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