MINISTERS ON THE ROAD FOR DADIS

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000399 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC GV SUBJECT: MINISTERS ON THE ROAD FOR DADIS REF: A. CONAKRY 00377 ¶B. CONAKRY 00327 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. In an effort to stem his plunging popularity and increase CNDD visibility, CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara has directed his ministers to get out of their offices and confront the problems facing common people, namely the lack of electricity and water. Two ministers worked the Forest Region and Upper Guinea holding rallies, inaugurating infrastructure, and closing mines, while another opened neighborhood wells in the Conakry area. END SUMMARY. -------------- RALLIES AND ROADS -------------- ¶2. (U) Moussa Keita, Permanent Secretary of the CNDD, accompanied by other CNDD officials, traveled to N'Zerekore in the Forest region the first week in July to campaign for the CNDD and to mobilize Forest communities behind the CNDD agenda. N'Zerekore residents told PolEcon LES that local authorities sent convoys of vehicles to villages surrounding N'Zerekore to transport people to Keita-sponsored rallies, thereby disrupting weekly markets and other local activities. Supporters distributed hundreds of t-shirts to youths imprinted with the image of Dadis who hails from the Forest Region. During these events, Moussa Keita was reported shouting, "Dadis or death" with the crowd responding, "To hell with elections!" ¶3. (U) A few weeks earlier, Moussa Keita was in Kankan to preside over a ceremony to begin paving 20 kilometers of roads, even though the project was funded by the last regime and initiated by former Prime Minister Kouyate in 2007. Keita claimed that Kankan had been abandoned by the previous government, but assured citizens that Dadis will improve their quality of life by providing electricity, water,and good roads. ¶4. (SBU) Papa Koly Kourouma, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, was also visiting the Forest region last week to assess the environmental impact of mining companies (Reftel A). As a result of his visit, the Minister temporarily closed the mining operation of BSG Resources Guinea due to allegations of water pollution caused by the company's operations. ¶5. (U) While others were up-country, Jean Claude Pivi, Minister of Presidential Security, traveled to Dubreka and inaugurated a well at the local hospital and one in the surrounding community. Both wells were funded by the mining company SMD (Societe Miniere de Dinguiraye). ¶6. (U) Dadis will hold a press event at Guinea's national television station, RTG, on July 10 to report on progress in the public infrastructure sector and to highlight the efforts of his ministers. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The electricity and water situation in Conakry has dramatically worsened since the CNDD took power almost seven months ago (Reftel B). Neighborhoods that once had electricity on a regular basis now are lucky to have a few erratic hours beginning at midnight. The lack of electricity is fraying nerves, depleting businesses, and dramatically affecting the popularity of the CNDD. Dadis appears desperate to shore up his popularity by placating up-country populations and focusing on these two crucial sectors. It has not escaped public scrutiny,however, that many of the projects had been initiated and funded by others, with the CNDD only swooping in for ceremonial openings. BROKENSHIRE