LIBERIA: MANDINGO LEADER AND FORMER WARLORD ALHAJI KROMAH ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONROVIA 000105

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/25
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PINR LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: MANDINGO LEADER AND FORMER WARLORD ALHAJI KROMAH ON
POLITICS AND THE TRC

REF: 10 MONROVIA 164

CLASSIFIED BY: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),
(D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. In a meeting with Ambassador on February 17, Alhaji
G.V. Kromah, leader of the United Liberation Movement in Liberia
for Democracy - Kromah (ULIMO-K) faction during Liberia's civil
war, offered some criticisms of President Sirleaf's political
decisions, while indicating a willingness to join the Sirleaf
government if asked. Kromah, who is recommended for prosecution in
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report, contended
that the TRC process was questionable and challenged the integrity
of the final report. He also stressed the influence that USG
representatives continue to hold among Liberia's politicians and
people. END SUMMARY.



THOUGHTS ON SIRLEAF'S DECISION TO RUN IN 2011

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2. (C) Former ULIMO-K faction leader, All Liberia Coalition Party
(ALCOP) standard bearer, 1997 and 2005 ALCOP presidential
candidate, and 2009 ALCOP Senatorial candidate in the Montserrado
by-election Alhaji G.V. Kromah called on the Ambassador on February

17. When the Ambassador asked about Liberian President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf's recent decision to contest the 2011 presidential
election (reftel),Kromah responded that he would be "quiet until
it was necessary to talk." He did, however, admit that Sirleaf's
announcing her intent to seek re-election during her January 25
annual message to the legislature was not a violation of the law
because her decision is an integral part of the country's political
agenda.



KROMAH CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT'S CHOICES....

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3. (C) Kromah asserted that 2011 would truly be Liberia's first
real election, but he wants to know what is next on the president's
agenda. Sirleaf has the opportunity to lay out an agenda for her
next term, but she is overwhelmed by the task of running the
country -- "too many priorities, so no priority." In Kromah's
view, the president is "afraid" of everyone in Liberia, which
explains the large number of Liberian diasporans brought into her
administration from abroad. These officials, who had little to no
role in the civil conflict and were perceived as untainted, are now
being knocked out of government by Sirleaf for corruption. Kromah
said this is a vote of no confidence in the president's judgment.




4. (C) Kromah asked the Ambassador to encourage President Sirleaf
to strengthen her cabinet by adding more Liberians who remained
in-country during the conflict years. He asserted that National
Security Advisor (NSA) H. Boima Fahnbulleh is underutilized and
would make an excellent Minister of Foreign Affairs. Kromah also
called Dominic Tarpeh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the
University of Liberia, a man of substance who could be put to use
in government.



...BUT STILL WILLING TO HELP

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5. (C) When asked about his rumored candidacy for the vacant
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism position, Kromah
admitted that he had not yet been approached, but would accept if
asked and believed the Senate would confirm him quickly. (NOTE:
The president's office announced the appointment of Cletus Sieh as
the new minister on February 25. END NOTE.) Kromah cited up to 15
legislators as his former law students at the University of
Liberia, including Grand Cape Mount County Senator Abel M. Massalay
and Grand Kru County Senator Blamo Nelson. Kromah is, he said,
ultimately prepared to be on the president's team. Sirleaf is a
distant cousin and he thinks highly of her. The two meet


regularly, according to Kromah, despite their political
differences. In fact, Kromah said, he threw his majority-Muslim
Mandingo ethnic group's support behind ruling Unity Party candidate
Clemenceau Urey in the November 2009 Montserrado County by-election
run off because President Sirleaf promised to make Ramadan a
national holiday. He also traveled with the President on her last
trip to Libya.



VIEWS ON THE TRC'S RECOMMENDATIONS

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6. (C) When asked about the TRC's recommendations, Kromah said that
he believes they are unenforceable and only the National Elections
Commission (NEC) can decide whether or not individuals are eligible
to run for public office. (NOTE. Despite several complaints to
the NEC, the Commission ruled that Kromah could run in the recent
Senatorial by-election even though he was listed in the TRC report.
END NOTE.) The TRC, Kromah thinks, did not follow due legal process
and the integrity of the final report is questionable, in light of
the public, dissenting statements among the TRC Commissioners
regarding the intent of the report. Kromah questions the fact that
certain people were not named in the report despite their past
roles in Liberia's civil conflict, specifically NSA Fahnbulleh,
Liberty Party Standard Bearer Charles Brumskine and Governance
Commission chair Amos Sawyer. Kromah suggested the absence of the
aforementioned invididuals may be due to their influence over TRC
commissioners. He noted TRC Chairman Jerome Verdier as a protege
of Brumskine, and Commissioner Massa Washington as a protege of
Sawyer.




7. (C) Regarding reconciliation, Kromah said that most of those
indicted by the TRC report had apologized for their actions, but
there is still a need to hold a "palaver hut" process in each
county if the country is to move forward. (NOTE. Kromah is one of
eight Liberians recommended for prosecution for human rights
violations in the TRC report. End Note.)



BACK TO WAR?

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7. (C) The Ambassador then asked Kromah if the country could go
back to war. Kromah's response was vague, but he stressed the
important role played by the U.S. in Liberia and that all overtures
and nuances from USG officials and international partners send loud
messages to the Liberian people.



COMMENT

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8. (C) President Sirleaf is likely courting Kromah because of his
considerable influence over the Muslim-majority Mandingo ethnic
group, one of Liberia's most cohesive communities. We are not
aware of any familial ties between Sirleaf and Kromah, either by
blood or marriage. By describing her as his "cousin," he is likely
referring to their common roots in Bomi County and their common
cause against Charles Taylor. Lawyer by training, journalist by
profession and warlord by experience, Kromah is a complex
personality, one of many once decent people who were rendered evil
by the war. That President Sirleaf, and even we, have to continue
to deal with these people demonstrates the fragile state of
Liberia's reconciliation.
ROBINSON