RESCUING THE GUINEAN STATE - A CNDD MEMBER'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000810 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SNAR ASEC KDEM GV SUBJECT: RESCUING THE GUINEAN STATE - A CNDD MEMBER'S PERSPECTIVE REF: A. CONAKRY 0787 ¶B. CONAKRY 0788 ¶C. CONAKRY 0789 ¶D. CONAKRY 0793 ¶E. CONAKRY 0796 ¶F. CONAKRY 0797 Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. A member of the Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) outlined the new government's political agenda, emphasizing that the CNDD had no interest in governing the country in the long-term. Characterizing the CNDD as a patriotic movement to restore the Guinean State, Contact said that the new government will work to hold credible, transparent elections, amend the constitution, address corruption, and strengthen the country's justice system. Contact spoke in general terms and could not articulate specific plans for achieving the CNDD's objectives. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On December 29, Poloff met with Alpha Yaya Diallo, a Customs inspector in charge of fuel and now a member of Guinea's governing body, the Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD). Diallo has been a reliable Embassy contact for several years. He is a schoolmate of the new president, Moussa Dadis Camara, and also worked extensively with him in his Customs capacity when Camara was in charge of procuring fuel for the military. -------------- WHY A COUP WAS NECESSARY -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Diallo went on at length about the CNDD's motivations for organizing the December 23 coup d'etat (reftels). He explained that certain young military officers felt that a battle for succession to the presidency was imminent, whether President Conte died while in office or whether he was ultimately forced out. Diallo said that all of Guinea's previous prime ministers harbored personal political ambitions that undermined their overall effectiveness. He added that both the National Assembly and the Supreme Court were dysfunctional and unwilling to declare Conte incompetent, as provided for in the constitution. According to Diallo, there were signs that the country was hovering on the brink of civil unrest, possibly worse than that of early 2007, while the government was incapable of averting a social crisis. "When the president died, we had to take action," he said. ¶4. (SBU) Addressing the constitutional question, Diallo emphasized that the previous president of the National Assembly, Aboubacar Sompare, was completely unacceptable as even an interim leader. "Sompare has done absolutely nothing for years; why should he profit now?," he asked. Diallo said that both he and President Camara had been students of Sompare's while at university and know him and his political methods well. For Diallo, allowing Sompare to accede to the presidency as provided for in the constitution would have been tantamount to perpetuating the many problems of the Conte regime. He added that with Sompare in power, the ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) would have stolen the elections. At one point, he called Sompare "Machiavellian." -------------- NO INTENTION TO STAY -------------- ¶5. (SBU) As for the CNDD's ambitions, Diallo assured Poloff that no one on the CNDD has any interest in governing the country for the long-term. "If we can organize in elections in three months, six months, or two years, we will be ready to step down," he said. Diallo added that he planned to report to his regular job at the Bureau of Customs on December 30, which he called proof of his long-term agenda. "We just need a credible democratic process, which is what the population has been demanding," he said. At one point, Diallo said "if the civilians come to us tomorrow with a credible governance plan, we will glad turn things over to them." When Poloff asked for clarification, Diallo admitted that the CNDD would still function as an "advisory group," and to maintain law and order, until elections are organized. ¶6. (SBU) Later in the discussion, Diallo characterized the CNDD as a political legacy that will benefit the country for centuries to come. He pointed out that all members of the CONAKRY 00000810 002 OF 002 CNDD are university educated and young, but when Poloff disagreed, he said that "most" of them are academics. "Our sole preoccupation is to facilitate a peaceful democratic transition," he said. Diallo added that President Camara is intentionally operating out of Camp Alpha Yaya in order to avoid the temptation of the trappings of state. "We don't even want to taste the air conditioning at the presidential palace because we know it is not for us," he said. -------------- EXPANDED AGENDA - NOT JUST ELECTIONS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) According to Diallo, the CNDD is planning to revise the constitution. "We will restore term limitations and shorten the presidential mandate to four or five years," he said. "We also need to formally include the prime minister's position within the constitution; a one leader system does not work here; we need to balance the power," Diallo added. Pointing out that he had served five years on the GoG's anti-corruption committee, he said that the CNDD is also planning to immediately address corruption issues. "We will be conducting audits and holding people accountable," he said, although he did not clarify how this process would work. At the same time, Diallo said that the CNDD plans to restore the country's justice system, again not specifying exactly how this would be accomplished. -------------- SEEKING ASSISTANCE, NOT LEGITIMACY -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Poloff told Diallo that the U.S. Government had condemned the coup and is looking for an immediate transition to a civilian-led government, and then explained U.S. law and foreign policy that could ultimately require the USG to suspend foreign aid to Guinea. Diallo said "we are not looking for legitimacy, but we do need help to move forward." Poloff emphasized that the current government is essentially military and that there have been little indications to date that the CNDD plans to deliver on its promise to transition to civil rule. Diallo nodded his head in apparent understanding. ¶9. (C) Poloff also noted that the USG is concerned about several problematic personalities who were appointed to the CNDD. She specifically mentioned mutiny leader Claude Pivi, emphasizing that he had been responsible for known human rights abuses. Poloff added that several names had also been linked to drug trafficking. Diallo said that the CNDD plans to address these issues, but that it would take time. Poloff pointed out that military contacts have been telling the Embassy for more than six months that they would handle Pivi, but that they had failed to do so, which ultimately resulted in further human rights abuses. Poloff emphasized that these problematic personalities need to be addressed immediately, not on a drawn out timetable. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) Diallo was gracious throughout the meeting and seemed to sincerely appreciate the opportunity to share his perspective, and to hear key USG concerns. He clearly towed the party line in justifying the coup and explaining its ephemeral character. Diallo said that he would reflect on the discussion and that he looked forward to continued exchanges. Several of Diallo's comments suggest that the CNDD may be realizing that its members are ill equipped for the demanding business of governing a country. They continue to talk about reforms, but do not seem to have any concrete ideas as to how to work toward those reforms. Diallo was not optimistic that the CNDD would be able to remove problem personalities from its ranks, although he was open to hearing the USG position. The CNDD continues to assert its intent to transition to civilian rule, but its agenda appears far more complex than simply organizing elections. END COMMENT. RASPOLIC