Cablegate: Demarche to Au and Ecowas On Delay of Guinean

VZCZCXRO1802
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHC #9113 2381808
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261753Z AUG 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 9447
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0165
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 7963

UNCLAS STATE 089113

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AU GV KDEM NI PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO AU AND ECOWAS ON DELAY OF GUINEAN
ELECTIONS

REF: CONAKRY 487

Action Request
--------------
1. This is an action request for both Embassy Abuja and the
U.S. Mission to the AU. Please see paragraph 3.

Background: Guinean Elections Delayed
-------------------------------------
2. On August 17, the ruling military junta announced that
Guinea's legislative and presidential elections would be
delayed. Legislative elections had been scheduled for
October 11, the first round of the presidential elections
were scheduled for December 13, and the second round for
December 27. These dates were recommended to the ruling
junta by Les Forces Vives, an umbrella organization of
Guinean political parties, labor unions and other civil
society groups. The junta accepted this revised election
timetable in March. (Note: Prior to the December 23 coup
that followed former President Conte's death, national
elections had been scheduled for the end of May and much of
the preparatory work for those elections had been completed
by early 2009. End Note.)

3. On August 17, the Ad Hoc Committee on Elections created
by junta leader Captain Dadis Camara and composed of 22 civil
society leaders, government officials and junta members
publicly recommended pushing back national elections again.
Before a meeting of the invited press and diplomatic corps,
junta leader Captain Dadis Camara accepted a revised
timetable with the first round of the presidential elections
for January 31, the second round on February 14, and
legislative elections on March 26, 2010.

Demarche to AU/ECOWAS
---------------------
3. Embassy Abuja is requested to demarche AU/ECOWAS at the
highest appropriate level, drawing on the following points:

-- We are disappointed that Guinea's transition to democracy
has again been delayed.

-- For the sake of Guinea's stability, and that of the
region, credible, free, fair, and transparent elections must
be held as soon as possible.

-- We note that the international community has fulfilled its
obligation to fund the elections by committing over $20
million in support. Any remaining funding gap is the
responsibility of the Guinean government.

-- Our press statement of August 20 stressing these same
points drew consternation from the junta, but led Les Forces
Vives to publicize a similar reaction. We believe now is the
time for firm support from the international community for
the democracy agenda in Guinea.

-- We ask that AU/ECOWAS press the junta both in private,
during the upcoming International Contact Group for Guinea
(ICG-G) meeting in Conakry, and in a public statement. We
urge that AU/ECOWAS urge the junta to make the new election
dates official, commit firmly to meeting the new electoral
timetable, allocate the necessary $5-$6 million as soon as
possible and permit recognized regional and international
organizations to monitor the elections.

4. Slug responses for AF/W.
CLINTON

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