FRANCOIS FALL NOMINATED AS NEW FORCES VIVES

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000072 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC GV SUBJECT: FRANCOIS FALL NOMINATED AS NEW FORCES VIVES SPOKESMAN ¶1. (U) After three hours of debate, the Forces Vives nominated former PM and President of the FUDEC political party Francois Fall as their new spokesperson. Over 100 members of the Forces Vives, as well as former spokesperson and current PM Jean Marie Dore, attended the meeting held at FUDEC headquarters. ¶2. (U) Dore, who was neither expected or invited by the Forces Vives, arrived in the company of a large contingent of body guards and Red Berets. According to witnesses, Dore initially thanked the audience for his consensus nomination and promised to promote free and fair elections. He then announced that he would nominate his own candidate to succeed him as Forces Vives spokesperson. Several high ranking members of the group, however, refused his offer and noted that Dore is no longer a part of the Forces Vives, but the head of the government. ¶3. (U) Union leader Rabiatou Diallo announced, after several minutes of discussion, that the Forces Vives should no longer take input from the PM, in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety. She further noted that the Forces Vives should act as a voice of democracy and should therefore vote democratically to select a spokesperson. ¶4. (U) Dore then took his leave and parties within the Forces Vives nominated four individuals for the position, including Francois Fall. When the group went to vote, the other three individuals withdrew their name in favor of Fall's nomination. ¶5. (U) COMMENT: Among the Forces Vives, Francois Fall's nomination as spokesperson was almost a foregone conclusion. He is a widely respected member of the group and has a long history as a politician. Dore's attempt to continue to influence the group may have been his way of testing his position vis-a-vis his former opposition colleagues now that he heads the government. The Forces Vives in turn, clearly opted for independence and opposition to the government. Moller