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DE RUEHMV #0105/01 0561705
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FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0077
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONROVIA 000105 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/25 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PINR LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: MANDINGO LEADER AND FORMER WARLORD ALHAJI KROMAH ON 
POLITICS AND THE TRC 
 
REF: 10 MONROVIA 164 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B), 
(D) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY. In a meeting with Ambassador on February 17, Alhaji 
G.V. Kromah, leader of the United Liberation Movement in Liberia 
for Democracy - Kromah (ULIMO-K) faction during Liberia's civil 
war, offered some criticisms of President Sirleaf's political 
decisions, while indicating a willingness to join the Sirleaf 
government if asked.  Kromah, who is recommended for prosecution in 
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report, contended 
that the TRC process was questionable and challenged the integrity 
of the final report. He also stressed the influence that USG 
representatives continue to hold among Liberia's politicians and 
people.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
THOUGHTS ON SIRLEAF'S DECISION TO RUN IN 2011 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2. (C) Former ULIMO-K faction leader, All Liberia Coalition Party 
(ALCOP) standard bearer, 1997 and 2005 ALCOP presidential 
candidate, and 2009 ALCOP Senatorial candidate in the Montserrado 
by-election Alhaji G.V. Kromah called on the Ambassador on February 
¶17.  When the Ambassador asked about Liberian President Ellen 
Johnson Sirleaf's recent decision to contest the 2011 presidential 
election (reftel), Kromah responded that he would be "quiet until 
it was necessary to talk."  He did, however, admit that Sirleaf's 
announcing her intent to seek re-election during her January 25 
annual message to the legislature was not a violation of the law 
because her decision is an integral part of the country's political 
agenda. 
 
 
 
KROMAH CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT'S CHOICES.... 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
 
 
¶3. (C) Kromah asserted that 2011 would truly be Liberia's first 
real election, but he wants to know what is next on the president's 
agenda.  Sirleaf has the opportunity to lay out an agenda for her 
next term, but she is overwhelmed by the task of running the 
country -- "too many priorities, so no priority."  In Kromah's 
view, the president is "afraid" of everyone in Liberia, which 
explains the large number of Liberian diasporans brought into her 
administration from abroad.  These officials, who had little to no 
role in the civil conflict and were perceived as untainted, are now 
being knocked out of government by Sirleaf for corruption.  Kromah 
said this is a vote of no confidence in the president's judgment. 
 
 
 
¶4. (C) Kromah asked the Ambassador to encourage President Sirleaf 
to strengthen her cabinet by adding more Liberians who remained 
in-country during the conflict years.  He asserted that National 
Security Advisor (NSA) H. Boima Fahnbulleh is underutilized and 
would make an excellent Minister of Foreign Affairs.  Kromah also 
called Dominic Tarpeh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the 
University of Liberia, a man of substance who could be put to use 
in government. 
 
 
 
...BUT STILL WILLING TO HELP 
 
---------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶5.  (C) When asked about his rumored candidacy for the vacant 
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism position, Kromah 
admitted that he had not yet been approached, but would accept if 
asked and believed the Senate would confirm him quickly.  (NOTE: 
The president's office announced the appointment of Cletus Sieh as 
the new minister on February 25.  END NOTE.)  Kromah cited up to 15 
legislators as his former law students at the University of 
Liberia, including Grand Cape Mount County Senator Abel M. Massalay 
and Grand Kru County Senator Blamo Nelson.  Kromah is, he said, 
ultimately prepared to be on the president's team.  Sirleaf is a 
distant cousin and he thinks highly of her.  The two meet 
 
 
regularly, according to Kromah, despite their political 
differences.  In fact, Kromah said, he threw his majority-Muslim 
Mandingo ethnic group's support behind ruling Unity Party candidate 
Clemenceau Urey in the November 2009 Montserrado County by-election 
run off because President Sirleaf promised to make Ramadan a 
national holiday.  He also traveled with the President on her last 
trip to Libya. 
 
 
 
VIEWS ON THE TRC'S RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶6. (C) When asked about the TRC's recommendations, Kromah said that 
he believes they are unenforceable and only the National Elections 
Commission (NEC) can decide whether or not individuals are eligible 
to run for public office.  (NOTE.  Despite several complaints to 
the NEC, the Commission ruled that Kromah could run in the recent 
Senatorial by-election even though he was listed in the TRC report. 
END NOTE.) The TRC, Kromah thinks, did not follow due legal process 
and the integrity of the final report is questionable, in light of 
the public, dissenting statements among the TRC Commissioners 
regarding the intent of the report.  Kromah questions the fact that 
certain people were not named in the report despite their past 
roles in Liberia's civil conflict, specifically NSA Fahnbulleh, 
Liberty Party Standard Bearer Charles Brumskine and Governance 
Commission chair Amos Sawyer.  Kromah suggested the absence of the 
aforementioned invididuals may be due to their influence over TRC 
commissioners.  He noted TRC Chairman Jerome Verdier as a protege 
of Brumskine, and Commissioner Massa Washington as a protege of 
Sawyer. 
 
 
 
¶7. (C) Regarding reconciliation, Kromah said that most of those 
indicted by the TRC report had apologized for their actions, but 
there is still a need to hold a "palaver hut" process in each 
county if the country is to move forward. (NOTE.  Kromah is one of 
eight Liberians recommended for prosecution for human rights 
violations in the TRC report.  End Note.) 
 
 
 
BACK TO WAR? 
 
------------ 
 
 
 
¶7. (C) The Ambassador then asked Kromah if the country could go 
back to war.  Kromah's response was vague, but he stressed the 
important role played by the U.S. in Liberia and that all overtures 
and nuances from USG officials and international partners send loud 
messages to the Liberian people. 
 
 
 
COMMENT 
 
------- 
 
 
 
¶8. (C) President Sirleaf is likely courting Kromah because of his 
considerable influence over the Muslim-majority Mandingo ethnic 
group, one of Liberia's most cohesive communities.  We are not 
aware of any familial ties between Sirleaf and Kromah, either by 
blood or marriage.  By describing her as his "cousin," he is likely 
referring to their common roots in Bomi County and their common 
cause against Charles Taylor.  Lawyer by training, journalist by 
profession and warlord by experience, Kromah is a complex 
personality, one of many once decent people who were rendered evil 
by the war.  That President Sirleaf, and even we, have to continue 
to deal with these people demonstrates the fragile state of 
Liberia's reconciliation. 
ROBINSON