YOUNGER OFFICERS REINVIGORATE CUSTOMS AFTER COUP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000116

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV EFIN ETRD GV
SUBJECT: YOUNGER OFFICERS REINVIGORATE CUSTOMS AFTER COUP

REF: CONAKRY 88


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. A recent discussion with a mid-level
Customs officer revealed that Guinea's Customs Bureau faces
an ongoing leadership challenge following the removal of the
bureau's long-serving director, and that port revenues have
declined by at least 50% since the beginning of the year due
in part to the uncertain political and economic climate. In
spite of these challenges, morale is reportedly high among
younger officers, many of whom have been recently promoted.
The officer also noted that relations with BIVAG-Veritas, an
independent receipts verification firm, remain strained. END
SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On 19 February, A/Polchief and Poloff met with
Amadou Kaba, a Customs inspector with the Mobile Brigade who
has worked in the National Customs Bureau for 19 years. Kaba
has frequently provided reliable information to the Embassy
in the past.

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BUREAU LEADERSHIP UNCERTAIN
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3. (SBU) Describing the events leading up to the recent
public sacking of National Customs Director Olga Syradin
(reftel),Kaba said that Syradin had been at the agency for
over 16 years, and had served as director for the last six.
During that time, he claimed that Syradin had appointed
family members such as her sister and other "favorites" to
key positions. Reportedly, resentment of Syradin's long
tenure among younger officers eager to move up in rank had
been building for years. Though Syradin was fired several
weeks ago, the date for her successor's formal installation
at Customs remains uncertain, since CNDD president Dadis
Camara has not yet issued an appointment decree. Since
Syradin's dismissal, Deputy Director and CNDD-member Alpha
Yaya Diallo, a reliable Embassy contact before the coup
d'etat, currently manages the day-to-day operations of the
agency.


4. (SBU) According to Kaba, the new director, Mamadi Toure,
has the support of most Customs officers, especially the
"younger generation." Toure has supposedly been positioning
himself to become director for over three years, frequently
using the fact that he has worked in almost every department
within Customs as proof of his fitness for the top post.
Other sources claim that Toure--a mid-level Customs
inspector--was only appointed to the job after he paid a
bribe to unnamed National Council for Democracy and
Development (CNDD) members. Toure is reportedly close to
CNDD Vice President and Minister of Defense, Sekouba Konate.
Deputy Director Diallo told POL LES in a separate meeting
that he does not believe that Toure has the skills to run
Customs competently.

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YOUNGER WORKERS REINVIGORATED
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5. (SBU) In contrast to the leadership muddle, Kaba described
a re-energized environment at Customs. He noted that
efficiency and morale among the workers was quite high, and
that younger workers seem eager to prove their competency and
abilities. According to Kaba, this group identifies with and
supports Dadis, but sees older workers tied to the corrupt
practices of the previous administration.

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PORT RECEIPTS DOWN BY HALF
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6. (U) While efficiency may be higher, Kaba said the volume
of goods entering Conakry's port has decreased by over 50%
since the beginning of the year, which many sources blame on
Guinea's tentative political environment and global financial
upheaval. Kaba estimated that the port alone accounts for
between 80% and 90% of Guinea's customs revenues, followed by
Koundara on the Senegalese border, Kouremale on the Malian
border, and the mining ports of Kamsar and Binty. According
to Kaba, customs fees nationwide account for 60% of the
government's revenue stream. (NOTE: No dollar figures or
other statistics were available to verify this claim.
Further, Kaba's claim that Customs provides 60% of government
revenues is at odds with previous reports that mining sector
taxes and royalties provide the government with well over

CONAKRY 00000116 002 OF 002


half of its revenue. END NOTE.)

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RELATIONS REMAINED STRAINED WITH VERITAS
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7. (SBU) Kaba expressed mixed opinions about BIVAG-Veritas, a
private company that certifies custom receipts, and which the
GoG accepted as a precondition to approving Guinea's
three-year IMF Poverty Reduction program. While Kaba stated
that Veritas' quality control of imports was valuable--even
if detested by local businessmen seeking to avoid duties at
all costs--he felt that Customs was more than capable of
assessing taxes on imports on its own.

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COMMENT
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8. (SBU) Deputy Director Diallo's admission that he believes
his incoming boss is essentially incompetent may signal an
upcoming leadership struggle within the organization. High
morale and increased efficiency among young Customs officers
appears to be another sign that Guinea's youth are energized
by Dadis Camara and generally supportive of the CNDD. END
COMMENT.
RASPOLIC