I've been criticized by a reader for not posting news at the same rate I did during the general strike. However, this is perfectly logical as events have fortunately slowed down following Lansana Kouyaté's inauguration as prime minister. A lot of analyses of the situation in Guinea and the implications of what happened in January and February are being posted but big news has slowed down. I will continue to post if further major events occur.
Regularly updated Guinean news can be found at All Africa's Guinea page and at the UN's IRIN news service. And in French at Guinéenews and French-language All Africa's Guinea page.
Readers are also free to post links in the comments' section to any interesting articles they wish to share.
-Brian Farenell, FOG Communications Director
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Friday, March 02, 2007
[FOG news] FOG election ballots emailed
Ballots for Friends of Guinea's 2007 board of directors elections have been emailed to all FOG members. If you are a current FOG member and have not received this ballot, please contact Elections Coordinator Woody Collahan at fogelections2007 @ yahoo.com
Monday, February 26, 2007
[Guinean news] Conté agrees to consensus prime minister; unions to suspend general strike again
Guinean unions will again suspend the general strike after the head of state Gen. Lansana Conté agreed to name a prime minister from a list of names proposed by the labor organizations. His previous choice, Eugene Camara, was rejected by unions as too close to Conté.
According to Guinéenews, the unions proposed Mohamed Béavogui (of the International Fund for Agricultural Development), Saïdou Diallo (from the National Social Security Fund) and Lansana Kouyaté (former executive director of ECOWAS, the West African economic community).
The deal came shortly after the National Assembly took the unprecedented step of unanimously rejecting Conté's demand to extend martial law in the country.
Work in the country will resume on Tuesday February 27, according to unions who say that Conté has until March 2 to uphold his part of the deal.
The return to work was delayed by a day as unions observed a national day of commemoration for the over 100 people killed during the general strike.
Update: Guinéenews and the BBC World Service report that Conté has named former ECOWAS chief Lansana Kouyaté as the new prime minister.
According to Guinéenews, the unions proposed Mohamed Béavogui (of the International Fund for Agricultural Development), Saïdou Diallo (from the National Social Security Fund) and Lansana Kouyaté (former executive director of ECOWAS, the West African economic community).
The deal came shortly after the National Assembly took the unprecedented step of unanimously rejecting Conté's demand to extend martial law in the country.
Work in the country will resume on Tuesday February 27, according to unions who say that Conté has until March 2 to uphold his part of the deal.
The return to work was delayed by a day as unions observed a national day of commemoration for the over 100 people killed during the general strike.
Update: Guinéenews and the BBC World Service report that Conté has named former ECOWAS chief Lansana Kouyaté as the new prime minister.
[Discussion topic] 'Something must be done'... but what?
In response to the discussion topic posted earlier on what we can do to help Guineans, I received several suggestions that revolved around an information campaign of writing letters to legislators and other high-ranking officials. However, one thing lacking was specifics. I very much agree with the idea of an information campaign but before doing so, we must have a couple of concrete actions to ask officials to take. We can't ask officials to do something if we don't have any idea ourselves what they could do. So if anyone has any ideas about what concrete actions American officials could undertake to positively impact the situation, please post them below. I will compile the best suggestions into a future post.
-Brian Farenell
FOG Communications Director
-Brian Farenell
FOG Communications Director
Saturday, February 24, 2007
[Guinean news] National Assembly orders end to martial law
The Guinean National Assembly has rejected a request by Gen. Lansana Conté to extend martial law in the country. The unanimous move was an unprecedented rebuke of the head of state.
In the face of the astonishing vote by a body almost entirely controlled by Conté's allies, opposition leader Bâ Mamadou called for the naming of a 'government of public salvation.'
The Nigerian paper The Daily Trust of Abuja has its analysis of how Guinea imploded.
In the face of the astonishing vote by a body almost entirely controlled by Conté's allies, opposition leader Bâ Mamadou called for the naming of a 'government of public salvation.'
The Nigerian paper The Daily Trust of Abuja has its analysis of how Guinea imploded.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
[Discussion topic] How can we help Guineans?
The parent of a (now evacuated) volunteer recently asked how she can support the peaceful people of Guinea. We discussed this amongst the board members and had a few ideas but we want to hear what you think. I am opening up this entry to facilitate dialogue about what we can do from afar to support ordinary Guineans in their struggle to improve living conditions.
In offering your comments, please make it clear what 'we' you are referring to: PCVs/RPCVs, parents and Guineaphiles, Americans in general, FOG itself, etc.
Please leave your comments here. And feel free to respond to anyone else's comments. Or alternatively, you are free to email your thoughts to communications @ friendsofguinea.org
I will compile all the comments into a future entry. This discussion will also help give the board guidance in determining what actions FOG's board and/or members can take.
Thank you.
Brian Farenell
FOG Communications Director
In offering your comments, please make it clear what 'we' you are referring to: PCVs/RPCVs, parents and Guineaphiles, Americans in general, FOG itself, etc.
Please leave your comments here. And feel free to respond to anyone else's comments. Or alternatively, you are free to email your thoughts to communications @ friendsofguinea.org
I will compile all the comments into a future entry. This discussion will also help give the board guidance in determining what actions FOG's board and/or members can take.
Thank you.
Brian Farenell
FOG Communications Director
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
[FOG news] Board of directors' statement on the future of Friends of Guinea
Dear Friends of Guinea members and Guineaphiles:
In the wake of the recent dramatic events that have occurred in the country as well as the Peace Corps' suspension of their program in Guinea, several members have inquired about the future role of Friends of Guinea (FOG).
The board of directors would like reassure everyone that regardless of what happens in Guinea or with the Peace Corps program in the country, FOG will continue to remain an active organization.
Our focus will certainly change if the Peace Corps is absent from Guinea for a sustained period of time. In the absence of PCVs on the ground, FOG's role will shift away from support to the volunteers and volunteer families and toward support of development projects (when things calm down enough for them to be feasible) and advocacy.
FOG's most important role is in its ability to foster community. We will continue to keep everyone informed of what's going on in Guinea, not only politically but socially and in the development sphere as well. We will continue to provide and expand opportunities for RPCVs and other Guineaphiles to interact with each other and discuss Peace Corps-, Guinea- and FOG-related issues.
We will advocate for the re-insertion of the Peace Corps into Guinea as soon as conditions make the situation safe for volunteers.
We always welcome feedback as to how FOG can better serve its members, particularly during this transition period that we hope is temporary. If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them on this blog or email them to: communications @ friendsofguinea.org
Sincerely,
The Friends of Guinea board of directors
In the wake of the recent dramatic events that have occurred in the country as well as the Peace Corps' suspension of their program in Guinea, several members have inquired about the future role of Friends of Guinea (FOG).
The board of directors would like reassure everyone that regardless of what happens in Guinea or with the Peace Corps program in the country, FOG will continue to remain an active organization.
Our focus will certainly change if the Peace Corps is absent from Guinea for a sustained period of time. In the absence of PCVs on the ground, FOG's role will shift away from support to the volunteers and volunteer families and toward support of development projects (when things calm down enough for them to be feasible) and advocacy.
FOG's most important role is in its ability to foster community. We will continue to keep everyone informed of what's going on in Guinea, not only politically but socially and in the development sphere as well. We will continue to provide and expand opportunities for RPCVs and other Guineaphiles to interact with each other and discuss Peace Corps-, Guinea- and FOG-related issues.
We will advocate for the re-insertion of the Peace Corps into Guinea as soon as conditions make the situation safe for volunteers.
We always welcome feedback as to how FOG can better serve its members, particularly during this transition period that we hope is temporary. If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them on this blog or email them to: communications @ friendsofguinea.org
Sincerely,
The Friends of Guinea board of directors
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
[PC Guinea news] Update from Peace Corps headquarters
Nicole Lewis of Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, DC passed along the following official information:
* On February 12, the U.S. Embassy issued an ordered departure of all U.S. Citizens from Guinea due to the ongoing strikes and civil unrest.
* As of February 12, the Peace Corps Guinea program has been temporarily suspended.
* PCVs will begin a transition conference on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 which will be completed by February 23, 2007.
* PCVs will be offered various options including a direct and immediate transfer, close of service, or a possible reinstatement, if the situation in Guinea improves.
* Since January 10, PCVs have been on standfast and were consolidated in Mali, near Bamako on January 26.
* Volunteers participated in an In Service Training (IST) in Mali. PC Guinea staff attended the IST and supported the Volunteers along with an OSS officer from Washington, D.C., and the sub-regional programming and training coordinator from Senegal.
* During this time, the PC/Guinea Country Director and his staff, PC staff in Mali, and staff in D.C. were constantly monitoring the situation in Guinea to evaluate when the PCVs may return to Guinea.
* Families are encouraged to contact Peace Corps' Office of Special Services with any questions or concerns they may have. Special Services maintains a 24-hour a day, 7 days a week duty system. The telephone number during standard office hours is 1-800-424-8580, Extension 1470; the after hours number is 202-638-2574. The Office of Special Services can also be contacted via e-mail at ossdutyofficer@peacecorps.gov
* On February 12, the U.S. Embassy issued an ordered departure of all U.S. Citizens from Guinea due to the ongoing strikes and civil unrest.
* As of February 12, the Peace Corps Guinea program has been temporarily suspended.
* PCVs will begin a transition conference on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 which will be completed by February 23, 2007.
* PCVs will be offered various options including a direct and immediate transfer, close of service, or a possible reinstatement, if the situation in Guinea improves.
* Since January 10, PCVs have been on standfast and were consolidated in Mali, near Bamako on January 26.
* Volunteers participated in an In Service Training (IST) in Mali. PC Guinea staff attended the IST and supported the Volunteers along with an OSS officer from Washington, D.C., and the sub-regional programming and training coordinator from Senegal.
* During this time, the PC/Guinea Country Director and his staff, PC staff in Mali, and staff in D.C. were constantly monitoring the situation in Guinea to evaluate when the PCVs may return to Guinea.
* Families are encouraged to contact Peace Corps' Office of Special Services with any questions or concerns they may have. Special Services maintains a 24-hour a day, 7 days a week duty system. The telephone number during standard office hours is 1-800-424-8580, Extension 1470; the after hours number is 202-638-2574. The Office of Special Services can also be contacted via e-mail at ossdutyofficer@peacecorps.gov
Monday, February 19, 2007
[Guinean news] Curfew eased; hundreds of opposition members arrested
The BBC is one of several news outlets to report that the curfew in Guinea has been eased. People will be banned from the streets from 6:00 PM until 6:00 AM, which is quite a bit shorter than when it was first ordered. However under martial law, public gatherings are still illegal and the army has unrestricted power to search people's homes.
On Saturday, union leaders declared they would not negotiate until the draconian martial law was lifted. A high-ranking official in the CNTG union told Guinéenews that there was nothing to negotiate except how the government would apply the accord agreed upon on January 27.
Over the weekend, some 300 opposition members were reportedly arrested throughout the country and thrown into military detention centers.
Even Pope Benedict XVI has weighed in to the Guinea crisis calling on the regime to "respect of human and civil rights."
ECOWAS, the West African economic community, has dispatched high-ranking mission to Guinea. The mission included ECOWAS chairman Dr. Mohammed ibn-Chambas and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who spent eight years as Nigeria's military dictator and was a close ally of Lansana Conté.
The United Nations recently authorized another nearly $2.5 million to be spent on humanitarian operations particularly in more remote parts of Guinea.
The Daily Mail and Guardian of South Africa has a good summary of the crisis in Guinea and its origins.
On Saturday, union leaders declared they would not negotiate until the draconian martial law was lifted. A high-ranking official in the CNTG union told Guinéenews that there was nothing to negotiate except how the government would apply the accord agreed upon on January 27.
Over the weekend, some 300 opposition members were reportedly arrested throughout the country and thrown into military detention centers.
Even Pope Benedict XVI has weighed in to the Guinea crisis calling on the regime to "respect of human and civil rights."
ECOWAS, the West African economic community, has dispatched high-ranking mission to Guinea. The mission included ECOWAS chairman Dr. Mohammed ibn-Chambas and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who spent eight years as Nigeria's military dictator and was a close ally of Lansana Conté.
The United Nations recently authorized another nearly $2.5 million to be spent on humanitarian operations particularly in more remote parts of Guinea.
The Daily Mail and Guardian of South Africa has a good summary of the crisis in Guinea and its origins.
Friday, February 16, 2007
[Blog news] Brief hiatus
I will be traveling out of town for a few days. I likely will be unable to blog during that time but will return on Monday February 19. I know many people are following closely the events in Guinea, so a few news sources you may wish to check during this hiatus are...
-BBC News: Africa section
-Guinéenews (in French)
-AllAfrica.com: Guinea page
-Google News (Do a search for 'Guinea' and/or 'Conakry')
Brian Farenell
Communications Director
-BBC News: Africa section
-Guinéenews (in French)
-AllAfrica.com: Guinea page
-Google News (Do a search for 'Guinea' and/or 'Conakry')
Brian Farenell
Communications Director
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