MARKET WOMEN READY TO TAKE TO THE STREETS

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000082 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PGOV ASEC GV SUBJECT: MARKET WOMEN READY TO TAKE TO THE STREETS REF: CONAKRY 0080 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Econ LES recently canvassed a number of Conakry's market women on the current economic situation and possible peaceful demonstrations (reftel). Angry and frustrated, the women complained about rising food prices and their inability to make ends meet. All of them independently said that they are ready to join in any protest, regardless of who organizes it or for what purpose, although they said they were not aware of any demonstrations planned for the next few days. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Econ LES spent the afternoon of April 8 wandering through four of Conakry's major open air food markets, which house thousands of stalls run primarily by women. LES spoke to between 30 and 40 vendors. ¶3. (SBU) LES said that all of the women, with no exceptions, were ready to take to the streets to protest current economic conditions. Several reportedly said that they are just waiting for a demonstration to get rolling so that they can join in. These women did not seem to care who actually organizes a protest, but were sure that they would support it. Questions about rising commodity prices and the general economic situation generated "hot responses" as women angrily expressed their frustration and increasing desperation. One woman who was sitting with her young child said "this is my child; if a protest started over there right now, I would leave my child here and join the demonstration." ¶4. (SBU) Rising commodity prices were a significant concern. Several women pointed out that a 50 kilo bag of rice is now selling for more than 180,000 GnF ($41) when it was only 150,000 GnF ($34) a few weeks ago. Many vendors reported that sales are down because people are reducing consumption due to the higher prices. Women also said that they have been forced to reduce their overall stock supply since they cannot afford to buy as many bags of rice, for example, as they could before. Others said that the availability of certain goods is decreasing, with fish becoming extremely difficult to find. (NOTE. Fish is a staple good since meat is generally a luxury for many Guineans. END NOTE.) ¶5. (SBU) Several women said that food prices are not the only thing going up. One said that she is having a hard time affording her daily transportation to the market due to increased fuel prices. Another said that landlords have raised the fee for renting a market stall. She said that she had to pay 400,000 GnF ($91) in taxes to the government at the beginning of the year and she is now paying 250,000 GnF ($57) per month to actually rent the stall, although she did not specify how much she was paying before. ¶6. (SBU) Complaining about her general quality of life and economic frustration, one young widow said: "I am trying to feed my children and pay my rent on my own. I can't afford it anymore. I have no trust in this government. Only God can help GUINEA now." -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The sentiments of Guinea's market women serve as a useful indicator of the overall level of economic frustration. It was the women from the Conakry Medina Market who in 1977, demonstrated against the Sekou Toure regime, sparking riots and violence throughout the country. As in much of the rest of the developing world, rising international commodity prices are squeezing already impoverished populations to do more with less. Guinea's political troubles do not seem to be a major issue for Conakry's market women. They are more concerned about making ends meet and taking care of their families, and they are frustrated because it is becoming increasingly difficult to do that. END COMMENT. CARTER