VZCZCXRO8261
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1175/01 2971501
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241501Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1791
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 001175 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ECON GV
SUBJECT: TRIP REPORT - MIDDLE GUINEA VIEWS ON ELECTIONS AND 
THE GENERAL POLITICAL/ECONOMIC SITUATION 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  A four-day journey into Middle Guinea, home to 
approximately four million Guineans, revealed that this part 
of the country is generally willing to wait for elections in 
order to allow sufficient time to prepare the population and 
guarantee transparency.  People were more concerned about 
improving basic economic condition, which they saw as a more 
pressing need.  Despite assurances that the government, 
political parties and civil society are working well 
together, some divisions were apparent, notably between the 
ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) and the opposition 
political parties. 
 
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WATERSHED OF WEST AFRICA 
------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (U) During the week of October 15, poloff traveled to the 
regional capitals of Mamou and Labe in Middle Guinea to meet 
with recently appointed government officials and 
representatives from political parties, civil society and 
unions.  More than 85% of Middle Guinea,s approximately four 
million inhabitants are from the Peuhl ethnic group.  Middle 
Guinea is considered a significant watershed as it is home to 
the sources of two of West Africa,s major river systems as 
well as two hydroelectric dams supplying power to both Lower 
and Middle Guinea.  The region,s economy is largely 
agricultural and dominated by small family farms.  The 
regional capitals serve as economic hubs with approximately 
50% of commercial activity generated by small-scale merchants 
selling goods and services. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Meetings with government officials included: 
     - Elhadj Safioulaye Bah, Prefect of Mamou 
     - Bah Mamadou Saliou, Governor of Mamou 
     - Elhadj Ibrahima Bah, Prefect of Labe 
     - Elhadj Ibrahima Sory Diabate, Governor of Labe 
     - Elhadj Amadou Thiam, Mayor of Labe 
 
Other meetings included teachers, youth associations, union 
representatives, political party representatives, and 
government officials responsible for liaising with civil 
society.  Poloff also did press interviews with local printed 
press and national radio and television representatives in 
Labe. 
 
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RECONCILIATION AND COOPERATION 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In reference to the significant political unrest 
and destruction of public property that took place in Middle 
Guinea during the January/February strike, both government 
officials and other contacts were eager to assure poloff that 
peace has been restored and opposing groups have reconciled. 
The governor of Mamou emphasized that development cannot 
progress without peace in the country while the prefect of 
Mamou said that the population sincerely regrets the damage 
inflicted on government buildings and other infrastructure. 
Political parties and union representatives confirmed that 
there is a high degree of cooperation amongst themselves and 
with the government as they discuss the political situation, 
elections, and the path forward. 
 
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WE ARE WILLING TO WAIT FOR ELECTIONS 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) There was a general consensus among most contacts, 
both government and civilian alike, that no one is worried 
about delayed legislative elections.   The real issue here 
is not the elections,, the Governor of Mamou said,  but the 
underlying economic conditions.,  He added that people want 
elections, but they have to be convinced that they will be 
transparent and are therefore willing to wait for the 
appropriate mechanisms to be put into place in order to 
ensure that transparency.  Most contacts agreed that the 
government should focus on immediate economic needs and take 
the time it needs to guarantee free and fair elections. 
 
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GOVERNMENT NEUTRALITY IS CRITICAL 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Government and civilian contacts alike emphasized 
that it is critical that the government administration appear 
neutral for the elections.  Some were doubtful as to whether 
 
CONAKRY 00001175  002 OF 003 
 
 
the current administration could achieve that neutrality, 
pointing to the fact that only a handful of key government 
officials have actually changed while the rest, especially 
the government bureaucrats at the regional and local levels, 
remain the same.  A number expressed concern that these same 
government officials, who will largely be responsible for 
carrying out elections at the polling stations, are long-time 
supporters of the ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP). 
 
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POPULATION NOT PREPARED FOR ELECTIONS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The governors and prefects of Mamou and Labe said 
that Guinea lacks the democratic mentality necessary to 
participate in effective elections.  This comment was echoed 
by a number of civil society representatives who said that 
the average citizen is not prepared to vote.  A group of 
teachers told poloff  people don,t really know the 
difference between presidential and legislative elections, or 
a referendum.,  In addition, contacts pointed to the 
legacies of past elections that must be overcome in order to 
ensure transparent democratic participation.  They noted that 
many people may not understand that the results of these 
elections, unlike those of the past, are not pre-determined. 
In addition, many reportedly abstained from voting in 
previous elections for fear of being simultaneously 
registered to pay income taxes. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Although political parties have traditionally been 
responsible for educating voters before elections, several 
contacts suggested that civil society should take the lead 
this time around in order to avoid partisanship.  Political 
party representatives were less than enthusiastic about this 
suggestion although they welcomed cooperative efforts with 
civil society colleagues. 
 
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PEOPLE LIKELY TO VOTE BASED ON ETHNICITY 
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¶9.  (SBU) There was a general consensus among government and 
civilian contacts alike that people in Middle Guinea are 
likely to vote based on ethnicity.  The prefect of Mamou 
commented that since the parties do not have any clear 
platform or program, people will likely vote what they are 
familiar with.  Since most of the parties are organized 
according to ethnic background, contacts felt that the 
population would divide itself accordingly. 
 
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WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR MENTALITY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Government officials also discussed the need for a 
mentality shift within the government.  The prefect of Mamou 
said  when we talk about change, we are talking about 
changing our mentality.,  He added that there is a new 
dynamism and solidarity among people, even at the village 
level.   It was the poor comportment of political and 
judicial officials that gave birth to the revolt,, he said, 
adding that people will no longer tolerate poor governance. 
The Labe governor said that government officials need to 
adjust.   They simply don,t know how to govern and need 
training in order to implement better practices.,  However, 
the Labe governor also felt that it was not necessary to 
change all former government officials and likened the 
government system to a train )  We have a new engine in 
place, the rest will follow,, he said. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) The prefect of Mamou, Elhadj Bah, suggested that 
the current political set-up may be flawed.  He said that 
most political parties represent very small groups and really 
only function as long as their founder is involved and 
financing activities.  In addition, no parties have a clear 
program or agenda other than winning elections.  Bah added 
that this is one reason the unions have taken on a more 
political role.   The unions are supposed to defend 
workers,, he said, but instead are actively involved in 
politics.  However, the unions, political role is impeded by 
the fact that only political parties can participate in 
elections, according to Guinean law. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶12.  (SBU) Although contacts were eager to emphasize the 
degree of cooperation and communication between political 
parties, civil society and the government, divisions were 
 
CONAKRY 00001175  003 OF 003 
 
 
apparent.  The Mayor of Labe joined the meeting of political 
parties as the representative from the PUP.  He was initially 
hesitant to attend and then once there, contributed little to 
the discussion.  Every time he attempted to speak up, he was 
quickly overtaken by one of his opposition colleagues.  When 
poloff intervened to give him an opportunity to speak, 
opposition members joked that the  PUP is dead.,  In Mamou, 
the PUP representative said he would come, but then did not 
show up.  His opposition colleagues spoke even more harshly 
than those in Labe and said that they no longer need to 
consider the PUP because they no longer hold the power. 
Poloff encouraged parties to continue to work together and 
emphasized that a strong democracy provides for participation 
from all elements of society.  END COMMENT 
BROKENSHIRE