Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY605
2008-10-15 16:19:00
SECRET
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
PRESIDENT FIRES MINISTERS OF FINANCE AND SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXRO6390 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHRY #0605/01 2891619 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 151619Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3032 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000605
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC SNAR GV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT FIRES MINISTERS OF FINANCE AND SECURITY
Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000605
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC SNAR GV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT FIRES MINISTERS OF FINANCE AND SECURITY
Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
1. (U) SUMMARY. A presidential decree firing the ministers
of finance and security was broadcast on national television
last night. The governors of Conakry and Boke were also
fired. No official reason was given for the dismissals.
Rumors of possible dismissals have been circulating for
weeks. END SUMMARY.
--------------
MINISTER OF FINANCE
--------------
2. (SBU) The new Minister of Finance, Karamokoba Camara, was
promoted from within the Ministry from his previous position
as secretary general, which was the highest ranked position
under the minister. Camara is a Soussou from Maritime
Guinea. He studied public finance at the University of
Conakry, and later gave lectures on economics for several
years at the same university. He attended economics courses
at the French Institute of Public Administration. Prior to
his appointment as secretary general, Camara worked in the
Guinean Treasury as a Division Chief, and then as a personal
adviser to an unidentified former minister of finance.
Camara graduated from high school with Louceny Nabe, the new
Minister of Mines who was recently appointed to his position.
3. (SBU) Some Embassy contacts within the Ministry of
Finance have criticized Camara in the past for allegedly
blocking economic reforms. One source reported that Ousmane
Dore, his predecessor, attempted to replace Camara during the
last round of civil service appointments, but was blocked.
--------------
MINISTER OF SECURITY
--------------
4. (SBU) Diane Elhadj Madifing, the new Minister of
Security, has been an Embassy contact for a number of years.
His studies included programs in criminology and cryptology
in Cairo and Algeria, as well as a degree in history from a
Guinean university. Just prior to his ministerial
appointment, Madifing was working as the &Technical
Counselor for Cooperation8 at the presidency. From 1996 to
2007, he was the Inspector General of Security Services.
5. (S) Embassy local staff who have worked with Madifing in
the past describe him as a person of &courage8 who has been
generally supportive of U.S. Mission objectives, including a
major drug burning event under former Prime Minister Kouyate.
(COMMENT. The cocaine later turned out to be manioc flour.
END COMMENT). Local staff also said that Madifing has been a
useful &confidential informant,8 in the past.
6. (C) Madifing had actually met with RSO LES earlier in the
week and said that he was hoping that Damba, the previous
minister, would be able to effectively fight the drug trade.
However, Madifing said that Damba had been holding late-night
meetings on his own with key drug traffickers, and speculated
that Damba might be receiving financial compensation to
assist the traffickers. Madifing said he personally went to
see the president and requested permission for the police to
arrest the president's son and notorious drug kingpin,
Ousmane Conte. According to Madifing, Conte told him to go
ahead and arrest Ousmane and that the president did not
approve of his son's activities. Madifing said that when he
relayed the message to Damba, the former minister did not
take any action.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) Former Finance Minister Ousmane Dore, once
considered the most committed reformer under Kouyate and
credited for the reinstatement of Guinea,s IMF Poverty
Reduction Strategy program in 2008, has been the subject of
mounting criticism in recent months. Even under Kouyate, his
successful efforts to block access to key government
financial accounts at the Central Bank made him unpopular
among certain political players, especially Conte,s old
guard cronies. Rumors of Dore,s possible dismissal have
been circulating for more than a year.
7. (S) Mohammed Damba, the former Minister of Security, has
also been the subject of rumors lately. Sensitive reporting
has linked him to narcotics trafficking, both as a recipient
of bribes, and as a possible impediment to the biggest
narco-rings.
CONAKRY 00000605 002 OF 002
8. (SBU) Embassy has minimal information on the two
governors who were fired. The former governor of Boke was
arrested a few weeks ago, allegedly on charges of complicity
in a narco-trafficking, although the charges were later
dismissed. Malick Sanon, the former governor of Conakry, who
was appointed under Kouyate, is considered a controversial
figure. He has had several land dispute cases filed against
him for allegedly selling private citizens' lands without
permission and then keeping the profits for himself. END
COMMENT.
RASPOLIC
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC SNAR GV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT FIRES MINISTERS OF FINANCE AND SECURITY
Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D
1. (U) SUMMARY. A presidential decree firing the ministers
of finance and security was broadcast on national television
last night. The governors of Conakry and Boke were also
fired. No official reason was given for the dismissals.
Rumors of possible dismissals have been circulating for
weeks. END SUMMARY.
--------------
MINISTER OF FINANCE
--------------
2. (SBU) The new Minister of Finance, Karamokoba Camara, was
promoted from within the Ministry from his previous position
as secretary general, which was the highest ranked position
under the minister. Camara is a Soussou from Maritime
Guinea. He studied public finance at the University of
Conakry, and later gave lectures on economics for several
years at the same university. He attended economics courses
at the French Institute of Public Administration. Prior to
his appointment as secretary general, Camara worked in the
Guinean Treasury as a Division Chief, and then as a personal
adviser to an unidentified former minister of finance.
Camara graduated from high school with Louceny Nabe, the new
Minister of Mines who was recently appointed to his position.
3. (SBU) Some Embassy contacts within the Ministry of
Finance have criticized Camara in the past for allegedly
blocking economic reforms. One source reported that Ousmane
Dore, his predecessor, attempted to replace Camara during the
last round of civil service appointments, but was blocked.
--------------
MINISTER OF SECURITY
--------------
4. (SBU) Diane Elhadj Madifing, the new Minister of
Security, has been an Embassy contact for a number of years.
His studies included programs in criminology and cryptology
in Cairo and Algeria, as well as a degree in history from a
Guinean university. Just prior to his ministerial
appointment, Madifing was working as the &Technical
Counselor for Cooperation8 at the presidency. From 1996 to
2007, he was the Inspector General of Security Services.
5. (S) Embassy local staff who have worked with Madifing in
the past describe him as a person of &courage8 who has been
generally supportive of U.S. Mission objectives, including a
major drug burning event under former Prime Minister Kouyate.
(COMMENT. The cocaine later turned out to be manioc flour.
END COMMENT). Local staff also said that Madifing has been a
useful &confidential informant,8 in the past.
6. (C) Madifing had actually met with RSO LES earlier in the
week and said that he was hoping that Damba, the previous
minister, would be able to effectively fight the drug trade.
However, Madifing said that Damba had been holding late-night
meetings on his own with key drug traffickers, and speculated
that Damba might be receiving financial compensation to
assist the traffickers. Madifing said he personally went to
see the president and requested permission for the police to
arrest the president's son and notorious drug kingpin,
Ousmane Conte. According to Madifing, Conte told him to go
ahead and arrest Ousmane and that the president did not
approve of his son's activities. Madifing said that when he
relayed the message to Damba, the former minister did not
take any action.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) Former Finance Minister Ousmane Dore, once
considered the most committed reformer under Kouyate and
credited for the reinstatement of Guinea,s IMF Poverty
Reduction Strategy program in 2008, has been the subject of
mounting criticism in recent months. Even under Kouyate, his
successful efforts to block access to key government
financial accounts at the Central Bank made him unpopular
among certain political players, especially Conte,s old
guard cronies. Rumors of Dore,s possible dismissal have
been circulating for more than a year.
7. (S) Mohammed Damba, the former Minister of Security, has
also been the subject of rumors lately. Sensitive reporting
has linked him to narcotics trafficking, both as a recipient
of bribes, and as a possible impediment to the biggest
narco-rings.
CONAKRY 00000605 002 OF 002
8. (SBU) Embassy has minimal information on the two
governors who were fired. The former governor of Boke was
arrested a few weeks ago, allegedly on charges of complicity
in a narco-trafficking, although the charges were later
dismissed. Malick Sanon, the former governor of Conakry, who
was appointed under Kouyate, is considered a controversial
figure. He has had several land dispute cases filed against
him for allegedly selling private citizens' lands without
permission and then keeping the profits for himself. END
COMMENT.
RASPOLIC