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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 CONAKRY 000370 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF, AF/W 
PLEASE PASS ALSO AID/AA/AFR 
TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF AFRICAN NATIONS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017 
TAGS: PGOV ELAB PINS EAID GV
SUBJECT: GUINEA'S NEW GOVERNMENT MEETS INITIAL DEMANDS 
 
REF: CONAKRY 362 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Jessica Davis Ba. Reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) On March 28, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate addressed 
the nation with a clear message thanking all Guineans for 
their patience and cooperation in the creation of a 
"government of broad consensus".  The Prime Minister listed 
eight priorities for his government with the consolidation of 
national unity, an independent justice system, and youth 
employment at the top of his list.  A presidential decree 
appointed the nineteen ministers and three secretaries 
general that will comprise the cabinet.  The initial reaction 
of the public is one of relief as none of the appointees are 
sitting ministers, which is understood as a hard-won victory 
over President Lansana Conte's preferences. 
 
¶2.  (C) The new cabinet shows a relatively even ethnic 
balance among the new ministers, who are generally apolitical 
with no clear connections to the majority PUP or opposition 
parties.  There is representation from the labor unions and 
civil society, but a dearth of women (only three).  Our 
interlocutors have raised some concerns - three ministers 
coming from positions within the Central Bank, a leader of 
the "old guard" to head the Ministry of Defense, and a lack 
of demonstrated experience in key ministries (Foreign 
Affairs, Interior and Security).  However, the population is 
generally accepting of the appointments, albeit without 
enthusiasm, and will likely give the new ministers some time 
to prove themselves.  It is far from certain that this new 
government will succeed, given the magnitude of the problems 
facing Guinea, the lack of financial resources, and the 
probability that President Conte will still try to exert his 
authority to the detriment of good governance.  See para. 9 
for proposed press guidance.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
Prime Minister Inspires and Unifies in National Address 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Guineans in all regions anxiously awaited the 
national news the evening of March 28 as word got out that 
President Lansana Conte had finally signed a decree naming a 
new cabinet of ministers (reftel).  At 8:00 p.m. Prime 
Minister Lansana Kouyate went on the air.  Using, apparently 
for the first time in Guinea, a teleprompter that allowed him 
to look into the camera while speaking rather than looking 
down at a prepared text, the Prime Minister addressed the 
Guinean nation directly for the first time. (Note: This new 
technology was part of a USAID project to "wire" the 
government over the last couple of years.) 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In a short, focused, but broad-ranging address, the 
Prime Minister praised the people of Guinea, acknowledged the 
support of President Conte, and thanked the government, the 
unions, civil society, religious leaders, and political 
parties for their assistance.  He averred that the 
composition of the new government represents "great hope for 
the future of Guinea."  He expressed sympathy for the loss of 
lives, stating that "their blood will nourish the future." 
He listed the harsh realities of the "catastrophic situation" 
that the new government must face -- unemployment and 
underemployment, frustration of the youth, fiscal weakness 
and declining purchasing power, a lack of basic services like 
water, and the impunity and corruption that plagues the 
nation.  Kouyate said that he will need the help of all 
Guineans in his mission to make a radical break with Guinea's 
past. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Kouyate listed eight concrete priorities for his 
new government: 
 
-- consolidate national unity 
-- independent justice system 
-- youth employment 
-- restoration of the authority of the state 
-- macroeconomic stability 
-- mobilization of resources to secure water, electricity, 
and transportation 
-- dialogue among economic and social actors and political 
parties to strengthen the electoral process 
-- good governance 
 
CONAKRY 00000370  002 OF 005 
 
 
 
In closing, Kouyate emphasized justice and rule of law as the 
foundation for change and asked for discipline on the part of 
all Guineans.  "We must have confidence in ourselves and our 
national riches; without ideals we are a poor nation."  He 
asked all Guineans to contribute suggestions, critiques, and 
contributions for a way forward.  Kouyate thanked Conte for 
delegating a significant amount of his authority and assured 
his audience that "God is looking over Guinea."  An announcer 
then read the presidential decree appointing the new cabinet 
of ministers. 
 
---------------------- 
Guinea's New Ministers 
---------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C)  The Government of the Republic of Guinea, under the 
authority of the Prime Minister, head of government, is 
composed as follows: 
 
-- Ousmane Dore, Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning. 
A senior economist at the IMF's African Department and the 
IMF resident representative in Dakar as recently as 2006. 
Member of the U.N. Capital Development Fund's board of 
directors.  Dore, who is one of the only cabinet members from 
the Guinean diaspora, is returning to Guinea with significant 
international experience in finance and banking.  He is 
regarded as a capable technocrat to lead Guinea's efforts 
toward financial reform and is reportedly a proponent of 
Guinea's joining the CFA zone.  Dore is of mixed ethnic 
heritage, a Malinke from the Forest.  He is reportedly the 
nephew of opposition party leader and UPG President 
Jean-Marie Dore. 
 
-- Kabele Camara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, 
African Integration, and Guineans Abroad.  Camara is a 
prominent attorney trained in Senegal who was formerly at 
Guinea's Court of Appeals.  He has served as an attorney for 
controversial businessman Mamadou Sylla as well as for 
opposition leader Alpha Conde.  Camara is the former 
President of the Guinean Bar Association.  He was an early 
member of the executive bureau of the PUP and represented the 
party in the first National Assembly, but several years ago 
Conte pushed him out of the party.   Most recently, Camara 
was been an extremely engaged and vocal civil society leader. 
 He participated in the still-active civil-military committee 
organized last June following a USG-sponsored civil-military 
seminar.  During the strike, he publicly critiqued President 
Conte in several international media outlets.  Camara is 
married to the Embassy's FSN switchboard operator.  He is of 
the Soussou ethnic group. 
 
-- General Arafan Ousmane Camara, Minister of Defense. 
General Camara is formerly the Vice Chief of Defense Staff. 
He is one of the close circle of generals in control of 
Guinea's armed forces and was General Kerfalla Camara's 
deputy.  He is the only officer who was promoted from Major 
to General in less than five years and some believe that he 
was personally groomed by Conte as a possible successor. 
Camara was the commanding officer in the Forest Region during 
the 2000-2001 rebel attacks.  Many military officers, 
particularly the younger ones, do not support Camara because 
they see him as highly corrupt.  He was trained in Russia. 
He is a Malinke from Faranah. 
 
-- Mamadou Beau Keita, Minister of the Interior and Security. 
 Keita was formerly the Chief of Staff at the Ministry of 
Security and has been a part of the security apparatus for 
his entire career.  He is considered non-corrupt and a 
"straight talker" by other staff at the ministry and has 
crossed swords with those in powerful positions because he 
has refused to "play the game."  However, Keita has little 
experience in the work that will be required of him in 
managing this powerful ministry, which will cover not only 
internal security, but also territorial administration and 
the electoral process.  Keita holds a doctorate in 
criminology.  Born in 1957, he is a Malinke from Koroussa, 
the Prime Minister's hometown. 
 
-- Paulette Kourouma, Minister of Justice and Human Rights. 
Kourouma, a well-respected lawyer, was formerly the President 
of the Economic Chamber at the Court of Appeals in Conakry. 
She has also served as President of the Court of Appeals in 
Kankan and Conakry.  She studied in Guinea and is a Guerze 
from the Forest region. 
 
-- Saidou Diallo, Minister of Economic and Financial 
 
CONAKRY 00000370  003 OF 005 
 
 
Oversight, Ethics and Transparency.  Formerly Director 
General of the Guinean National Social Security system. 
Diallo is a former ambassador to Nigeria and Canada.  He was 
the director of the coordination of state-owned export 
enterprises under Sekou Toure.  He is an economist by 
training and was Vice Governor of the Central Bank during the 
1980s.  Diallo was one of the names put forward by unions as 
a candidate for Prime Minister. 
 
-- Ahmed Kante, Minister of Mines and Geology.  Kante was in 
charge of coordinating operations of the various regional 
branches of the Central Bank.  Kante is half Peuhl/half 
Malinke.  He comes from Labe. 
 
-- Goumou Gnanga Komata, Minister of Energy and Water. 
Formerly Counselor to the Governor at the Central Bank.  He 
is a Guerze from the Forest region. 
 
-- Mamoudou Camara, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, the 
Environment and Forestry Affairs.  Camara was formerly the 
Vice Director at the Ministry of Agriculture.  He was the 
Deputy Director of the Agricultural Research Institute. He 
went to school in Guinea and did advanced studies in Cuba. 
Camara has participated in an Embassy seminar on commercial 
issues.  He is married to a U.S. citizen and is a Soussou 
from Dubreka, Conte's home region. 
 
-- Mohammed Youla, Minister of Fishing and Aquaculture. 
Youla was the former National Director of the Budget and 
Chair of the Budgetary Peer Review Committee at the Ministry 
of Economy and Finance.  He has worked with the U.S. Treasury 
Advisor.  Ministry staff do not regard him highly with 
respect to his technical competencies, and some interlocutors 
suggest he is corrupt and known for embezzling funds.  He is 
a Soussou from Forecariah. 
 
-- Mamady Traore, Minister of Commerce, Industry, Tourism and 
Artisanal Industries.  Officially listed as the former 
Guinean ambassador to Mali, Traore was appointed as 
ambassador last December, but never left Guinea to assume 
this position.  Traore has served as Political Counselor for 
the last two Ministers of Foreign Affairs.  He served as 
Guinea's permanent representative to the United Nations in 
New York when Guinea was a member of the Security Council. 
He led the Guinean government's preparations for the first 
U.S.-Guinea bilateral consultations in March 2006 and is one 
of our key interlocutors at MFA.  Traore is a Malinke from 
Koroussa, the Prime Minister's hometown. 
 
-- Thierno Oumar Bah, Minister of Public Works, Urban 
Planning and Housing.  Bah worked for the NGO Shelter Africa. 
 
-- Boubacar Sow, Minister of Transportation.  Sow was 
formerly the Secretary General at the Ministry of 
Transportation.  He is not reported to be a close 
collaborator to former Minister of Transportation Keira.  Sow 
is a Peuhl from Mamou. 
 
-- Justin Morel, Jr., Minister of Communication and New 
Information Technologies.  Formerly worked with UNICEF in 
Guinea and then was promoted to international service, based 
in DRC.  Editor of on-line news magazine 
justinmoreljunior.net.  Morel served as the first director of 
the state-owned Guinean Radio and Television, but was fired 
for reportedly making recordings of performing artists and 
selling them without compensating the artists.  Morel 
participated in two International Visitor programs in the 
1980s.  He is a Soussou. 
 
-- Ousmane Souare, Minister of Education and Scientific 
Research.  Souare was formerly the Director of Scientific 
Research at the Ministry of Higher Education.  A labor union 
leader, member of USTG and a member of the Executive Bureau 
of the union coalition, Souare has participated in several 
Embassy-sponsored programs including a recent training on 
negotiation skills and conflict resolution.  He was a key 
contact during all three general strikes.  Souare is a close 
family relative to the former Minister of State for Education 
Ahmed Tidiane Souare.  He is a Peuhl from the town of Mali in 
northern Guinea. 
 
-- Baidy Aribot, Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports. 
Currently the Director of Currency Exchange at the Central 
Bank.  Aribot has a relaxed view on the misappropriation of 
funds and acknowledged that theft is rampant at the Central 
Bank (Conakry 299).  Aribot is Western-educated and is 
reportedly working on an executive training program in the 
 
CONAKRY 00000370  004 OF 005 
 
 
United States.  He is an avid student of the U.S. civil 
rights movement and has been a close contact of the Embassy. 
Aribot is a Soussou from Boffa. 
 
-- Maimouna Bah Sangare, Minister of Public Health.  Madame 
Sangare was formerly Director of Ignace Deen Hospital, the 
better equipped (but still substandard) of Conakry's public 
hospitals.  Sangare was instrumental in obtaining resources 
and foreign assistance for the hospital.  She is highly 
regarded by most Guineans and has access to President Conte 
through his close coterie.  Sangare studied in Algeria and is 
a Peuhl from Pita. 
 
-- Tete Nabe, Minister of Social, Women's and Children's 
Affairs.  Madame Nabe is a corporate leader and an 
influential women's leader dating back to the First Republic. 
 Nabe served as the Director General of Bonagui, the largest 
bottling company in Guinea, for at least 10 years.  She built 
the company from scratch, securing key international 
partnerships with Coca-Cola and other international 
companies.  She was ousted from the company in the 1990s for 
being too politically involved.  She is a Malinke from Kankan. 
 
-- Amadou Diallo, Minister of Labor, Civil Service, and 
Administrative Reform.  Diallo was formerly National Director 
of Road Maintenance.  He is the number two at CNTG, Guinea's 
largest labor union, and a member of the executive bureau of 
the labor coalition.  He is an electro-mechanical engineer by 
training and is a Peuhl from Boffa. 
 
-- Mamady Samb Soumah, Secretary General of the Presidency of 
the Republic.  Soumah was formerly in the National Office of 
Professional Training.  Soumah will now manage the daily 
administration of the Presidency.  He is a Soussou. 
 
-- Oury Bailo Bah, Secretary General of the Government.  This 
is the only cabinet position whose incumbent was not 
replaced.  Bah has been in this behind-the-scenes staff 
position for many years.  His retention is not expected to 
raise public concern. 
 
-- Mahmoud Cherif Nabaniou, Secretary General of Religious 
Affairs.  Cherif was formerly Guinea's ambassador to Saudi 
Arabia.  He is from the Soussou ethnic group. 
 
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Guineans Relieved and Will Now Wait and See 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) The appointment of a new government has allowed the 
country to breath a sigh of relief.  Prime Minister Kouyate's 
message resonated positively with the public; he deftly 
situated the appointments as just one component of the 
national effort that will be necessary to secure real change. 
 The ministerial roster has been met with a cautiously 
positive response.  Even opposition leader Sidya Toure told 
RFI that he was largely satisfied.  The cabinet has a 
relative ethnic balance (six Soussou, seven Peuhl, seven 
Malinke, and two Forestier -- both Guerze). Of concern to 
some, many of the new appointees have held prior senior 
government staff positions, although none were ministers, 
there are only three women named, and several incoming 
ministers lack significant experience. 
 
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Comment 
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¶8.  (C) Guineans are reading the new government make-up as a 
signal that Prime Minister Kouyate was able to manage his 
"Conte problem":  he succeeded in replacing the entire team, 
even those Conte was initially determined to keep.  That 
gives early hope that the Prime Minister will continue as he 
has begun and make progress in treating Guinea's ills. 
Guineans will now give him time -- but not very much time -- 
to begin meeting the rest of their demands and needs.  It is 
far from certain that this new government will succeed, given 
the magnitude of the problems facing Guinea, the lack of 
financial resources, and the probability that President Conte 
will still try to exert his authority to the detriment of 
good governance. 
 
----------------------- 
Proposed Press Guidance 
----------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) We suggest any press commentary be along the 
 
CONAKRY 00000370  005 OF 005 
 
 
following lines: 
 
The United States notes with satisfaction the appointment on 
March 28 of a new government of broad consensus in Guinea. 
We salute Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate's intention to 
include in his priorities such key objectives as an 
independent justice system, macroeconomic stability, 
political dialogue and good governance.  We look forward to 
working with him and his new team as they translate their 
strategy for a democratic, accountable and economically 
healthy Guinea into action. 
MCDONALD