VZCZCXRO7671
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0511/01 1731644
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221644Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9952
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0159

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000511 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SL
SUBJECT: UNPP ELECTS US COLLEGE PROFESSOR AS PRESIDENTIAL 
CANDIDATE - LEGITIMACY CHALLENGED 
 
¶1.  Summary:  On June 16 and 17, the United National People's 
Party (UNPP) held a national convention in Freetown to elect 
a new party leader and presidential candidate.  Delegates 
elected Abdul Karim Koroma, a U.S. professor, as presidential 
candidate.  One party official denied the legitimacy of the 
convention in a press release, but the convention attracted 
approximately 500 attendees and delegates.  In a letter to 
the National Electoral Commission, former UNPP party leader 
John Karefa-Smart stated that he has resigned his position; 
however, the legitimacy of this weekend's convention remains 
in dispute.  While the UNPP is no longer a force to be 
reckoned with in Sierra Leone politics, the party dynamics 
closely reflect the recent infighting of the two major 
parties.  If the UNPP is able to gain a following, they may 
form a coalition with a more popular party.  If Charles 
Margai's People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) 
effectively pulls votes away from the ruling Sierra Leone 
People's Party (SLPP), this will be a dynamic worth watching. 
 End Summary. 
 
¶2.  On June 16-17, POL intern attended the 4th Delegates 
Convention for the UNPP.  The convention was held in Freetown 
to elect a new party leader and presidential candidate. 
Amidst controversy over the legitimacy of the convention, 
delegates elected Abdul Karim Koroma as the presidential 
candidate for the 2007 elections. 
 
¶3.  On June 15, "Standard Times" published a press release 
claiming that the proposed convention was illegitimate.  The 
press release stated that a very old Dr. John Karefa-Smart, 
who lives in the USA,  was the true party leader and had not 
abdicated his position to Acting Chairman Ahmed 
Taylor-Kamara.  The press release discouraged party 
supporters from attending the convention and stated that the 
official convention will be held in September 2006.  The 
author, David Ansu-Koroma, claims to be the Acting National 
Executive Secretary of the party. 
 
¶4.  Approximately 300 people attended the first day of the 
convention.  Acting party chairman Ahmed Taylor-Kamara 
appealed to the international community to closely monitor 
the 2007 elections, citing campaigning violations already 
committed by the ruling SLPP.  (Note:  The SLPP holds a 74% 
majority in Parliament as well as the presidency.  End Note.) 
 Working committee chairman O.B. Conteh stated that the 
party's poor showing in recent local elections was a result 
of poor organization and discouragement from past failures. 
Conteh urged delegates to remain committed to the growth of 
the party and improvement of the country.  Both Taylor-Kamara 
and Conteh emphasized the unity of the party and tried to 
dispel any claims that the party was divided or that the 
convention was illegitimate. 
 
¶5.  International delegations from the U.S., UK, Canada and 
Germany were scheduled to speak; however, only the UK 
delegate (also a contender for party leader) was present. 
Delegations from the Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern 
regions of Sierra Leone were also present.  Delegates from 
the Eastern and Northern regions called for immediate action 
to build party support, but Taylor-Kamara intervened and 
emphasized that campaigning would not begin until the 
National Electoral Commission (NEC) announces election 
season. 
 
¶6.  On June 17, the convention reconvened to elect the new 
party leader and 2007 presidential candidate.  There were 
approximately 500 people in attendance with 411 voting 
delegates.  Delegates nominated Mohamed Ben Kamara, a 
businessman living in the UK, and Abdul Karim Koroma, a U.S. 
college professor.  It was clear that Koroma had the 
overwhelming majority of party support.  Though he was not 
present on the first day of the convention, he was received 
with cheers and applause on the second day.  (Comment:  It 
appears that Koroma gained support by making numerous 
financial contributions to the party.  His election speech 
was essentially a retelling of these contributions.  End 
Comment.) 
 
¶7.  The election was made by open ballot with members of the 
press counting the votes.  The acting chairman made several 
references to the party constitution to resolve disputes over 
procedure. 
 
¶8.  On June 19, "For Di People" published a letter from 
former party leader and presidential candidate John 
Karefa-Smart.  The letter confirmed his resignation as party 
 
FREETOWN 00000511  002 OF 002 
 
 
leader, but was unclear about the legitimacy of the 
convention.  Karefa-Smart appealed to the NEC to disregard 
any claims from persons not properly empowered by the party 
constitution to convene a national convention.  Karefa-Smart 
also wrote that Haja Memunatu Conteh, his presidential 
running mate from the 2002 elections, should serve as interim 
National Party Leader until a new party leader is elected. 
Neither Karefa-Smart nor Conteh was present at the 
convention. 
 
¶9.  On June 20, "Awareness Times" published an interview with 
Karefa-Smart and Haja Memunatu Conteh.  Both Karefa-Smart and 
Conteh declared last weekend's convention to be fraudulent 
and illegitimate.  Conteh stated that the convention was held 
without regard for proper procedure, as outlined in the party 
constitution, and that convention organizers excluded many 
prominent party members, including Conteh herself.  (Note: 
Haja Memunatu Conteh is Chairwoman of the Western Region.) 
Conteh also stated that while nominee Mohammed Ben Kamara 
holds an official position as chairman for the UK branch, 
Abdul Karim Koroma is an ordinary party supporter living in 
the United States with no official position.  UNPP officials 
are preparing to take legal action against the organizers of 
the convention. 
 
¶10.  Comment:  John Karefa-Smart, now a professor at Loma 
Linda University School of Public Health in California, was 
Sierra Leone's first Foreign Minister in 1961 and nearly beat 
out President Kabbah in the 1996 presidential elections. 
Since his departure, the UNPP has not been a serious 
political force and currently holds no seats in Parliament. 
Karefa-Smart was the saving grace of the UNPP.  He received 
widespread support during the 1996 elections and Sierra 
Leoneans still hold him in high regard.  Though he was 
referenced frequently during the convention (his name even 
mentioned in the party song), his absence makes a stronger 
statement.  Without another charismatic figure to replace 
Karefa-Smart it is unlikely that the UNPP will garner 
substantial political support.  Karefa-Smart's official 
resignation from his position, and the impending legal 
battle, will likely seal the UNPP's fate as a minor sideshow 
party.  The controversy over the delegates' convention seems 
to be par for the course for Sierra Le one politics; with 
internal party disputes leading to party splits and legal 
battles ruling the day.  If the UNPP is able to gain a 
following, they may form a coalition with one of the major 
parties.  If Charles Margai's SLPP breakaway party, the PMDC, 
is able to pull enough votes away from the ruling SLPP, this 
will be a dynamic worth watching.  End Comment. 
HULL