[Guinean news] Conté's son reportedly confesses to drugs' trafficking

An addendum to the previous entry: Reuters is reporting that Guinean state television aired a videotaped confession by Ousmane Conté to drugs' trafficking charges after 'an all-night interrogation.

[Guinean news] Conté's son arrested along with senior police officials

The last week has seen the arrest of several high profile Guineans by the CNDD junta.

Most notably, Ousmane Conté, son of the country's recently deceased head of state, was arrested on allegations of drugs trafficking

The Associated Press added: On Monday night [Feb. 23], coup leader Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara appeared on national television and defended the arrest of several high-ranking police officials who also are suspected of being involved in drug trafficking. "The majority of high-ranking police officials are implicated in drug trafficking," Camara said in his address to the nation. "They have built castles ... between them some of them have more than 10 to 15 villas in Conakry. It's time to denounce it."

Human Rights' Watch West Africa expert praised the junta's efforts against drugs trafficking and noted that the arrests "could greatly contribute to the fight against impunity in Guinea," though she warned against excesses.

[PCV projects] Another Volunteer Project Needs Donations

Andrew Haile, a Health Volunteer, is working on the completion of local NGO headquarters.
More details and a way to donate below:

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=675-136

Donations are tax-deductible!

[PCV projects] Volunteer Project Needs Donations

PCV Samantha Levin, a Public Health Volunteer, is working on a project to repair the roof of an elementary school in Guinea. FOG has donated to this project from our coffers, but it still needs YOUR support. Donations to PCPP are tax-deductible.

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqSW-EKD8dk

Donate here:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=675-133

[PC Guinea news] 29 new PCVs sworn in

29 new Guinea Peace Corps volunteers were sworn in last Friday, according to a Peace Corps press release published by Guinéenews (Editor's note: Sorry, I couldn't find the original on the PC website).

Representatives of the Guinean government and US embassy attended the ceremony in Conakry.

12 of the new PCVs will work in small business development, 11 in public health and 6 in agroforestry.

Best of luck to all the new volunteers!

[Guinean news] Plans for Freetown-Conakry highway

Freetown's Concord Times is reporting that a contract has been signed to build a modern motor highway between the Sierra Leonian and Guinean capitals. The accord was signed by the Sierra Leone finance minister and the contractors' firm La Compagnie Sahelienne d'Entreprises. It is not yet clear what's going to happen on the Guinean side of this project.

[Guinean news] Junta suspends FM, announces late 2009 poll

Guinea's military ruler Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara has suspended Capt. Mamadou Sandé, the junta's finance and economy minister. The reason for the suspension was unclear.

Additionally, the junta announced it was making plans to hold elections during the last three months of 2009. Though Reuters notes that the government did not specify whether the elections would be presidential or parliamentary.