GUINEA POST-COUP: A POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR 6 MARCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000185 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019 TAGS: PGOV EMIN PREL KDEM ASEC PHUM GV SUBJECT: GUINEA POST-COUP: A POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR 6 MARCH TO MARCH 25 Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Politics in Guinea continue to be fluid since the coup d'etat on 23 December 2008. Given these circumstances, Post will periodically transmit roundups of significant political and economic events not covered in other reporting. This roundup covers the period between 6 March and 25 March, and includes new customs inspection procedures, the arrest of former Prime Minister Souare and three former ministers of mines, the suspension of three ministers, and a falling out between Dadis and his Minister of Commerce. END SUMMARY. -------------- NEW CUSTOMS INSPECTION PROCEDURES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During the week of March 16, CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara decreed that all container traffic at the Port of Conakry must now be physically opened and inspected by Customs agents, in addition to passing through the electronic scanner. The measure was reportedly instituted to ensure the quality of foodstuffs. According to Embassy contacts, a container of live chickens had arrived at the port a week earlier, but the chickens had died en route to Conakry. Unfortunately, the importer sold the dead chickens into the local market for consumption, causing a number of people to become sick. Other contacts said that the CNDD was informed of "suspicious" containers moving through the port. Suspicious items included narcotics and "food unfit for human consumption." ¶3. (C) As the decree did not distinguish between commercial and diplomatic shipments, GSO went down to the port with a copy of the Vienna Convention in hand and informed port officials that they were not allowed to open diplomatic shipments. Port officials agreed and Embassy has not had any problems. However, local business contacts are concerned about the additional security measures, which they see as inefficient and unnecessary. One such importer privately spoke with the Customs Director to ask him to cancel either the physical inspection or the required electronic scan. The Director reportedly told him that he would not conduct the physical inspections, but would continue with the usual procedure of scanning containers. -------------- DADIS TAKES ON THE MINING SECTOR -------------- ¶4. (U) During a mining forum on March 19, Dadis announced the immediate suspension of the Ministers of Cooperation and Planning because they were not present at the forum's opening. Dadis reportedly later retracted the Minister of Planning's suspension when he discovered that the Minister had not attended because he was not feeling well. The Minister of Cooperation's suspension was never formally announced through a decree so contacts say it is unclear whether or not he is still suspended. ¶5. (U) Dadis also noted that the Director of the Ashanti Gold Mining Company (SAG) was absent at the mining forum and subsequently announced that SAG was henceforth closed. The company closed down operations over the weekend, but reopened on March 23. According to a contact at SAG, Dadis granted the company permission to resume operations after the SAG Director met with Dadis to resolve the issue. ¶6. (U) During the mining forum, Dadis commented that any company interested in the Simandou Project must build a railroad between Simandou and Conakry. Although the status of the contract is unclear, the Simandou Project is part of Rio Tinto's iron ore concession in the Forest Region. ¶7. (C) Finally, Dadis announced that he was setting up a commission to review the country's mining contracts. The commission is comprised of six members: Ahmed Kante (former Minister of Mines),Louis M'Bemba Soumah (union leader),Dr. Ibrahima Fofana (union leader),Alpha Conde (head of RPG political party),Sidya Toure (head of UFR political party), and Jean Marie Dore (head of UPG political party). Dr. Fofana told Pol LES over the telephone on March 24 that by establishing the commission, Dadis is honoring union demands made during the 2007 strike. However, Fofana commented that although he appreciated the gesture, the commission is nothing more than a verbal designation until made official by a presidential decree. Jean-Marie Dore told Pol LES that the commission plans to meet soon to define its operational plan. During a March 25 meeting with Pol/Econ Chief, Sidya Toure CONAKRY 00000185 002 OF 002 was less convinced. He said he was willing to serve on the commission, but its status and role is as of yet unclear. -------------- MATAP MINISTER SUSPENDED -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Dadis' suspensions did not end with the economic ministers. The following day, he suspended the Minister of Territorial Administration and Political Affairs (MATAP),a suspension that most view as "official" because it was announced as a presidential decree over national radio. Although no explanations were provided, some Embassy contacts suggest that the suspension was due to the Minister's failure to provide Dadis with an official briefing after returning from a trip to the Forest Region. Other contacts said that the Minister addressed a Forest audience in a local tribal language, which Dadis saw as intentionally encouraging ethnocentrism. Still others said that the MATAP minister attempted to replace some local prefects without Dadis' knowledge. -------------- HIGH PROFILE ARRESTS -------------- ¶9. (U) Just a few days after appointing Ahmed Kante, a former Minister of Mines, to the new mining commission, the CNDD had him arrested on embezzlement charges along with three other former ministers of mines: Ahmed Tidiane Souare (who was also Prime Minister from May to December 2008), Louceny Nabe, and Ousmane Syllah. All four individuals are reportedly being held at PM3, a gendarmerie prison, where they have been since March 23. A local press report (aminata.com) indicates that the four former ministers embezzled a combined total of more than 26.5 billion GnF ($5.5 million). Prior to his arrest, Dadis had publicly recognized Kante for his patriotism and integrity. -------------- NO SPECIAL FAVORS FOR DADIS' FAMILY -------------- ¶10. (U) According to Guinea's national radio/television station, Dadis had a major falling out with his Minister of Commerce, Colonel Korka Diallo, on March 24. Dadis' daughter, Madeleine Dadis Camara, reportedly sent a letter to the Director of Total requesting a license to transport fuel. The letter was forwarded to Minister Korka who initialed his consent and then sent it back to the Director of Total who later informed Dadis of his daughter's request. When Dadis found out, he was reportedly furious and immediately convened an emergency meeting with members of the CNDD, the Prime Minister, and Minister Korka. ¶11. (U) During the meeting, Dadis reprimanded Minister Korka, emphasizing that the entire government is aware of Dadis' position on handing out undue favors to members of his family. Dadis characterized Korka's actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine Dadis' integrity, ethics, and family values. He argued that he cannot denounce corruption and arrest people accused of such if his own daughter is soliciting favors from Dadis' ministers. Since Dadis apparently considered the matter a personal slight, he announced that he would be filing a complaint against Korka to the Minister of Justice. Korka attempted to explain his actions several times, but was repeatedly cut off by Dadis. Dadis finally allowed him to apologize after the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense (Vice President Sekouba Konate) pleaded with Dadis to give Korka a second chance. -------------- SAUDI ARABIAN EMBASSY TO REOPEN -------------- ¶12. (U) Following a March 24 cabinet meeting, the Minister of Communication announced that Saudi Arabia would be reopening its embassy in Guinea in the next few weeks. Saudi Arabia had closed its embassy shortly after the December 23 coup. RASPOLIC