Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10CONAKRY117
2010-02-23 16:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
ICG MEETING FOCUSES ON ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO1118 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHRY #0117/01 0541605 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 231605Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4495 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000117
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: ICG MEETING FOCUSES ON ELECTIONS
REF: A. CONAKRY 000057
B. 09 CONAKRY 000470
C. 09 CONAKRY 000559
D. CONAKRY 000088
E. ADDIS ABABA 000128
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000117
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: ICG MEETING FOCUSES ON ELECTIONS
REF: A. CONAKRY 000057
B. 09 CONAKRY 000470
C. 09 CONAKRY 000559
D. CONAKRY 000088
E. ADDIS ABABA 000128
1. (U) The 11th International Contact Group (ICG-G) meeting
was held in Conakry on February 22, 2010. The meeting,
co-chaired by outgoing and incoming ECOWAS presidents Ibn
Chambas and Ibrahima Fall, was the first ICG-G to be held in
Conakry since September, 2009. The conference saw
presentations by Prime Minister Jean Marie Dore, Transition
President Sekouba Konate, and other key players. The ICG-G
issued a final communique that reiterated its support for
Security Sector Reform (SSR) programming and called for all
interested parties to adhere to the Ouagadougou Accords by
holding free and transparent elections by the end of June,
2010. END SUMMARY.
--------------
DORE WAFFLES ON CANDIDACY
--------------
2. (U) Prime Minister Dore promised the ICG-G that his
government will uphold the stipulations of the Ouagadougou
Accords and lead the country to free and fair elections by
the end of June, 2010. Dore emphasized that international
support and aid for SSR and elections is imperative to the
success of the transition. He also argued that Guinea could
not hold transparent elections without also reforming the
justice system - stating that CNDD member and Minister of
Justice Siba Lohalemou will be key in strengthening the
justice system before elections.
3. (U) Concerning elections, Dore said that the GOG has not
yet decided in what order to hold legislative and
presidential elections. However, he believes that political
and civil society leaders are leaning toward holding
presidential elections first. (NOTE: The Forces Vives will be
meeting today to officially decide on this issue. END NOTE.)
He pleaded with the ICG-G to lift all sanctions imposed after
the coup d'etat and the September 28 violence, arguing that
Guinea is now entering a phase that no longer warrants such
sanctions. Finally, Dore recommended that the ICG-G open
dialogue with the pro-Dadis political groups such as the
pro-CNDD ANC and Patriotic Block, to which the ICG-G agreed.
4. (U) Dore also told the ICG-G that Guineans abroad should
be registered and counted in the upcoming elections. Among
other propositions, Dore said that his government would
attempt to "reform the State" by removing CNDD appointed
military officers from traditionally civilian offices such as
Prefect and Governor. Dore did not answer pointed questions
about his possible candidacy in upcoming presidential
elections, replying coyly "I will respect the terms of the
Ouagadougou Accords as long as all others respect them." Dore
charged the international community with financially
supporting elections in order to ensure that the stipulations
of the Ouagadougou Accords are upheld.
--------------
CNT WILL IMPLEMENT OUAGA ACCORDS
--------------
5. (U) In her capacity as National Transition Council (CNT)
President, Rabiatou Diallo said that the Council would have a
specific mandate to ensure the Ouagadougou Accords are
implemented during the transition. Specifically, Rabiatou
said that the CNT would examine Guinean law as well as advise
and support CENI election preparations. While a CNT budget
has not been approved, Rabiatou envisions that the Council
will have sufficient funding to effectively complete their
mandate. Rabiatou told the ICG-G that she hopes to appoint
the required 101 CNT members by Friday, at the latest,
allowing the CNT to finish its work by the end of June.
-------------- --------------
CENI/MATAP DISCUSS GUINEANS ABROAD AND BUDGET GAP
-------------- --------------
6. (U) In their presentation to the ICG-G, National Election
CONAKRY 00000117 002 OF 003
Commission (CENI) President Ben Sekou Sylla and Minister of
Territorial Administration and Political Affairs (MATAP) Nawa
Damey agreed that elections will be technically possible by
June (reftel A). However, they warned that the inclusion of
Guineans abroad into the election registration process would
add three additional months to the election timeline. Sylla
and Damey also said that the CENI needs only $1.5 million in
election funding from the international community in order to
complete election preparations. (NOTE: Immediately after this
announcement, to great acclaim by the group, Nigeria verbally
pledged $1 million USD in contributions for elections within
seven days. END NOTE.)
--------------
FORCES VIVES OUTLINES HOPES FOR TRANSITION
--------------
7. (U) Francois Fall, Spokesperson of the Forces Vives,
outlined the organization's vision for ICG-G participation
during the transition including: 1) Encouraging Burkinabe
President Blaise Compaore and Konate to sign the Forces Vives
drafted "charter for transition," 2) financially and
technically supporting the CENI, 3) supporting SSR efforts,
4) calling for the removal of restrictions on political
activity, and 5) applying pressure on the GOG to annul the
CNDD-China International Fund (CIF) agreement, claiming that
its implementation would be "catastrophic for Guinea's
economic future" (reftels B & C). (NOTE: The Ambassador to
China subsequently announced that his government had nothing
to do with the CIF deal and that Guinea, as a sovereign
state, could cancel any contract they deemed necessary. END
NOTE.)
-------------- --------------
PATRIOTIC BLOCK AND ANC PRESENT TO ICG-G, GEN CISSE OUTLINES
SSR PLAN
-------------- --------------
8. (U) The Patriotic Block and the National Alliance for
Renewal (ANC),two pro-Dadis political and civil society
groups formed as offshoots of the Forces Vives, asked to be
included in all upcoming ICG-G meetings. The groups'
representatives argued that while they may be pro-CNDD, their
opinion can be helpful in democratically informing ICG-G
decisions.
9. (U) General Cisse, the leader of the UN-ECOWAS SSR team,
explained his plan for SSR to the ICG-G. Although he gave few
additional details about the mission than EmbOffs received in
a Feb 4 meeting with UN-ECOWAS SSR team representatives
(reftel D),this was the first occasion in which Cisse
explained the plan in a large group, projecting the
completion of the assessment study by the end of April, 2010.
--------------
KONATE PROMISES TO ALLOW POLITICAL ACTIVITY
--------------
10. (U) In a closed meeting with ICG-G Ambassadors, Konate
reiterated his commitment to holding elections by the end of
June, 2010. He also asked the Ambassadors to make tangible
pledges of support to reforming Guinea's security sector. He
assured the international community that the media, civil
society, and political leaders would be permitted free speech
during the transition. He specifically noted that political
activity would not be hindered by the transition government.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
11. (SBU) The ICG-G meeting focused on elections and SSR
efforts in Guinea. Although presenters and ICG-G members
cited several challenges to implementing the transition, the
mood was over all congratulatory and optimistic. Unlike the
10th ICG-G meeting in Addis Ababa (reftel E),the group
focused mainly on the prospect for elections at the end of
June rather than potential security concerns. With the new
government in place, the ICG-G is reorienting to push the
government to implement important election measures and
CONAKRY 00000117 003 OF 003
prepare for comprehensive SSR.
12.(SBU) Just as the ICG-G member countries were generally
unified in their stance, representatives from the GOG,
political groups, and civil society were all on point with
pushing elections forward, disagreeing only over the order of
the presidential and legislative elections and the
registering of Guineans abroad. Worth noting, the number of
Guinean soldiers in red berets and sunglasses, the typical
uniform of the CNDD period, was almost nil. During the Konate
meeting only two were present although some Presidential
Guard will still in the background.
13. (U) The next ICG-G meeting is scheduled to take place in
Conakry during the first week of April. The official
communique will be transmitted to AF/W via email.
Moller
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: ICG MEETING FOCUSES ON ELECTIONS
REF: A. CONAKRY 000057
B. 09 CONAKRY 000470
C. 09 CONAKRY 000559
D. CONAKRY 000088
E. ADDIS ABABA 000128
1. (U) The 11th International Contact Group (ICG-G) meeting
was held in Conakry on February 22, 2010. The meeting,
co-chaired by outgoing and incoming ECOWAS presidents Ibn
Chambas and Ibrahima Fall, was the first ICG-G to be held in
Conakry since September, 2009. The conference saw
presentations by Prime Minister Jean Marie Dore, Transition
President Sekouba Konate, and other key players. The ICG-G
issued a final communique that reiterated its support for
Security Sector Reform (SSR) programming and called for all
interested parties to adhere to the Ouagadougou Accords by
holding free and transparent elections by the end of June,
2010. END SUMMARY.
--------------
DORE WAFFLES ON CANDIDACY
--------------
2. (U) Prime Minister Dore promised the ICG-G that his
government will uphold the stipulations of the Ouagadougou
Accords and lead the country to free and fair elections by
the end of June, 2010. Dore emphasized that international
support and aid for SSR and elections is imperative to the
success of the transition. He also argued that Guinea could
not hold transparent elections without also reforming the
justice system - stating that CNDD member and Minister of
Justice Siba Lohalemou will be key in strengthening the
justice system before elections.
3. (U) Concerning elections, Dore said that the GOG has not
yet decided in what order to hold legislative and
presidential elections. However, he believes that political
and civil society leaders are leaning toward holding
presidential elections first. (NOTE: The Forces Vives will be
meeting today to officially decide on this issue. END NOTE.)
He pleaded with the ICG-G to lift all sanctions imposed after
the coup d'etat and the September 28 violence, arguing that
Guinea is now entering a phase that no longer warrants such
sanctions. Finally, Dore recommended that the ICG-G open
dialogue with the pro-Dadis political groups such as the
pro-CNDD ANC and Patriotic Block, to which the ICG-G agreed.
4. (U) Dore also told the ICG-G that Guineans abroad should
be registered and counted in the upcoming elections. Among
other propositions, Dore said that his government would
attempt to "reform the State" by removing CNDD appointed
military officers from traditionally civilian offices such as
Prefect and Governor. Dore did not answer pointed questions
about his possible candidacy in upcoming presidential
elections, replying coyly "I will respect the terms of the
Ouagadougou Accords as long as all others respect them." Dore
charged the international community with financially
supporting elections in order to ensure that the stipulations
of the Ouagadougou Accords are upheld.
--------------
CNT WILL IMPLEMENT OUAGA ACCORDS
--------------
5. (U) In her capacity as National Transition Council (CNT)
President, Rabiatou Diallo said that the Council would have a
specific mandate to ensure the Ouagadougou Accords are
implemented during the transition. Specifically, Rabiatou
said that the CNT would examine Guinean law as well as advise
and support CENI election preparations. While a CNT budget
has not been approved, Rabiatou envisions that the Council
will have sufficient funding to effectively complete their
mandate. Rabiatou told the ICG-G that she hopes to appoint
the required 101 CNT members by Friday, at the latest,
allowing the CNT to finish its work by the end of June.
-------------- --------------
CENI/MATAP DISCUSS GUINEANS ABROAD AND BUDGET GAP
-------------- --------------
6. (U) In their presentation to the ICG-G, National Election
CONAKRY 00000117 002 OF 003
Commission (CENI) President Ben Sekou Sylla and Minister of
Territorial Administration and Political Affairs (MATAP) Nawa
Damey agreed that elections will be technically possible by
June (reftel A). However, they warned that the inclusion of
Guineans abroad into the election registration process would
add three additional months to the election timeline. Sylla
and Damey also said that the CENI needs only $1.5 million in
election funding from the international community in order to
complete election preparations. (NOTE: Immediately after this
announcement, to great acclaim by the group, Nigeria verbally
pledged $1 million USD in contributions for elections within
seven days. END NOTE.)
--------------
FORCES VIVES OUTLINES HOPES FOR TRANSITION
--------------
7. (U) Francois Fall, Spokesperson of the Forces Vives,
outlined the organization's vision for ICG-G participation
during the transition including: 1) Encouraging Burkinabe
President Blaise Compaore and Konate to sign the Forces Vives
drafted "charter for transition," 2) financially and
technically supporting the CENI, 3) supporting SSR efforts,
4) calling for the removal of restrictions on political
activity, and 5) applying pressure on the GOG to annul the
CNDD-China International Fund (CIF) agreement, claiming that
its implementation would be "catastrophic for Guinea's
economic future" (reftels B & C). (NOTE: The Ambassador to
China subsequently announced that his government had nothing
to do with the CIF deal and that Guinea, as a sovereign
state, could cancel any contract they deemed necessary. END
NOTE.)
-------------- --------------
PATRIOTIC BLOCK AND ANC PRESENT TO ICG-G, GEN CISSE OUTLINES
SSR PLAN
-------------- --------------
8. (U) The Patriotic Block and the National Alliance for
Renewal (ANC),two pro-Dadis political and civil society
groups formed as offshoots of the Forces Vives, asked to be
included in all upcoming ICG-G meetings. The groups'
representatives argued that while they may be pro-CNDD, their
opinion can be helpful in democratically informing ICG-G
decisions.
9. (U) General Cisse, the leader of the UN-ECOWAS SSR team,
explained his plan for SSR to the ICG-G. Although he gave few
additional details about the mission than EmbOffs received in
a Feb 4 meeting with UN-ECOWAS SSR team representatives
(reftel D),this was the first occasion in which Cisse
explained the plan in a large group, projecting the
completion of the assessment study by the end of April, 2010.
--------------
KONATE PROMISES TO ALLOW POLITICAL ACTIVITY
--------------
10. (U) In a closed meeting with ICG-G Ambassadors, Konate
reiterated his commitment to holding elections by the end of
June, 2010. He also asked the Ambassadors to make tangible
pledges of support to reforming Guinea's security sector. He
assured the international community that the media, civil
society, and political leaders would be permitted free speech
during the transition. He specifically noted that political
activity would not be hindered by the transition government.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
11. (SBU) The ICG-G meeting focused on elections and SSR
efforts in Guinea. Although presenters and ICG-G members
cited several challenges to implementing the transition, the
mood was over all congratulatory and optimistic. Unlike the
10th ICG-G meeting in Addis Ababa (reftel E),the group
focused mainly on the prospect for elections at the end of
June rather than potential security concerns. With the new
government in place, the ICG-G is reorienting to push the
government to implement important election measures and
CONAKRY 00000117 003 OF 003
prepare for comprehensive SSR.
12.(SBU) Just as the ICG-G member countries were generally
unified in their stance, representatives from the GOG,
political groups, and civil society were all on point with
pushing elections forward, disagreeing only over the order of
the presidential and legislative elections and the
registering of Guineans abroad. Worth noting, the number of
Guinean soldiers in red berets and sunglasses, the typical
uniform of the CNDD period, was almost nil. During the Konate
meeting only two were present although some Presidential
Guard will still in the background.
13. (U) The next ICG-G meeting is scheduled to take place in
Conakry during the first week of April. The official
communique will be transmitted to AF/W via email.
Moller