Gomez said
that if he is asked, he is willing to act as a mediator when
various groups start getting together to discuss possible
solutions to Guinea,s current political problems. Although
he advocated strongly for national dialogue, Gomez said that
Guinea,s legislative elections are the key to resolving the
situation peacefully. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Ambassador Carter met with Monsignor Gomez, the
Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Guinea, on January 17.
Gomez is one of Guinea,s most respected religious leaders.
He played a key mediating role during negotiations in early
2007 when Guinea struggled with civil unrest and political
turmoil following a nationwide labor strike. Gomez also
participated in recent negotiations with the unions that
resulted in postponing a resumption of that same nationwide
labor strike (reftel A). Poloff also participated in the
meeting.

--------------
PROBLEMS IN BOTH CAMPS
--------------


3. (C) Commenting on the political turmoil during the week
of January 7 (reftels),Gomez said that problems exist within
both political camps, i.e. that of President Lansana Conte
and that of Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate. Acknowledging
long standing complaints of poor governance under the
president, Gomez said that the prime minister has also not
delivered what the population is demanding. According to
Gomez, the Committee de Suivi (reftel B) is a good mechanism
for airing some of these problems and discussing possible
solutions.

--------------
ELECTIONS ARE THE KEY

--------------


4. (C) However, Gomez emphasized that the real answer to
Guinea,s current political problems rests on successful,
transparent legislative elections. He noted that to achieve
the change people are hoping for, it will likely be necessary
to amend the constitution and legal code. &The current
legislature is not independent,8 he said, making it unlikely
that any proposed legal changes will get very far until a new
legislature is in place. Gomez added that although the
January 27 Accords technically give the PM authority over the
government, Kouyate in fact does not hold the power.


5. (SBU) Later in the discussion, Gomez returned to
elections, stressing that international pressure is critical.
He said that although the National Independent Electoral
Commission (CENI) is an important element for transparency,
it simply isn,t enough. &They lack the means,8 Gomez
said. The Ambassador told Gomez that the U.S. Government is
committed to encouraging free, fair and transparent elections
as soon as possible, and has resources in place to assist
with the electoral process, and especially the CENI.

--------------
WE NEED A NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE
--------------


6. (SBU) In addition to the Committee de Suivi, Gomez said
that it is critical that stakeholders organize a National
Roundtable as soon as possible. He said that this should
include the widest possible array of political actors in
order to get everyone to the same table and get them talking
about a common strategy for achieving common goals. Gomez
said that &the Committee is just for reviewing the Accords,
the Roundtable is to look at the big picture.8

--------------
RESPECT FOR THE CHIEF
--------------


7. (C) When the Ambassador asked Gomez about how the

CONAKRY 00000057 002 OF 003


president fits into the picture and whether he would be
willing to accept popular demands, Gomez said that &you have
to realize that Conte comes from a military background, which
governs how he does things.8 Gomez added that Conte has had
the opportunity to single-handedly rule the country for 26
years, which gave him plenty of time to develop &bad
habits.8 At the same time, Gomez said that when Conte
accepted Kouyate as the PM, it was essentially breaking new
ground, asserting that in the past, Conte would have never
accepted a PM being foisted upon him. According to Gomez,
the situation is complicated by Conte,s frail health, which
makes him vulnerable to the manipulations of his entourage.
Gomez said that Guinea,s Chief of Protocol, Idrissa Thiam,
&is the most powerful chief of protocol in the world...
where else does someone in charge of protocol have so much
influence? - he knows exactly what to whisper and when.8
Again mentioning elections, Gomez said &if the elections are
transparent, the president,s power will be divided.8


8. (C) Later in the discussion, Gomez again commented on the
president in the context of discussing why the population has
been willing to tolerate ineffective leadership for so long.
Gomez said that there is a very important cultural aspect
that must be taken into consideration. &In our culture,8
Gomez said, &we respect the chief, and even more so when he
is sick. According to Gomez, people are generally
sympathetic on the outside while secretly hoping that the end
comes soon. &If Conte dies tomorrow, it will be a very
different Guinea,8 Gomez said.

-------------- ---
PM MADE BAD CHOICES ) IS POLITICALLY CONSTRAINED
-------------- ---


9. (C) Turning to the office of the prime minister, Gomez
said that the reality of Kouyate,s technocratic government
is that some of the ministers were not well chosen. Gomez
clarified that Kouyate was under pressure to appoint an
entire cabinet in a very short period of time and he was
hampered by his long absence of Guinea. According to Gomez,
Kouyate appointed people that he knew as well as people that
were recommended to him by others, ones that may not have
been good choices. Gomez said that the dismissal of
Communications Minister Justin Morel Jr (reftel C) further
constrains Kouyate since he no longer has a mechanism for
sharing his administration,s messages.

--------------
RELIGIOUS CREDIBILITY
--------------


10. (C) In response to a question about the general
religious perspective on the political situation, Gomez said
that for the most part, the Christian Council shares the same
viewpoint. &However, it is more complicated with the
imams,8 he said. Gomez said that in reality, the
inter-religious council does not work very well. According
to Gomez, some of the imams are not independent, which means
they represent some external influences that are perpetuated
by a long history of direct connections to the government.
He added &the State wants to manage everybody, the unions,
the Patronat, civil society...the Muslims are more numerous,
but the Christians are more credible.8


11. (SBU) When asked whether he would be willing to take a
leadership role within the context of the Committee de Suivi
and/or a national roundtable, Gomez said that if asked, he
would do it. &If it is to better the country, why would I
refuse?8 he said.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


12. (C) Monsignor Gomez is likely to be an important player
in Guinea,s political struggle, possibly as a mediator, but
also as a voice of reason behind the scenes. He is well
respected, which was evident just in the long walk from the
Ambassador,s office to the main gate, which had every local
staff member and Embassy guard bowing to him deferentially )
impressive for a Christian leader in a predominantly Muslim
society. Gomez has an interesting perspective on the various
political actors and will likely continue to provide some
useful insights. However, on the walk out, he was visibly
worried. He told Poloff that even though Guineans are afraid
of violence, especially because of the country,s troubled
history, people are tired and the young people in particular,
are impatient. &I don,t know how long they are willing to

CONAKRY 00000057 003 OF 003


wait for change,8 he said. Gomez seems to fundamentally
want to help Guinea resolve its political problems without
violence ) and he is one of the few out there that does not
appear to be doing so for his own personal gain. END
COMMENT.

CARTER