VZCZCXRO5385
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHC #7514/01 3481424
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141423Z DEC 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU PRIORITY 9265
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY PRIORITY 2701
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8480
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0197
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 9065
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE// PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 127514 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2014 
TAGS: GV PGOV PHUM PINR PREL UV
SUBJECT: AF A/S CARSON CONVERSATION WITH BLAISE COMPAORE 
 
Classified By: AF A/S Johnnie Carson for reasons 1.4 (b and d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  On December 9, 2009 (10AM), Assistant 
Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson called Burkinabe 
President and ECOWAS/AU mediator Blaise Compaore to discuss 
the political impasse in Guinea.  During the conversation, 
Carson stressed the opportunity presented by Defense Minister 
Sekouba Konate,s temporary stewardship of the Guinean 
government to facilitate Guinea,s transition to democracy. 
He urged Compaore to play a leadership role in resolving the 
conflict by encouraging the Government of Morocco (GOM) to 
offer Camara asylum, persuading the junta to accept an ECOWAS 
observation mission, working with Konate to establish a 
broad-based transitional government, and setting a timetable 
for elections.  In response, Compaore said he supported the 
Assistant Secretary,s suggestions, stressed that the role of 
the military will be important in any transitional 
government, and expressed concerns about ethnic divisions in 
Guinea.  Compaore offered a revised proposal for the 
transitional government for Carson,s review and suggested 
that he looked forward to discussing details of the proposal 
during his meeting with DAS Fitzgerald this weekend.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) Assistant Secretary Carson called President Compaore 
in his role as ECOWAS/AU mediator to discuss the political 
impasse in Guinea.  Carson told Compaore that the 
international community is looking to him to play a 
leadership role in resolving the conflict, and noted that the 
December 3 assassination attempt on Captain Dadis Camara and 
his subsequent departure to Morocco presents an opportunity 
for Compaore to resolve the situation.  Camara has been an 
obstacle to Guinea,s transition to democracy and his refusal 
to step down has delayed progress on the negotiations. 
Defense Minister Konate,s temporary stewardship of the 
Guinean government presents Compaore with the opportunity to 
move towards a transitional government and usher in elections 
and democracy.  Carson noted U.S. efforts to encourage the 
GOM to allow Camara to stay in Morocco indefinitely as the 
best option for both Camara and Guinea.  The GOM has said it 
could not force Camara to stay and would abide by Camara,s 
wishes. 
 
¶3.  (C) Carson then suggested that Compaore,s leadership 
will be critical to achieving four important objectives over 
the next several weeks.  First, Compaore should encourage the 
Moroccans to offer Camara safe haven so that he does not 
remain an obstacle to resolving the situation in Guinea. 
Second, he should persuade the Guinean leadership to allow a 
small contingent of 25-40 ECOWAS political and military 
observers into Guinea, which would serve as the eyes and ears 
of ECOWAS on the ground, rather than as peacekeepers.  Carson 
noted that these observers would also reassure civil society 
that ECOWAS is watching and serve as an early warning and 
deterrent to negative actors.  Third, Compaore should work to 
prepare the junta for a broad-based transitional government 
that includes all regions, ethnicities, and civilians.  This 
transitional government would provide the framework to 
transition towards a democratic government.  Finally, 
Compaore should lead efforts to establish a realistic 
timetable for elections that lends credibility to the 
transitional government and encourages outsiders to support 
the transition and its outcomes.  Carson reiterated USG 
support and commitment to helping the Guinean people achieve 
democracy in their country and asked Compaore for his views 
on the situation. 
 
¶4.    (C) Compaore responded by thanking the Assistant 
Secretary for continued USG support and agreed that the 
objectives laid out by Carson are the path to reconciliation 
and peaceful elections in Guinea.  Compaore suggested that 
restarting the dialogue among the parties is the most urgent 
priority and that he is committed to reaching out to the 
parties to urge them to resume negotiations.  He mentioned 
his previously drafted proposal which was rejected by 
Guinea,s opposition leaders) offering a solution to the 
crisis and suggested that he is now redrafting the proposal 
to incorporate a leadership role for faith-based 
organizations and a more prominent role for the military.  He 
stressed that the military must be part of any solution in 
Guinea and cannot be completely excluded.  Compaore went on 
to say he agrees that engaging Konate is critical and with 
the need to persuade the GOM to allow Camara to stay in 
 
STATE 00127514  002 OF 002 
 
 
Morocco for as long as possible. 
 
¶5.    (C) Compaore then raised the issue of ethnic divisions 
in Guinean politics and expressed concern that Konate may be 
undermined by the fact that he is Malinke, the same ethnicity 
as Toumba, Camara,s Aide de Camp and alleged shooter 
(COMMENT.  Toumba is Malinke but has also has deep roots in 
the Forest Region.  END COMMENT).  As a result, the situation 
must be handled with care.  He lamented the absence of the 
Nigerian President and the lack of support from Sierra Leone 
and Liberia and asked Carson to review his proposal and offer 
comments. 
 
¶6.   (C) Carson agreed that the situation is sensitive and 
complex but that the ethnic divisions underscore the 
importance of including all ethnic and regional groups in a 
broad-based transitional government.  Carson addressed 
Compaore,s point on the role of the military by asserting 
that while the military has a role to play, it cannot be 
allowed to undermine progress towards a civilian, democratic 
government.  Carson said he would be happy to review 
Compaore,s proposal and asked him to pass it to the U.S. 
Embassy in Ouagadougou or the Burkinabe Embassy in 
Washington.  He then mentioned that Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Bill Fitzgerald will travel to Ouagadougou this 
weekend and looks forward to meeting with Compaore.  Carson 
concluded by stating his support for efforts to include 
faith-based organizations along with civilian and military 
participation in a broad-based government.  Compaore noted 
that he looked forward to discussing his proposal with DAS 
Fitzgerald in more detail during their meeting this weekend. 
 
¶7.  (U) State Minimize Considered. 
CLINTON