VZCZCXRO2052
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0742/01 3441634
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091634Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3197
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000742 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: CONAKRY GOVERNOR FOCUSED ON SECURITY AND SANITATION 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  The new governor of Conakry used a recent 
courtesy call by Poloff as an opportunity to bring in news 
crews and expound on his policy objectives over national 
television while creating a perception of a "close" 
connection to the U.S. Embassy.  A somewhat controversial 
appointment, the governor spoke at length about how he had 
helped resolve the recent spate of youth protests.  He 
highlighted his top priorities -- security and urban 
sanitation -- but offered very little in terms of a policy 
strategy for addressing these issues.  In the end, he 
requested U.S. Government assistance to help him realize his 
objectives.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On December 3, Poloff met with the new governor of 
Conakry, Soriba Sorel Camara, who had been appointed to his 
position by President Conte on October 14.  A prominent 
member of the ruling Party for Unity and Progress (PUP), 
Camara is a member of the party's executive bureau and 
responsible for representing youth interests.  He had 
previously served as a deputy to the National Assembly.  The 
mayor of Dixin (one of the five districts in Conakry), 
Yamoussa Yass Sylla, also joined the meeting.  Approximately 
ten minutes into the meeting, local press entered the room 
and proceeded to videotape the entire discussion. 
 
-------- 
PRESS OP 
-------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The governor seemed eager to receive Poloff, noting 
that the U.S. Embassy was the first diplomatic mission to 
visit his office since he had been appointed.  Once the press 
arrived on the scene, he used the opportunity to expound at 
length on what he characterized as his two most pressing 
priorities:  security and urban sanitation. 
 
------------------------ 
RESOLVING YOUTH PROTESTS 
------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Poloff noted that the series of protests in 
November followed almost immediately upon Camara's 
appointment (reftels), and asked how these events had 
affected the governor's initial days in office.  (COMMENT. 
During the protests, some contacts told Poloff that the 
governor's appointment was one of the reasons behind the 
demonstrations.  END COMMENT).  Camara explained that certain 
neighborhoods are particularly prone to protest activity, 
such as Ratoma, which is where the Embassy is located. 
According to the governor, these areas can erupt into 
violence because they are heavily populated with unemployed 
youths, and then the government traditionally responds with 
force that results in human rights abuses and deaths. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Camara said that the November protests were 
fundamentally different in that he and the new Minister of 
Security purposely agreed that the government would not 
intervene with force, but instead, would try to talk to 
youths and encourage non-violence.  "I saw that there were 
certain young intellectuals involved in the protests so I 
targeted our message toward these leaders, thinking that they 
could then influence others," CAMARA said.  According to the 
Governor, the youths came to his office for a meeting and 
told him that they felt abandoned and marginalized, and were 
tired of unfulfilled government promises.  "I concluded that 
the youth were mainly frustrated," he told Poloff. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Following this meeting, the Governor said he 
organized a large youth meeting at the stadium in Ratoma to 
encourage non-violence.  Along with the Minister of Security, 
Camara circulated through various neighborhoods to meet with 
youths and elders, emphasizing that violence would not solve 
any problems.  The Governor claimed that this strategy 
successfully brought the protests to an end. 
 
----------------------------------- 
THE GOOD POLICE ARE IN THE MILITARY 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Switching to the overall security situation in 
Conakry, Poloff noted that international and domestic 
contacts alike have been increasingly concerned about the 
apparent increase in crime.  Camara agreed, admitting that at 
least 60% of these crimes are perpetrated by individuals in 
military uniforms.  He added that the police have been 
largely ineffective in addressing crime because "the good 
police officers have been recruited into the military and the 
rest are not paid well and generally unarmed."  He added 
"they know who the bandits are, but they are afraid or 
 
CONAKRY 00000742  002 OF 002 
 
 
unwilling to act." 
 
----------------------------- 
ENCOURAGING VIGILANTE JUSTICE 
----------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) With cameras still rolling, Camara emphasized that 
addressing the security situation is one of his top 
priorities.  The Governor explained how he has been 
encouraging individual neighborhoods to establish civilian 
"watch groups" to help enforce order.  He mentioned that he 
had recently created a 1 million GnF ($208) reward for any 
civilian that turns in an armed bandit, adding that he had 
already handed out one such award. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
TWO MILLION PEOPLE AND ONE GARBAGE TRUCK 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Turning to his other top priority, urban 
sanitation, the Governor said that it is imperative to clean 
up the city of Conakry.  He said that the city generates 
approximately 1800 tons of garbage a day, but that the 
government is only capable of collecting between 1000 and 
1200 tons.  Camara pointed out that 85% of trash collection 
equipment is out of order, and that the city only owns one 
garbage truck that is still operational.  He added that the 
general lack of reliable power in the capital limits the 
city's ability to process the trash effectively, suggesting 
that most of it is simply burned. 
 
------------------------ 
A TRASHCAN IN EVERY HOME 
------------------------ 
 
¶10.  (SBU) The Governor repeatedly asked for donor assistance 
to help him address his two key priorities, security and 
sanitation.  On the security front, Camara said that police 
forces needed equipment and training.  With respect to 
sanitation, he asked for equipment.  Generally silent 
throughout the meeting, the Mayor of Dixin piped up on the 
sanitation issue and said "if you could just help us put one 
trashcan in every household in Conakry, you could really help 
us solve this problem." 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Although Poloff intended the meeting to be a basic 
courtesy call, the governor's political posturing and 
invitation to the press suggests that he had his own agenda. 
His appointment was considered somewhat controversial since 
he is perceived to be very close to President Conte and the 
ruling party, so he may have been seeking to reinforce his 
standing by broadcasting his "close" association with the 
U.S. Embassy.  When asked about his political vision, Camara 
spoke at length detailing all the problems, but had little to 
offer in terms of a policy strategy.  As has been the case 
all too frequently in recent months, the governor seemed 
mainly interested in seeing what the U.S. Government might be 
able to offer in terms of direct assistance.  END COMMENT. 
RASPOLIC