FORCES VIVES EXCLUDES YOUTH LEADER FROM TALKS

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000725 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC ECON EFIN GV SUBJECT: FORCES VIVES EXCLUDES YOUTH LEADER FROM TALKS ¶1. Delegations for the CNDD and the Forces Vives will depart for Ouagadougou the evening of November 18 for a second round of talks mediated by Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore. Both delegations are scheduled to bring 12 members each, and will travel aboard the same aircraft. While the CNDD has not published its list of delegates to attend the talks, the Forces Vives has, drawing attention to the exclusion of Mouctar Diallo, youth leader and head of the New Democratic Forces (NDF). ¶2. Diallo is a popular spokesperson for Guinean youth, and his exclusion comes as a surprise as he has been an integral member of the Forces Vives. Jean-Marie Dore, spokesman for the Forces Vives, is credited with drafting the list of 12 delegates who will attend the talks. No official reason was given as to why some political leaders were excluded from the list. Lama Bangoura, vice-president of Diallo's NDF party, said that Diallo is currently in Abidjan, and is planning on attending the talks "one way or another." ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT. There are two popular views of Diallo: one of him being an inexperienced, youthful troublemaker (a perspective often taken by his senior colleagues),and the other of him as a measured, but firm, advocate for democratic change. In contrast to the majority of the Forces Vives, Diallo is relatively new to the political scene. Most of the other key leaders, including Dore, have been part of Guinea's opposition forces for more than fifteen years, whereas Diallo only entered the political arena after the 2007 violence. Political views aside, Guinean culture is highly deferential to older people and as such, can be quick to brush aside the youth, claiming that the older generation also represents youth interests, but can better address them with "calm and maturity" as opposed to "youthful passion." Embassy officers have repeatedly heard more senior Forces Vives members speak in such a manner in the past. ¶4. (SBU) Diallo's exclusion raises questions about what the other opposition leaders are up to. Since the December 23 coup, Diallo has consistently emphasized that the CNDD must step down from power. Without Diallo in the room, there is concern that the Forces Vives may adopt a more conciliatory tone, which is how Dore has always dealt with Dadis and the CNDD. END COMMENT. Moller