Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY89
2008-02-01 13:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

UFR OPPOSITION LEADER MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR,

Tags:  PGOV KDEM PREL ASEC GV 
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VZCZCXRO7407
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0089/01 0321321
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011321Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2130
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000089 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: UFR OPPOSITION LEADER MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR,
PREPARES FOR ELECTIONS

REF: CONAKRY 0068

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 000089

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: UFR OPPOSITION LEADER MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR,
PREPARES FOR ELECTIONS

REF: CONAKRY 0068

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


1. (C) SUMMARY. Under the leadership of Sidya Toure, the
Union Force Republican (UFR) party continues to prepare for
elections, despite the lack of an actual election date. At
the same time, Toure seems convinced that the only true
solution to Guinea,s political problems is the removal of
President Conte. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) During his first official meeting with Sidya Toure,
president of the Union Force Republican (UFR) party on
January 31, Ambassador Carter highlighted the USG,s
overarching policy priorities in Guinea: economic reform,
elections, and good governance. A handful of senior UFR
party members were also present during the meeting, as well
as Poloff. Toure served as prime minister of Guinea from
1996 to 1999 until he was dismissed by President Conte amid
rumors of coup plotting.

--------------
THE REGIME MUST CHANGE
--------------


3. (C) In response to the Ambassador,s comments on policy
priorities, Toure said that he remains convinced that nothing
will get better as long as President Conte remains in office.
He agreed that the IMF program is critical to development
and noted that he was responsible for the previous IMF
program that was dropped after Conte dismissed him from
office. However, Toure emphasized that poor leadership is
Guinea,s underlying problem. He said that he agreed with
the Ambassador on the need for economic reforms and the
importance of the IMF program, but that he could not support
debt reduction when it will only redistribute funds to
corrupt officials.


4. (C) Turning to elections, Toure agreed that elections
should be a priority. At the same time, he said that the
legislative elections will not address the underlying
problem. We need a regime change,, he said, and these
elections are not going to do that., According to Toure,
the UFR essentially has two priorities: change of regime and
elections. However, Toure said that there are many elements
blocking elections and that some of these elements may be

surprising., He said that the National Assembly clearly
does not want elections, Conte does not want elections, and
it is also likely that the prime minister does not want
elections either because he does not know what he will be
doing after the elections.,


5. (C) Building on comments made to Poloff on January 23
(reftel) regarding Guinea,s current political situation,
Toure told the Ambassador that the country must organize a
national roundtable for dialogue. He added that the
Committee de Suivi and the Watchdog Committee are not
important. For Toure, the national roundtable will help
everyone identify the current regime as the problem.

--------------
WE ARE MULTI-ETHNIC
--------------


6. (SBU) In response to a question on ethnically based
political alliances, Toure said that he is the least
concerned of anyone you will talk to., According to Toure,
the UFR is balanced ethnically and does not represent a
single ethnic group. We are the only party that is
represented in all four of Guinea,s regions,, he said.
However, Toure said that the ethnic issue is a concern. He
noted that ethnic divisions were much less of a problem in
the past and it has only been in the last year that they have
begun to play a prominent role, which he attributed to
intentionally manipulative strategies on the part of various
political actors. Toure said that this is an issue he raises
every time the opposition political parties get together.

--------------
GETTING READY FOR THE PARTY CONVENTION
--------------


7. (SBU) Ambassador Carter emphasized that while the USG is
working to promote democracy, it is important that various
actors themselves demonstrate democratic principles,
including the political parties. In that vein, the
Ambassador asked Toure to explain how the UFR is working to
build democratic structures within its own organization.
Toure said that they are planning to hold regional party

CONAKRY 00000089 002 OF 002


conventions in February in order to start developing their
candidate list. He said that once those are completed and an
elections date is set, they will organize a national
convention to finalize the list. With good humor, Toure told
the Ambassador that we will be sure you get an invitation.,

--------------
HUMAN RIGHTS AND ELECTIONS
--------------


8. (SBU) Another concern for Toure, related to the
elections, is the lack of progress towards an investigation
of the alleged human rights abuses committed by security
forces in early 2007. He said that members of opposition
political parties were killed during previous elections.
According to Toure, progress on the national investigation
would help create a sense of calm and instill confidence,
helping people to believe that the Guinean Government will
follow through on promises to prosecute those individuals
responsible for violating human rights. He said that failure
to do so could contribute to insecurity during the elections.


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


9. (C) Toure continues to prepare for elections although he
appears convinced that legislative elections will not solve
Guinea,s political problems. For Toure, the only answer is
to remove the president ) everything else is just background
noise. Many of Toure,s themes remained constant to the
ideas he discussed with Poloff on January 23. However,
linking the success of the Human Rights Investigatory
Commission to the overall security atmosphere for the
elections is a useful new line of thought. END COMMENT.
CARTER