CONTE'S PARTY BEGINS TO SHOW SIGNS OF DIVISION

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000084 SIPDIS SENQIVE Q.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC GV SUBJECT: CONTE'S PARTY BEGINS TO SHOW SIGNS OF DIVISION REF: CONAKRY 039 ¶1. (U) The Executive Bureau of the late President Conte's Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) issued a statement on January 22 officially expelling six party leaders from their ranks, including Soriba Sorel Camara who was appointed Governor of Conakry by former Prime Minister Souare about two months before the December 23 coup d'etat. In the declaration, the PUP states that the members were being expelled because of acts of vandalism they orchestrated at the Party's headquarters, their refusal to express their regrets and request forgiveness, and their disrespectful attitude towards the party hierarchy. A PUP contact told POL LES that these individuals had unilaterally decided to appoint controversial millionaire Mamadou Syllah as the new head of party, a move that other party members vehemently opposed. ¶2. (U) During a radio interview, Soriba Sorel Camara stated that he had resigned from the PUP due to "a lack of democracy and transparency." He said that he had decided to join another political party, the Democratic Union of Guinea (a small, relatively unknown party). -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Despite the PUP Secretary General's recent claims that the party remains strong (reftel),President Conte's death left a leadership vacuum. The expulsion of six senior party members indicates that the party is divided and may need to redefine itself if it is going to successfully contend with the opposition parties in future elections. END COMMENT. RASPOLIC