PUP HONORS PRESIDENT CONTE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000063 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC GV SUBJECT: PUP HONORS PRESIDENT CONTE REF: A. CONAKRY 0010 ¶B. CONAKRY 0013 ¶C. CONAKRY 0029 ¶D. CONAKRY 0041 PUP HONORS THE PRESIDENT ¶1. (U) Supporters of the ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) gathered at the People,s Palace in Conakry on July 19 to celebrate the fourth anniversary of General Lansana Conte,s inauguration as the president of the Republic of Guinea. Allegedly organized by the party,s youth, the event was attended by a wide range of PUP members, including both current and former government officials. ¶2. (U) Notable participants included: - Issa Conde, Minister of Communications - General Camara, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - General Baillo, Minister of Defense - Sam Soumah, Secretary General of the Presidency - Oumar Baillo Bah, Secretary General of the Govt. - Aboubacar Sompare, Pres. of the National Assembly - Sekou Konate, Secretary General of the PUP In addition, most of the current PUP deputies to the National Assembly were there, along with a number of former PUP governors and prefects. ¶3. (SBU) According to a POL LES observer, speakers emphasized their support for President Conte and the PUP, and advocated for continued faith in the president,s program. President Conte did not attend, but sent Secretary General Sam Soumah to represent him. Soumah closed the event with a two-minute speech in which he encouraged participants to continue to follow the president,s general program of peace and development. ¶4. (U) The PUP also announced that it had launched an official party website, which is located at www.pup.guinee.org. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) According to observers, the event seemed to be a general political rally for the PUP and for President Conte. While it was attended by a wide range of PUP members, a few staunch presidential supporters were noticeably absent, including controversial millionaire Mamadou Syllah, Chief of Protocol Idrissa Thiam, and former Secretary General of the Presidency, Fode Bangorah. There were only two members of Prime Minister Kouyate's consensus government there: the Secretary General of the Government, who was also part of SIPDIS Conte's previous government, but reaffirmed by Kouyate, and Communications Minister Issa Conde who was appointed by Conte on January 4 (reftel A),a decision that contributed to heightened political tension. END COMMENT. CARTER