VZCZCXRO2571
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0474/01 2261215
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141215Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3924
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000474 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL ASEC GV
SUBJECT: NEW PNR POLITICAL PARTY HIGHLIGHTS CNDD'S SUCCESSES 
 
REF: CONAKRY 0424 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  Following up on rumors of a new pro-CNDD 
political party (reftel), A/DCM met with representatives of 
the recently created PNR.  Although the party seemed to be 
careful about identifying itself too closely with the CNDD, 
representatives' generally positive view of the CNDD's 
accomplishments to date suggest hidden linkages.  Like most 
of Guinea's other 85 plus political parties, the PNR had 
difficulty defining its political platform and likely 
overestimates its constituency.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Four members of one of Guinea's newest political 
parties, the Party for National Renewal (PNR), met with A/DCM 
on August 10.  Just a few weeks ago, the party was the 
subject of much speculation because of its apparent links to 
the CNDD (reftel).  At the time, it was rumored that the PNR 
would be headed by the Minister of State for Urban Planning, 
Boubacar Barry, who is a member of the CNDD and close 
personal friend of CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara. 
 
--------------------- 
A PARTY OF THE PEOPLE 
--------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) According to Maitre Mody Oumar Barry (lawyer), the 
Secretary General of the PNR, the entire executive bureau was 
elected by party supporters.  Referring to the fact that most 
of Guinea's political parties are associated with a specific 
political personality, Barry emphasized that the PNR is a 
movement of the people rather than any one individual.  When 
asked if the party had a candidate in mind for the 
presidential election, Barry explained that the only way the 
PNR will select a candidate is through an election by the 
General Assembly of the Party. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Barry claimed to enjoy widespread youth support. 
At one point, one of his colleagues said that "70% of 
Conakry's youth support the PNR."  Barry described the 
creation of the party as the brainchild of young 
intellectuals who recognized that none of Guinea's 85 plus 
political parties represented their interests, so they 
decided to create a new party to better respond to "popular 
expectations."  (COMMENT.  None of the four party 
representatives appeared to be under the age of 35, possibly 
¶40.  END COMMENT).  Party representatives found it difficult 
to estimate the extent of the party's support, although they 
noted that General Assembly meetings routinely attract 300 
plus participants. 
 
------------------------ 
A "CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE" 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) When asked about the party's political agenda, 
Barry said the PNR wants to present itself as a "credible 
alternative" to the transition.  However, it was difficult 
for him to articulate just what that alternative would be 
except that it would be fundamentally different from the 
Toure and Conte regimes.  Barry described the party's 
platform as socio-democratic, noting that they support a 
balance between a collective redistribution of wealth and the 
need for private enterprise. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) At several points in the discussion, party members 
emphasized that the PNR stands for national renewal, which 
seemed to be defined as essentially starting over.  One 
member focused on the need for national reconciliation 
because of the significant and extensive human rights abuses 
committed under Sekou Toure and Lansana Conte.  "We are 
talking about the system that will be put in place after the 
military steps down...renewal does not apply to the current 
system...it refers to the future governance of Guinea," the 
SG Barry said.  Again, he could not define what that future 
governance would look like. 
 
--------------------------- 
ELECTION DATE NOT IMPORTANT 
--------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) On the question of elections, party representatives 
were largely unconcerned about the date.  Barry emphasized 
that it is more important to have good elections than to have 
elections just to have elections.  "I can't really say 
whether we are talking about 2009 or 2010; I have to see the 
whole picture," he said.  However, he did note that it is 
important to have elections in order to "normalize the 
political situation." 
 
 
CONAKRY 00000474  002 OF 002 
 
 
--------------------------- 
POSITIVE MARKS FOR THE CNDD 
--------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) When it came to questions about governance under 
the CNDD, Barry said that the CNDD's performance on a whole 
has been generally positive.  "There have been a few 
mistakes, but no government is perfect."  Topping the CNDD's 
list of achievements, Barry mentioned avoidance of civil war 
(due to problems with the constitutional process) and efforts 
to combat narcotics and corruption.  "If we are objective, we 
have to admit that it is difficult to do anything with 
respect to development when you don't have any money," Barry 
commented. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) On the security front, Barry said the situation is 
still difficult, but there have been marked improvements.  He 
then made a case for the international community to begin 
implementing security sector reforms before the elections 
take place.  "I am not saying that we need to finish the 
military reform program, but we should certainly get it 
started if we want to avoid another coup d'etat," Barry said. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Like most other Guinean political parties, the PNR 
claims to have been created to fill a void, but has 
difficulty articulating a concrete political agenda.  To be 
fair, Barry did say the party is in the process of drafting 
its program, but it would be reasonable to expect at least a 
rough description of what the PNR hopes to accomplish.  It is 
likely that the PNR is also overestimating its current 
constituency.  Many of the Embassy's youth contacts are quick 
to criticize the CNDD, which is inconsistent with the PNR's 
apparent position. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Earlier rumors of PNR links to the CNDD largely 
seem to have been based on the presumption that the party 
would be led by a CNDD member.  However, the party has either 
abandoned that plan or never intended to bring in a CNDD 
member.  At the same time, it is clear that the PNR may not 
be directly supporting the CNDD, but it certainly is not 
criticizing it.  Barry's views on the "positive" 
accomplishments of the CNDD sound suspiciously similar to 
those of pro-government parties under the Conte regime.  END 
COMMENT. 
BROKENSHIRE