PRESIDENT SIRLEAF ON HER VISIT TO CONAKRY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONROVIA 000720 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y CHANGED SEPTEMBER 2 TO SEPTEMBER 12 IN SECTION 1 LINE 3. ALSO INSERTED LINE BREAKS BETWEEN SECTIONS. SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2019 TAGS: PREL ASEC GV LI SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SIRLEAF ON HER VISIT TO CONAKRY Classified By: Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield for Reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador met with President Sirleaf on September 28 to raise, among other issues, the situation in Guinea and her September 2 trip there with Senegal President Wade to meet with Moussa Dadis Camara. Sirleaf acknowledged that she had suggested to Wade that they make a trip to Guinea to press Dadis to honor the ECOWAS and AU plan of action for elections noting that Dadis respects Wade and that she represented the Mano River Union (MRU) countries. Ambassador told Sirleaf that Liberia's apparent lukewarm position at the International Contact Group on Guinea (ICG-G) meeting in New York has raised some concerns, and that there were rumors, which we had discounted, that she had made a deal of sorts with Dadis to support his election if he supported hers. ¶2. (C) Sirleaf was incredulous, saying that Dadis had hijacked their visit. He kept both she and Wade waiting at the airport for nearly an hour, then led the convoy to a stadium where thousands of people were waiting in a clearly orchestrated rally to support Dadis. Dadis had with him a young boy of about nine dressed in full military fatigues with sun glasses to bout and introduced Sirleaf as his &mommy8 and Wade, his &poppy8 to the cheering crowd. Wade spoke to the crowd about the importance of democracy. ¶3. (C) However, in a private meeting with Dadis following the rally, both she and Wade gave him a strong message. Wade, Sirleaf said, told Dadis he should turn the government over to civilians and return to the barracks or if he wished to run for president, he needed to take off his uniform and join a political party. Sirleaf stressed to him that he must follow the AU and ECOWAS guidance or he would be ostracized and isolated by both organizations. Dadis responded that he could not leave because he was supported by the people. He went on to say that he was selected because the generals had run things during Conte's administration and the people wanted the younger generation to take control. He also raised the tribal issue, noting it was time for his people. ¶4. (C) Sirleaf also called Ivoirian President Gbagbo to discuss having an MRU meeting to discuss Guinea but Gbagbo would only agree to it being held in Cote d'Ivoire and Dadis would not attend. She also said that she met with ECOWAS President Chammas prior to the ICG-G in New York, which was attended by Foreign Minister King-Akerele. Chammas had planned to issue a strong statement calling for Dadis to step down, but the AU issued a tough statement that same day which ECOWAS wholeheartedly endorsed. Finally, expressing serious concern, Sirleaf stated that if war breaks out in Guinea, Liberia's fragile peace will be shattered. ¶5. (C) Comment. President Sirleaf and other senior security officials are extremely worried about the impact of the situation in Guinea on Liberia especially given the fact that many Liberians, including warring factions, took refuge in Guinea during the war. She has for that reason appeared reticent to criticize Dadis publicly because of his paranoia that he will be attacked from Liberia. However, she has responded strongly and critically to the recent violence out of Guinea. Liberians are also worried about an influx into Liberia from Guinea of both Liberians and Guineans and have asked about the capacity of NGOs and the UN to respond to a humanitarian crisis. End Comment. THOMAS-GREENFIELD