GUINEA-BISSAU: REQUEST FUNDING FOR ELECTION SUPPORT

UNCLAS DAKAR 000274 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS KDEM PU SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: REQUEST FUNDING FOR ELECTION SUPPORT ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. ¶2. (U) As a result of the March 2 assassination of President Joao Bernardo Vieira, interim-President Raimundo Pereira will have to oversee presidential elections within 60 days, as called for in the constitution. However, the GOGB does not have the resources to conduct an election so soon after the November 2008 legislative elections. By all accounts - including those by Embassy, EU, UN, AU, and ECOWAS observer Missions -- the National Election Commission (CNE) conducted a free, fair, and transparent election in November. However, the election was put at risk on several occasions in the lead up to polling day by strikes from unpaid poll workers. If the elections are to be held successfully, the international donor community will have to provide resources to the CNE, primarily for materials and/or salaries. ¶3. (SBU) As noted in the Mission Strategic Plan (MSP) for Guinea-Bissau, the country is at risk of becoming a narco-state. While the assassinations of President Vieira and Chief-of-Staff General Tagme Na Wai have increased that risk, their departure from Bissau-Guinean politics provides a window of opportunity to reinforce the positive steps toward democratization that was made in the last two successful elections. ¶4. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests funding for a grant for an international organization or NGO to provide support to the CNE as it prepares for and conducts Guinea-Bissau's presidential elections. Bernicat