Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY814
2008-12-31 15:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CNDD - COMMENTS FROM

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM ASEC GV 
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VZCZCXRO8044
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0814/01 3661548
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 311548Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3284
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000814 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CNDD - COMMENTS FROM
OPPOSITION LEADER ALPHA CONDE

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 02 CONAKRY 000814

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CNDD - COMMENTS FROM
OPPOSITION LEADER ALPHA CONDE

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


1. SUMMARY. Alpha Conde, leader of the Rally for the
Guinean People (RPG) political party said he is willing to
work with the CNDD as long as it moves to hold legislative
and presidential elections by the end of 2009. Comparing
Lansana Conte to Mugabe, Conde explained why a coup d'etat
was the only solution to Guinea's political crisis and asked
that the USG assist the country to move forward. Conde said
he is withholding judgment on the CNDD and the new prime
minister until he sees whether or not they are capable of
doing the job they have taken on. He said "I am ready to
mobilize people to force the agenda if need be." END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Poloff met with opposition leader Alpha Conde of
the Rally for the Guinean People (RPG) political party for
the first time on December 30. Conde last visited Guinea in
June 2007. The RPG is generally perceived to be the most
radical of the opposition political parties. Its support
base is predominantly Malinke with strong representation in
Upper Guinea. Conde won about 20% of the national vote in
the 1997 presidential elections, and about 17% of the vote in
the 2003 elections. Former President Conte threw Alpha Conde
in jail shortly after the 2003 elections on charges of
treason, for which Conde was later convicted. Conte pardoned
Alpha Conde two years later.

--------------
GETTING RID OF "MUGABE"
--------------


3. (C) Conde told Poloff that former President Conte had
been at the heart of Guinea's political troubles since 1991.
He likened Conte to Mugabe, saying that one of the reasons he
has spent so much time out of the country is because someone
needed "to make the international community aware" of
Guinea's political situation. Conde characterized his many
meetings with the Guinean Diaspora and various international
leaders as an effort to attract attention and marshal
political support. "Fortunately for us, God took care of the
change that was needed and now we can begin to move forward,"
he said.



4. (C) Expounding at length about why coup d'etats are
necessary in some countries, particularly in Africa, Conde
said that a coup was the only way to assure security and
civil order since Conte's death left a power vacuum. "It is
an imperfect solution, but now we need to focus on the months
ahead," he told Poloff. He acknowledged the international
community's need to condemn coups, but said that after
condemning, everyone should be helping Guinea to transition
towards elections and a civilian government. Speaking
rhetorically, Conde asked "I know you have to condemn, but I
wonder...if there was a coup in Zimbabwe to overthrow Mugabe,
would you condemn it too?"

--------------
ROLE OF THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT
--------------


5. (SBU) When asked about the RPG's strategy toward the new
government and the transition period, Conde said that the
first priority should be to complete the voter registration
process. However, he also said that the transitional
government should work to fight corruption and hold people
responsible for "economic crimes against the country." Conde
added that the CNDD should look to the international
community for assistance in establishing an international
commission of inquiry into the human rights abuses committed
in early 2007. "We cannot talk about democracy without
addressing weak governance; the government needs to be
resolving governance problems while working on elections," he
said. Conde added that any former government officials who
served in the Conte regime between 2003 and 2008 should be
barred from taking positions in the new government since they
are responsible for many of the country's current problems.


6. (SBU) With respect to civilian participation in the
transitional government, Conde said that "the CNDD must be
the organ of control; it should not govern, but should
supervise and maintain security." Conde added that given the
CNDD's security role, it is acceptable that they would
appoint military officers to head up the ministries of
security and defense, and possibly even justice. He said
that the rest of the government should be composed of
civilians.

--------------
VIEWS ON THE CNDD

CONAKRY 00000814 002 OF 002


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


7. (C) Poloff noted that there are several problematic
personalities on the CNDD, specifically mentioning mutiny
leader Claude Pivi. Conde agreed, saying that he had
personally spoken out against Pivi in the past, but then said
"it is not perfect, but they needed to balance among
competing interests in order to preserve peace," indicating
that he was willing to accept Pivi's participation in the
immediate term. Conde added that the coup was orchestrated
by more than one group, which necessitated extensive
negotiations among various parties. According to Conde, both
Colonel Sekouba Konate and Colonel "Idi Amin" Camara had been
offered the position of president, but both refused. The
CNDD reportedly settled on Captain Moussa Dadis Camara as an
acceptable compromise.


8. (C) In response to a question about his impressions of
the CNDD, Conde said that he had no immediate comments. He
said he is listening to their rhetoric and watching to see if
the CNDD delivers on its promises and turns its declarations
into reality. "I am ready to mobilize people to force the
agenda if need be," he told Poloff.


9. (SBU) When asked about the new prime minister, Kabine
Komara, Conde said "he is very intelligent and experienced."
He added that that he considers Komara competent, but that
competence is not enough to do the job well. "You can be
competent and still susceptible to corruption," he said,
again adopting a wait and see approach.

--------------
ELECTIONS SOON, BUT NOT TOO SOON
--------------


10. (SBU) Turning to a timetable for elections, Conde said
that the elections should be held before the end of 2009, but
that no one should rush into holding them too fast. Conde
said that presidential and legislative elections should be
held concurrently. He emphasized that the voter registration
process is critical and should be the first priority. Conde
estimated that the process still needed three or four more
months before it can be completed.


11. (SBU) Before leaving, Conde told Poloff "now that you
have condemned the coup, we want you to help us; we need your
close involvement and support to advance the electoral
process."

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


12. (C) Like rival opposition leaders and civil society
representatives, Alpha Conde appeared to be willing to accept
the CNDD as an interim government as long as it works toward
elections within the next twelve months. However, he was a
bit more demanding with respect to the need for civilian
participation in the transition process. Conde accepted the
USG's condemnation of the coup, but repeatedly emphasized
that sanctions would be unhelpful and demoralizing. He was
convinced that a coup was necessary as it was the only
peaceful mechanism for moving the political process forward.
END COMMENT.
RASPOLIC