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Africa Subsaharan

Opposition Protesters Barricade Streets in Guinea

2013-11-17

[An Nahar] Anti-government demonstrators barricaded roads and threw stones in Guinea's capital on Saturday in protest at a Supreme Court ruling handing September's controversial elections to the president's governing party. Groups of protesters chanting "No to the electoral stitch-up" and "Death to the Supreme Court" burned tyres, overturned bins and stopped traffic on the main road into central Conakry, forcing traders to close their shops, an Agence La Belle France Presse news hound saw. Riot police were deployed in large numbers to trouble spots across the city but there had been no major festivities with protesters and no reports of serious injuries by midday. The court confirmed the results late on Friday of parliamentary elections that handed power to President Alpha Conde's party, rejecting a challenge by his rivals. Provisional results published on October 18 had given Conde's Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) party 53 seats in the national assembly. The outcome gave the RPG together with its allies an absolute majority in the 114-member parliament. But the September 28 polls have come under heavy criticism from opposition parties, which won a total of 53 seats. The opposition coalition alleged "massive fraud", claiming the polls were marred by irregularities including ballot stuffing, voter intimidation and minors casting votes. International observers also said serious flaws had affected the credibility of the vote. Opposition leaders were due to meet Saturday to decide how to proceed after the Supreme Court's ruling. In 2010 Conde became the first democratically elected president of the west African country, which has a long history of political and military turmoil and bloody crackdowns on protesters. Legislative elections should have taken place within six months of his inauguration in December 2010. But they were pushed back, with opposing factions unable to agree on conditions for the elections, leaving the role of parliament to be played by an unelected National Transitional Council. The last parliamentary elections in Guinea took place in June 2002 during the dictatorship of General Lansana Conte, who died in December 2008 after 24 years in power.

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Africa Subsaharan

Guinea president's residence attacked

2011-07-20

[Al Jazeera] An attack on the residence of Guinean President Alpha Conde has left at least one person dead, but the president managed to escape without injury, officials said. Quoting a presidential source and eyewitnesses, the Rooters news agency said heavily armed assailants attacked Conde's residence at around 1:30am local time on Tuesday. "The president was there, but he is safe and sound," said the presidency source, adding there had been substantial damage to the residence in a suburb of Conakry, the capital, from gunfire and rocket launchers. In a televised address to the nation hours later, Conde said: "My house was attacked last night, but I congratulate the presidential guard who fought heroically from 3.10am until 5am (local and GMT) before backup arrived." Conde tried to reassure the population that he was still in control and that attempts to undermine his plans for reform would fail. "Our enemies can try everything, but they cannot prevent the Guinean people's march towards democracy," he said. "Democracy has begun and it will continue. I promised you change and, God willing, change will happen." Taxi drivers said on Tuesday the red-beret presidential guard had blocked the bridge that is the only way to enter the thin peninsula that leads into downtown Conakry. Residents in the Kaporo Rail neighbourhood said the shooting erupted as they were sleeping and continued until dawn. The heaviest fighting appeared to be coming from near the walled compound where Conde lives - the same three-story home that served as his base when he was the head of the country's opposition. The attack left the presidential building riddled with bullet holes and the main gate was blown out with a rocket launcher, Rooters reported. Neither the presidential source nor a second source close to the presidency said they had any information on who the attackers were, according Rooters. Conde came to power in the world's largest exporter of the aluminium ore bauxite last December in what was the first free election in the West African country since independence from La Belle France half a century before. Guinea has a long history of coups and attempted coups, the last coming in December 2008 when a young army officer, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, seized power after the death of Lansana Conte, who had been in power 24 years.

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Africa Subsaharan

Guinea junta vows to hold elections soon

2009-12-24

[Iran Press TV Latest] Guinea's interim leader General Sekouba Konate has announced that the country will hold democratic elections as soon as possible. The announcement came on Wednesday after the United States and France criticized the regime of Captain Moussa Dadis Camara following a government massacre at an opposition rally on September 28. On Monday, a UN investigative committee found Camara and two of his former aids directly responsible for the murder of 156 people as well as the systematic rape and sexual mutilation of over a hundred girls and women. "My dear brothers in arms, today our concern, for everybody, remains to lead (the nation) at the earliest possible date... to elections, the first free and democratic elections in our history," declared Konate addressing soldiers one year after Guinea's junta seized power following the death of long-standing leader Lansana Conte. "That is the concern of the Guinean people, that is our mission. Nothing and nobody... can distract or distance us from this ideal. This is the place and the time to reaffirm with force our desire, mine and that of my companions, to help the Guinean people choose their leaders through free and democratic elections," added Konate. Camara is recuperating from gunshot wounds he sustained during an assassination attempt on December 3, and has not been seen since. Sources say that he is expected to fully recover from the injuries and plans on returning to Guinea. On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned that Camara's return to Guinea could lead to a 'civil war' in the west African nation. December 23 marks the anniversary of the junta's one year in power which is now haunted by charges of crimes against humanity. The European Union imposed harsh sanction against the junta government on Tuesday by freezing assets of its members and banning shipment of equipment that could be used for state repression.

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Africa Subsaharan

UN finds Camara responsible for Guinea massacre

2009-12-22

[Iran Press TV Latest] The UN has determined that Guinea's junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara is directly responsible for the September 28 massacre at an opposition rally. "The commission considers there are sufficient grounds for presuming direct criminal responsibility by President Moussa Dadis Camara," Le Monde's website said, quoting the report delivered to the UN Security Council. Camara's former colleagues Claude Pivi and Lieutenant Aboubacar "Toumba" Diakite who attempted to assassinate him on December 3rd, were among others held responsibly by the UN commission. Camara and the junta under his command took control of the West African country following the former dictator president Lansana Conte's death on December 22. Camara had initially promised to quickly organize elections, in which he would not contest, but then reversed course and began hinting that he planned to run for office, prompting a massive protest on September 28, during which the massacre took place. The International Criminal Court was asked by the UN to charge Camara and his aids for mass killings, rape and sexual mutilation of opposition supporters, Le Monde said. Camara is currently in Morocco where he was flown to receive treatment for gun-shot wounds afflicted by Lt. Diakite.

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Africa Subsaharan

Guinea coup leader in Morocco after attempted hit

2009-12-05

[Iran Press TV Latest] Guinea's junta chief Captain Moussa Dadis Camara has arrived in Rabat, Morocco to receive medical treatment for a gunshot wound. Camara was wounded on Thursday in an assassination attempt by Abubakar "Toumba" Diakite, who commands the presidential guard, Moroccan authorities said. "No bullet penetrated the president's body. There was just a graze on the head," Communications Minister Idrissa Cherif said of the attack in Conakry late on Thursday. Camara's flight for treatment in Morocco's main military hospital also has many people questioning his future, with many saying that he may not return to Guinea and take exile instead. "If he leaves the country, that would be it for him," said a diplomat in Guinea. The once faceless serviceman and the junta under his command took control of the West African country following the former dictator president Lansana Conte's death on December 22. Camara had initially promised to quickly organize elections, in which he wouldn't contest, but then reversed course and began hinting that he planned to run for office, prompting a massive protest September 28. The military opened fire on the peaceful demonstrators, who had gathered inside the capital's national stadium. Human rights groups say at least 157 people were killed, while the government put the death toll at just 57.

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Africa Subsaharan

Guinean soldiers accused of human rights abuses

2009-04-28

[Mail and Globe] Guinea's new military junta must rein in soldiers who have carried out armed robbery, extortion and rape since the new government took power in a December coup, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report on Monday. According to witnesses quoted in the report, heavily armed soldiers haved raided offices, shops, clinics and homes in broad daylight. At night they have stolen cars, computers, cash and jewellery -- and threatened judges to try to influence rulings. Guinean army captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power in the world's biggest bauxite exporter in December after the death of long-standing leader Lansana Conte. Camara's National Council for Development and Democracy (CNDD) junta, which vowed to end corruption and restore the rule of law, was broadly welcomed at first but increasingly erratic behaviour by its leaders have fomented concerns of instability. "The coup seems to have opened up a rash of abuses by the military; the impunity enjoyed by these soldiers must come to an end," said Corinne Dufka, HRW's senior West Africa researcher. "The coup leaders need to bring the rank and file under control, and ensure those responsible for these abuses are promptly investigated and prosecuted," she said. HRW said most of the abuses were carried out under the pretext of a crackdown on drug trafficking, counterfeit medicines and corruption. Soldiers targeted neighbours of suspected criminals and Guinean and foreign businessmen. HRW said military personnel it had interviewed suggested individuals posing as soldiers had carried out the crimes. Victims said they saw stolen goods on sale in a store just outside the main Alpha Yaha military camp and that army personnel had been seen driving seized vehicles round Conakry.

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Africa Subsaharan

Guinean military junta names banker as prime minister

2008-12-31

(Xinhua) -- Guinea's ruling military junta on Tuesday named banker Kabine Komara as the country's prime minister on Tuesday, according to agencies' report. The National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), which seized power last week after a coup, announced Komara's appointment in a statement. The new nominee, a Guinean national, is a director of the Cairo-based African Export-Import Bank. A military junta led by Moussa Camara seized power in Guinea following the death of President Lansana Conte. Camara has claimed himself the president of the Republic and his 32-member CNDD has become the de facto ruling body of the country. The nomination was the latest step in a series by the CNDD to consolidate power since the Dec. 23 coup. Camara had previously named Kelety Faro the "secretary general minister for the presidency of the Republic" and Mamadouba Toto Camara the "minister of security and civilian protection." Meanwhile, the country's 20 or so army generals were demoted for allegiance to Conte. On the list of retirement were army chiefof staff Diarra Camara and the heads of the army, navy and air force. Among other bold steps taken by the week-long CNDD were a "grandiose funeral" for Conte, a dusk-to-morning curfew, a political consultation at the Alpha Yaya Diallo barracks and the suspension of all mining contracts for renegotiation. According to reports from Conakry, the capital of Guinea, the CNDD also plans hold an international meeting this week to clarify its policy. However, the military junta's rule is criticized internationally. After the coup, the African Union has suspended Guinea's membership to press for the return to constitutional order, while the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS)has voiced zero tolerance for the coup in Guinea. But the ECOWAS also said it "remains engaged with" the CNDD to "bring about short transition" without "military face." It said the ECOWAS delegation in Guinea found that the country was calm, recommending continued peace and security "so that the people of Guinea do not suffer" from violence, killing and harassment. The CNDD, with 26 military and six civilian members, has pledged to organize "credible and transparent elections by the end of December 2010." This pledge hasn't met the requirements of those countries or international groups which were opposed to the coup. The European Union has demanded that a "democratic and transparent election" inthe "first quarter of 2009," while the United States has threatened to withhold financial aid to Guinea unless the transitional period is shortened. Guinea won independence from France in 1958. Rich in mineral resources such as bauxite, gold and iron ore, the world's top bauxite exporter and the second biggest producer attracts billions of dollars in mining investments from foreign firms, including RioTinto Alcan, Alcoa and Russia's United Company Rusal. The country of 9.56 million, however, was placed the 160th of 177 countries in the development survey by the United Nations.

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Africa Subsaharan

Guinean military junta ventures bold steps amid Africa crackdown

2008-12-31

(Xinhua) -- The Guinean military junta ventured bold steps in the past week amid strong opposition voiced by the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS). Coup leaders of Guinea, the member state of both African blocs, have managed a series of measures to strengthen controls since the Dec. 23 coup. Among the latest, the military junta demoted 20 or so army generals while naming some ministers. On the list of retirement were army chief of staff Diarra Camara and the heads of the army, navy and air force. The military chief did not sound in tune with Moussa Camara, who announced the coup and the dissolution of the government and the constitution, hours after the broadcast of the death of President Lansana Conte. While the loyalist generals were removed, Camara named Kelety Faro the "secretary general minister for the presidency of the Republic" and Mamadouba Toto Camara the "minister of security and civilian protection." Camara declared himself "the president of the Republic" one day after the coup. He was also named the head of a 32-member National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) , which is composed of 26 military officers and six civilians and acting as the de facto ruling body. The busy post-coup schedule also included a "grandiose funeral" for Conte, a promise of presidential elections in December 2010, a dusk-to-morning curfew, a political consultation at the Alpha Yaya Diallo barracks and the suspension of all mining contracts for renegotiation. Camara and his CNDD seemed in triumph when Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare led his team of government to the Alpha Yaya Diallobarracks on Thursday, surrendering to him after days of resistance. But internationally, the military junta is shunned. On Monday, the AU suspended Guinea's membership to press for "the return to constitutional order in that country." Meanwhile, the ECOWAS reiterated its zero tolerance for the coup in Guinea, rejecting the two-year transition set by the military junta. But the ECOWAS "remains engaged with" the CNDD to "bring about short transition" without "military face," according to a statement released by the regional group. It also said the ECOWAS delegation in Guinea found that the country was calm, recommending continued peace and security "so that the people of Guinea do not suffer" from violence, killing and harassment. The United Nations, the European Union and the United States have also used strong wording for a quick return to the civilian rule. The EU demands a "democratic and transparent election" in the "first quarter of 2009," while the United States threatened to withhold financial aid to Guinea unless the transitional period is shortened. Guinea won independence from France in 1958. Rich in mineral resources such as bauxite, gold and iron ore, the world's top bauxite exporter and the second biggest producer attracts billions of dollars in mining investments from foreign firms, including RioTinto Alcan, Alcoa and Russia's United Company Rusal. The country of 9.56 million, however, was placed the 160th of 177 countries in the development survey by the United Nations.

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Africa Subsaharan

Guinea's coup leader woos foreign critics

2008-12-28

Guinea's new military junta, buoyed by the backing of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, was to launch a charm offensive on Saturday to win international recognition after leading a bloodless coup. The move comes a day after the West African nation laid to rest longtime dictator Lansana Conte, who died on Monday aged 74 after 24 years at the helm. The junta, in a statement read on national radio, said it would first hold an "informational meeting" at 1000 GMT with "representatives of civil society, political parties, religious faiths and unions". A second meeting would take place at noon for representatives of the United Nations, European Union and African Union, the Group of Eight leading industrialised countries and the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc. The meetings will be held at the Alfa Yaya Diallo military camp near the airport in Conakry, the seaside capital. The African Union Saturday however said it would continue to oppose the coup. "We see that the constitutional order has not been respected ... and the transition period fixed by the constitution is two months and not two years," said the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra told AFP. The putschists, who earned wide global condemnation, on Friday received an unequivocal thumbs up from Senegal's leader Wade, an 82-year-old regional heavyweight. "I think that this group of soldiers deserves to be backed," Wade told reporters at Senegal's embassy in Paris, shortly after talking by telephone to Moussa Dadis Camara, putsch leader and self-declared president of Guinea. Wade said he had been asked by Camara -- who addressed him as 'father' -- to serve as his spokesman to the rest of the world, and described the army captain as an honest young man who had taken power to fill a dangerous vacuum. "This is the first time that the military has said, 'We'll organise elections and return to our barracks'," Wade said. "I call on all countries, the European Union, and in particular France, not to throw the first stone, but to take this group at their word." France had earlier insisted Guinea hold free and transparent elections within six months. "If you want elections where the people can express themselves clearly, you're going to need to draw up a voter register. That takes time. It wouldn't be technically possible to hold elections within two months," Wade said. Wade said he thought it would take at least eight months to hold a poll. Asked whether Camara would himself be candidate for president, Wade said, "That's not his strategy. He's a pure young man who wants to do what's right and has no political ambition. He seems completely honest to me." Camara on Thursday won the allegiance of Conte's prime minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare, who addressed him as 'Mr President' and told the coup leader that he and his ministers were ready to serve the junta. Camara, who has already appointed a military-dominated governing council in place of the civilian government, assured Souare of his safety and told him that military rule was only temporary but underlined that elections will be held only in December 2010. Conte, a chain-smoking career soldier who came to power in a coup after the death of Guinea's founding president Ahmed Sekou Toure was buried on Friday.

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Africa Subsaharan

Coup leader declares himself new Guinea 'president'

2008-12-26

A junior army officer declared himself the new president of Guinea and ordered the government and top military brass to give themselves up by the end of Thursday. Moussa Dadis Camara, an army captain in his forties, appeared to be tightening his grip on the mineral-rich west African nation following the death of Lansana Conte. In a show of force, Camara paraded through the capital on Wednesday with hundreds of soldiers before announcing he was the new "president of the republic". A crowd of thousands of coup supporters thronged the streets of Conakry, surrounding the presidential palace and the government ministries, before dispersing peacefully. Among them were many young people from the suburbs of the capital, disaffected after years of dictatorial rule. "We no longer want the Conte system in Guinea. And if you are cutting down a tree, you must tear out all its roots," said Edouard, a 22-year-old student. Conte had ruled with an iron fist since 1984 and within hours of his passing late on Monday at the age of 74, a group of soldiers took control of the airwaves and claimed to have seized power. "I am convinced, reassured that I am the president of the republic, the head of the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD)," Camara said at his first press conference late on Wednesday. Later, in a statement read on radio and state television the CNDD junta said, "All army officers and all former members of the government are asked to go to camp Alpha Yaya Diallo in the next 24 hours." When the ultimatum had passed for all to go to the main military base near the international airport, "a sweep of the entire national territory will be organised," the new military leadership warned. The clampdown came amid growing international condemnation of the coup with the African Union warning of "stern measures" if the military ignored calls to allow a democratic transition of power. Boy howdy, that'll get Camara shaking in his army boots ... The United States threatened to suspend its aid, some $15 million this year, if coup leaders did not take steps to return civilian rule. "One of the things we want to see immediately is a restoration of a civilian democratic rule," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood. Camara plans to lead a 32-member interim administration, made up of 26 military officers and six civilians, and has ruled out any new elections until December 2010. There was no reaction so far from Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare -- who on Tuesday maintained his government was still in charge -- or from parliament speaker Aboubacar Sompare. A curfew called by Guinea's new military leaders has been delayed until Friday "to allow Christians to celebrate a peaceful Christmas holiday", according to a statement read on national radio. Friday is also the day when Conte's funeral is to be held in his home village, according to family sources.

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Africa Subsaharan

Guinea: Army dissolves government after president's death

2008-12-24

(AKI) - The Guinean army has overthrown the country's government and suspended the constitution, just hours after the death of President Lansana Conte. The 74-year-old President Lansana Conte died after a lengthy illness. In a state radio statement on Tuesday, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara said a "consultative council" of civilian and military leaders called the 'National Council for Development and Democracy' would be established. "As of today, the constitution is suspended as well as political and union activity," Camara said in his statement. "The government and the institutions of the republic have been dissolved." Camara also announced a military official would be installed as president of the West African country. Conte, who had been the leader of Guinea for 24 years, died in the capital, Conakry. His health had been an issue of national debate for years. Conte seized power after the death of former president Sekou Toure in 1984. He was then elected in 1993 after the country's first presidential election, and then re-elected in 1998 and 2003 amid reports of widespread electoral fraud by the opposition. Prime Minister Ahmed Souare called for 'calm and restraint' and announced 40 days of mourning. The President of the National Assembly, Aboubacar Sompare asked the country's Supreme Court to name him president. Sompare appeared on state television with Souare announcing the death of the president. The leader of the Union for the Progress of Guinea and the secretary of the opposition alliance, Frad, Jean-Marie Dore, called for a peaceful transition of power. Guinea, a former French colony gained independence in 1958. It has a population of 10 million people, made up of at least 24 ethnic groups, 85 percent of whom practise Islam as their religion.

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Africa Subsaharan

Military seizes power in Guinea

2008-12-23

Guinea's army has announced it has dissolved the country's government and suspended the constitution, hours after the death of President Lansana Conte. An army captain said on state radio a "consultative council" of civilian and military leaders would be set up. The African Union has condemned the move. All ministers and other top officials have been summoned to the main military camp "to guarantee their security". Mr Conte had ruled the West African country with an iron fist since 1984. The precise circumstances of the president's death are not yet known, but he had been suffering from diabetes. BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross says it is important to see whether the army is united on the way forward for Guinea, as a power struggle could be extremely dangerous given the deep ethnic divisions there.

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