BURKINA FASO: COMPAORE FACILITATES A THREE HOUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000021

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2020
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV GV UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: COMPAORE FACILITATES A THREE HOUR
KONATE - DADIS MEETING.

REF: OUAGADOUGOU 0018

Classified By: CDA Samuel C. Laeuchli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Guinean Interim President Konate arrived
in Ouagadougou late on January 13th and was quickly driven
to the Presidential palace for a three hour long meeting
with Compaore and Dadis. Nothing has filtered out of the
yesterday's meeting yet, and no press points or communiqus
have been issued or announced. All three are expected to
meet again today to continue discussions. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) General Sekouba Konate arrived in Ouagadougou on
January 13th around 19.30 onboard the Ivorian presidential
plane. He was met on the tarmac by the Burkinabe Foreign
Minister, the Minister of Defense, and Compaore's personal
military advisor before being taken to the Presidential
Palace. According to press reports, Konate's delegation
first met briefly with Compaore before seeing Dadis.
Observers noted that the interaction between the two
Guinean leaders was warm and relaxed. Konate's delegation
included Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Cece Loua,
Colonel Mamadou Korka Diallo, the Minister of Commerce and
the Junta spokesperson Idrissa Cherif. A few Guinean
journQsts also accompanied Konate.


3. (SBU) Compaore, the meeting facilitator, ushered
Konate and Dadis into a closed-door meeting that is
reported to have lasted three hours and to have included
only the three of them. Neither Compaore, Konate nor Dadis
made any comments after the meeting, but Junta spokesperson
Idrissa Cherif said last night that the discussions were
very sensitive and warranted prudence when talking about
them. He also explained that there were numerous Camara
supporters in Guinea:"If Dadis does not return, it will be
necessary to explain why not."


4. (SBU) The local and international press is reporting t
that while Dadis may want to return to Guinea as quickly as
possible, Konate and Compaore are going to tell him that
for the good of his country and in order to ensure civil
and ethnic peace, he cannot. Commentators and journalists
have suggested that the democratic process is now underway
in Guinea, and Dadis' return would compromise it. Numerous
articles mention US and France's clear concern about peace
in the event that Dadis goes back to Conakry.
Editorialists have suggested that Dadis should convalesce,
for an extended period, in Burkina Faso. One suggested
that "Dadis should remember that neither Kouchner (French
Foreign Minister) nor Secretary Clinton believe that he is
welcome back into his own country: "You would be best
advised to stay in Ouagadougou."


5. (C) COMMENT: If press reports of the three hour
evening meeting between Konate, Compaore and Dadis are
accurate, it appears likely that Dadis is in better
physical condition than many have previously thought. Post
will continue to monitor the situation closely. END
COMMENT.

LAEUCHLI