VZCZCXRO5050
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1287/01 3341227
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301227Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1924
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001287 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12598:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI GV
SUBJECT: NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE SERVES AS POLITICAL RALLY AND 
PHOTO OP FOR THE PRIME MINISTER 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (SBU) In celebration of Guinea's National Youth Day on November 
17, Prime Minster Lansana Kouyate traveled to Kindia and spent the 
day shaking hands with youth and delivering speeches.  Nine 
ministers, the press, and controversial millionaire and Conte-crony 
Mamadou Sylla accompanied him as he broke ground for a new stadium, 
inaugurated a cybercafe, and energized a crowd of over two thousand 
people in the main square.  The events served as the backdrop for 
numerous photo opportunities and television clips. END SUMMARY. 
 
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THERE AND BACK AGAIN 
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¶2.  (SBU) On Saturday November 17, Conoff traveled to Kindia to 
observe Guinea's National Youth Day celebrations and attend a prime 
ministerial visit to the city.  The Ministry of Youth organized the 
event with support from the International Organization on Migration, 
UNICEF, IFES and other organizations.  Approximately 2000 
participants, representing more than 53 different youth 
organizations, were on hand to greet the Prime Minister. 
Participants planned to follow up on the November 17 opening with 
discussions on such issues as civic education, professionalization 
of youth, and opportunities among youth groups for partnership and 
cooperation. 
 
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VIVE LE CHANGEMENT 
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¶3.  (SBU) At the ground-breaking ceremony for a new football 
stadium, Kouyate and an entourage of ministers, including the 
Minister of Youth and Culture, promised to boost employment in the 
region.  Kouyate announced that the GoG is establishing a youth 
fund, valued at approximately $2.4 million, which will provide 
training and develop employment opportunities.  The prime minister 
noted that President Lansana Conte contributed $476,000 to the fund 
while Libyan President Kaddafi added another $500,000 with the GoG 
and other partners providing the balance.  While the fund is an 
important first step, PM Kouyate cautioned that is not sufficient to 
satisfy the country's needs.  He noted that the fund will be used to 
finance youth-sponsored private initiatives and warned participants 
to manage the funds responsibly.  In closing, Kouyate affirmed his 
government's commitment to Guinea's youth. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Kouyate then addressed a large crowd in the main square in 
downtown Kindia.  Though most of the events and reactions appeared 
to be well-rehearsed - obligatory banners evoking the greatness of 
President Conte, an enthusiastic military band, and parades of 
school children filing past a platform of dignitaries - the crowd 
erupted in genuine applause when Kouyate promised improvements in 
water and electricity. At several points during his unscripted 
remarks, he underscored that change had come to Guinea, and reminded 
the crowd that he was the leader of the consensus government. 
 
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INCREASINGLY SCRIPTED 
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¶5.  (SBU) The government delegation then moved to the Youth House, 
where ministers sat on stage, facing a room full of youth leaders. 
Kouyate again received genuine applause, as did the Minister of 
Communication and the Minister of Education.  The Minister of Youth, 
who keynoted the event, received loud but obviously planned 
cheering.  Kouyate posed for more photos, and Radio Television 
Guinean filmed his prepared speech. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶6.  (SBU) DCM stopped in Kindia two days prior to the Prime 
Minister's visit and noted hundreds of school children and workers 
cleaning parks and sweeping streets.  The Prefet told DCM that the 
city's most pressing concerns were potable water and lack of 
electricity.  The governor's home and office had neither water nor 
electricity during DCM courtesy calls. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The youth conference, at least on the opening day, 
appeared to be more of a rally than a substantive event, while 
Kouyate's participation seemed like an extended photo op.  The Prime 
Minister and several other ministers seemed genuinely popular with 
the crowd; however, the main banner at the downtown rally read: 
"Vive le President, General Lansana Conte." Mamadou Sylla, 
self-described "richest man in Guinea" and a close business 
associate of Conte, participated as a member of Kouyate's official 
delegation. His attendance was surprising and might a closer 
relationship with Kouyate after possibly falling out with Conte. 
 
CONAKRY 00001287  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶8. While the event kickoff itself may have been more of a publicity 
stunt, positive youth reaction to the largesse by Conte and Kaddafi 
underscores the point that a Western, democratic idea of civil 
society has still not supplanted the patron-client model typical to 
West Africa.  The assembled youth did not protest Conte's "personal" 
donation of what was essentially money from the Guinean treasury; 
instead, they were ecstatic for the "gift," giving no thought to the 
sustainability or true source of the funding.  END COMMENT. 
 
CARTER