VZCZCXRO7265
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0082 1000759
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 090759Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2377
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000082 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV ASEC GV
SUBJECT: MARKET WOMEN READY TO TAKE TO THE STREETS 
 
REF: CONAKRY 0080 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  Econ LES recently canvassed a number of 
Conakry's market women on the current economic situation and 
possible peaceful demonstrations (reftel).  Angry and 
frustrated, the women complained about rising food prices and 
their inability to make ends meet.  All of them independently 
said that they are ready to join in any protest, regardless 
of who organizes it or for what purpose, although they said 
they were not aware of any demonstrations planned for the 
next few days.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Econ LES spent the afternoon of April 8 wandering 
through four of Conakry's major open air food markets, which 
house thousands of stalls run primarily by women.  LES spoke 
to between 30 and 40 vendors. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) LES said that all of the women, with no exceptions, 
were ready to take to the streets to protest current economic 
conditions.  Several reportedly said that they are just 
waiting for a demonstration to get rolling so that they can 
join in.  These women did not seem to care who actually 
organizes a protest, but were sure that they would support 
it.  Questions about rising commodity prices and the general 
economic situation generated "hot responses" as women angrily 
expressed their frustration and increasing desperation.  One 
woman who was sitting with her young child said "this is my 
child; if a protest started over there right now, I would 
leave my child here and join the demonstration." 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Rising commodity prices were a significant concern. 
 Several women pointed out that a 50 kilo bag of rice is now 
selling for more than 180,000 GnF ($41) when it was only 
150,000 GnF ($34) a few weeks ago.  Many vendors reported 
that sales are down because people are reducing consumption 
due to the higher prices.  Women also said that they have 
been forced to reduce their overall stock supply since they 
cannot afford to buy as many bags of rice, for example, as 
they could before.  Others said that the availability of 
certain goods is decreasing, with fish becoming extremely 
difficult to find.  (NOTE. Fish is a staple good since meat 
is generally a luxury for many Guineans.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Several women said that food prices are not the 
only thing going up.  One said that she is having a hard time 
affording her daily transportation to the market due to 
increased fuel prices.  Another said that landlords have 
raised the fee for renting a market stall.  She said that she 
had to pay 400,000 GnF ($91) in taxes to the government at 
the beginning of the year and she is now paying 250,000 GnF 
($57) per month to actually rent the stall, although she did 
not specify how much she was paying before. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Complaining about her general quality of life and 
economic frustration, one young widow said: "I am trying to 
feed my children and pay my rent on my own.  I can't afford 
it anymore.  I have no trust in this government.  Only God 
can help Guinea now." 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶7.  (SBU) The sentiments of Guinea's market women serve as a 
useful indicator of the overall level of economic 
frustration.  It was the women from the Conakry Medina Market 
who in 1977, demonstrated against the Sekou Toure regime, 
sparking riots and violence throughout the country.  As in 
much of the rest of the developing world, rising 
international commodity prices are squeezing already 
impoverished populations to do more with less.  Guinea's 
political troubles do not seem to be a major issue for 
Conakry's market women.  They are more concerned about making 
ends meet and taking care of their families, and they are 
frustrated because it is becoming increasingly difficult to 
do that.  END COMMENT. 
CARTER