THE CALL FROM KALOUM: A NEW RALLYING CRY FOR DADIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000219

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: THE CALL FROM KALOUM: A NEW RALLYING CRY FOR DADIS

REF: CONAKRY 0195

1.(SBU) SUMMARY. PolEcon Chief met with the Secretary
General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a senior
career diplomat and discussed the current political situation
in Guinea, pressing the need for elections and a return to a
semblance of rule of law. Both officials consistently
defended the CNDD, asked for recognition of "the good things
the CNDD has done," and saw no problem with CNDD President
Moussa Dadis Camara running for President. A speech by the
Minister of Foreign Affairs attended by the Charge later in
the day also alluded to the possibility of Dadis' candidacy.
END SUMMARY.
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IF HE'S ELECTED,SO WHAT?
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2.(SBU ) PolEcon Chief and PolOff met with the Secretary
General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Balamoussa
Camara, and the Director of International Organizations,
Ambassador Nhur Mohamed Kamara, at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on April 20. PolEcon Chief delivered a demarche
(septel),and then took the opportunity to engage both
officials in a frank discussion about the U.S. position
towards the current administration.


3. (SBU) Both senior career diplomats were eager to talk and
appeared to enjoy the exchange of ideas, despite very few
points of concurrence. Ambassador Nhur is a well known to the
Embassy and formerly headed the American Affairs office.
Secretary General Camara was appointed just one month before
the coup d'etat. Both men steadfastly defended the CNDD's
position on a variety of issues. When asked about the
elections, they stated that it is impossible to have
elections too quickly and subtly indicated that they would
support the CNDD President, Moussa Dadis Camara, should he
decide to "hang up his uniform and run for President," as
Dadis reportedly threatened to do last week. "If the people
choose to elect him, what is the problem?" they asked
perplexedly. PolEcon Chief maintained that an election won by
the person who organized them after illegally seizing power
would be unacceptable to the USG.

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ZERO TOLERANCE
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4. (SBU) When PolEcon Chief stated that the U.S. maintains a
zero tolerance policy towards coup d'etats, the two men
remained silent. Both officials had settled back into the
cracked plastic sofas, but Ambassador Nhur became quite
animated after, leaning forward in an attempt to persuade. He
insisted that the U.S. "must recognize the positive things
that the CNDD is doing." When PolEcon Chief stated that the
CNDD was an illegitimate government and that until elections
were held there would be no change in the United States'
position, the men appeared disheartened.


5. (SBU) Located in a run-down, dingy office building, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a bleak environment. The
offices are dark and heavy and there is a general sense of
deterioration and isolation. When asked about the
extra-judiciary Office of Conflicts operating in Camp Alpha
Yaya (septel),there was no comment or recognition, nor was
there a response when it was pointed out that this
extra-judiciary body had reportedly overturned a Supreme
Court case. PolEcon Chief pointed out that human rights and
the rule of law are imperiled when military officers,
untrained in judicial proceedings, install themselves as
judges and hand down rulings at random. Ambassador Nuhr and
the Secretary General defended the Dadis Show -- where
government officials, drug dealers and senior mining
executives -- are interrogated by Captain Dadis on national
television saying, "no one has been sentenced to jail on
televisions -- they are handed over for trial."

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AN AFRICAN SOLUTION
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6. (SBU) The same day, the diplomatic corps, heads of
missions, and international agencies were summoned to the
Ministry. In a prepared speech the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Alexandre Cece Loua, reassured the diplomats that
the CNDD is dedicated to holding free and transparent
elections, but will need their financial assistance. At the
end of the speech he referred to the "call from Kaloum," the
neighborhood where Dadis recently held a large rally and
reportedly declared that as the other political parties were
not prepared to run the country, and if opposition leaders

CONAKRY 00000219 002 OF 002


continued to disrespect him, then he might have to "hang up
his uniform and run" (reftel). When asked by the German
Ambassador if Dadis would run for election, the Minister
enigmatically replied that that "is an African question and
it will have an African response."

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COMMENT
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7. (SBU) It appears that increasingly Dadis may be preparing
to run for president. Local press reports have mentioned
"panic and despair among Guineans" who previously believed
Dadis would step down as promised. At the same time, these
senior MFA officials did not seem to see any problem with
Dadis' potential candidacy. They appeared passionately
supportive of the CNDD and were adamant that the USG needs to
adapt its policy position to accommodate Guinea's "unique
situation." They gave the impression that the USG's position
is nave and does not accurately reflect the reality on the
ground.
RASPOLIC