[Guinean news] Top businessman named ruling party head

Mamadou Sylla, Guinea's richest business patron, was named as the new honorary president of the ruling PUP party.

Sylla is a close ally of the head of state Gen. Lansana Conté and is often referred to as 'the ruling party's banker.' Last year, he was subject to a serious corruption investigation and was engaged in open warfare with Conté's then-right hand man Fodé Bangoura. Sylla was arrested during the course of the investigation until Conté went in person to jail to free him.

The move to make Sylla honorary PUP president is sure to be controversial as Conté's action liberating him was the spark for the general strike and protests that rocked the country this January and February.