Cablegate: Guinean Government Halts Elections Preparations

VZCZCXRO8325
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1140 2851435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121435Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1753
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS CONAKRY 001140

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: GUINEAN GOVERNMENT HALTS ELECTIONS PREPARATIONS
UNTIL CENI IS ESTABLISHED

1. (SBU) The Minister of Interior and Security (MIS) has
decided to halt all preparations for legislative elections
until the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) is
operational. In a telephone conversation with poloff on
October 12, Elhadj Amadou Bailo Diallo, MIS Secretary
General, said that in order to ensure transparency, it is
essential that the CENI be fully on board before any further
elections preparations are undertaken. Diallo added that the
law requires that the CENI be involved in all elections
preparations and that any further government activity could
jeopardize perceptions of transparency.

2. (SBU) When asked about the current status of the CENI,
Diallo said that the according to the law, the organization
technically already exists since the 25 names have been
submitted. However, according to Diallo, there is some
internal government debate as to whether there must also be
an official decree, signed by President Lansana Conte,
legitimizing the organization. Diallo stated that everyone
will work together to find a solution and he believes that
the issue will be resolved in the next two weeks.

3. (SBU) Diallo added that the delay gives donor countries
such as the United States time to find additional funds to
assist with elections.

4. (SBU) COMMENT. Elections preparations seem to
increasingly hinge on the establishment of the CENI, a
process that has been slow and fraught with political
infighting. Expecting the issue to be resolved in a two-week
time frame may not be realistic given recent experience with
the process. Embassy will work with the international
community to determine an appropriate course of action in
order to move past this most recent holdup, which clearly
appears to be yet another delay tactic. END COMMENT.
BROKENSHIRE

© Scoop Media