On Friday, Guinean soldiers took to the streets of the capital Conakry, firing shots in the air, continuing military protests about pay and conditions that have hit several cities in recent weeks.
Shops and market stalls closed as people rushed to get home and pick their children up from school.
At the height of the stand-off, two government radio stations went off air.
There were also reports of disturbances in Kindia and Mamou in the east and Macenta in the south, according to the BBC.
Though the British broadcaster also reports that soldiers have since returned to the barracks. Guinéenews adds that calm seemed to have returned to the capital by late Friday afternoon. This was after the head of state, Gen. Lansana Conté, reportedly agreed to meet with disaffected soldiers on Saturday.
Friday, May 11, 2007
[Query] Climate change research in Africa
Micah Schaffer asks:
Can anyone point me to some organizations that are doing interesting climate change research anywhere in Africa? A friend of mine is looking for sources for her own research.
Please contact Micah at micahschaffer @ yahoo.com if you can help.
Can anyone point me to some organizations that are doing interesting climate change research anywhere in Africa? A friend of mine is looking for sources for her own research.
Please contact Micah at micahschaffer @ yahoo.com if you can help.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
[Guinean news] More army pay riots... this time in Guéckédou
In recent weeks, rioting by disaffected soldiers has broken out in several Guinean cities. Today, there was violence in the southeastern border town of Guéckédou, with one person being killed.
The army claims that wages have been withheld since 1996, when an army mutiny-cum-attempted coup costs hundreds of lives, and wants the re-integration of troops who were sacked after the 1996 events.
On Wednesday, the military chief announced that all soldiers not promoted within the past five years would automatically be promoted one rank, reported the AFP news agency. But rioting in Guéckédou erupted to day nonetheless.
The streets of Gueckedou were immediately deserted and markets shut when the soldiers started rampaging across the town on Thursday.
The IRIN reports that these riots indicate just how fragile the Guinean government is.
The army claims that wages have been withheld since 1996, when an army mutiny-cum-attempted coup costs hundreds of lives, and wants the re-integration of troops who were sacked after the 1996 events.
On Wednesday, the military chief announced that all soldiers not promoted within the past five years would automatically be promoted one rank, reported the AFP news agency. But rioting in Guéckédou erupted to day nonetheless.
The streets of Gueckedou were immediately deserted and markets shut when the soldiers started rampaging across the town on Thursday.
The IRIN reports that these riots indicate just how fragile the Guinean government is.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
[Guinean news] Dancing women attacked
The BBC had a bizarre story on a backlash against a dance in Guinea.
Men in Conakry have begun attacking women who they accuse of doing the popular buttock-swinging Wolosso dance from Ivory Coast.
Teenagers wearing skirts or hipsters, associated with Wolosso, which partly expose their buttocks and midriff have been stripped naked and beaten up.
The attacks follow a performance by an Ivorian Wolosso group last week.
The provocative dance is considered by many in the mainly Muslim West African country to be pornographic.
Men in Conakry have begun attacking women who they accuse of doing the popular buttock-swinging Wolosso dance from Ivory Coast.
Teenagers wearing skirts or hipsters, associated with Wolosso, which partly expose their buttocks and midriff have been stripped naked and beaten up.
The attacks follow a performance by an Ivorian Wolosso group last week.
The provocative dance is considered by many in the mainly Muslim West African country to be pornographic.
Monday, April 30, 2007
[Guinean news] Unions warn government of threats; PM says country not ready for June elections
Last Monday, several hundred street traders ransacked and set fire to a police station in Kindia, in western Guinea.
The attack came after a local merchant claimed that about 15 armed police had barged into his home overnight Saturday, tied him up and raped his wife and daughter. They also allegedly stole property including money and gems, reported the French news agency AFP.
AFP also reported on warnings by the country's trade unions that certain elements of society were trying undermine the new consensus prime minister Lansana Kouyaté.
The unions warned Kouyaté that since his swearing in, "many actions have been undertaken and supported by people and structures dedicated to making [him] fail."
The memorandum cited "the exit of huge sums of money, from the accounts of the army or the presidency, in violation of the fiscal discipline that was put in place" adding that the new government's most important job was "the restoration of the authority of the state in both the interior and outside the country...."
Underlining that challenge, Kouyaté said the country was not ready for parliamentary elections scheduled for June.
"Territorial administration doesn't exist at the moment in the interior. Because of people's anger during the strike, many prefects and sub-prefects are currently in Conakry. Some are even persona non grata in the areas they govern," the prime minister told Reuters.
The attack came after a local merchant claimed that about 15 armed police had barged into his home overnight Saturday, tied him up and raped his wife and daughter. They also allegedly stole property including money and gems, reported the French news agency AFP.
AFP also reported on warnings by the country's trade unions that certain elements of society were trying undermine the new consensus prime minister Lansana Kouyaté.
The unions warned Kouyaté that since his swearing in, "many actions have been undertaken and supported by people and structures dedicated to making [him] fail."
The memorandum cited "the exit of huge sums of money, from the accounts of the army or the presidency, in violation of the fiscal discipline that was put in place" adding that the new government's most important job was "the restoration of the authority of the state in both the interior and outside the country...."
Underlining that challenge, Kouyaté said the country was not ready for parliamentary elections scheduled for June.
"Territorial administration doesn't exist at the moment in the interior. Because of people's anger during the strike, many prefects and sub-prefects are currently in Conakry. Some are even persona non grata in the areas they govern," the prime minister told Reuters.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
[Development news] UN to promote international road safety
As many RCPVs will remember, Guinea volunteers Jesse Thyne and Justin Bhansali were killed in a car accident near Pita, in central Guinea, back in 2000.
In response, many volunteers organized a memorial walk in their honor to bring attention to the issue of road safety. Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death in developing countries, with Africa the most affected.
According to a UN report, the economic costs of such deaths in Africa is $6.2 billion... which is equivalent to the combined gross domestic products of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and the Gambia.
The UN has recognized how serious an issue road safety is by creating an independent Commission for Global Road Safety. One of the commission's members, ex-Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, notes in this opinion piece that 1.2 million people are killed each year in road accidents, 200,000 of whom in Africa. The scourge is the leading killer globally of people 10-25 years old
Schumacher points out a recently issued UN report that recommends action to cut injuries in developing countries, including a $300m 10-year programme to develop road safety skills, a 10% minimum spend on safety in aid-funded road projects, and a UN ministerial conference.
Prompted by the Make Poverty History campaign, the G8 leaders of the major industrialised countries have committed themselves to doubling aid and improving Africa's road infrastructure. Fewer than 20% of roads in sub-Saharan Africa are paved, and the Commission for Africa recommended that at least 90,000 miles of new roads are needed. But roads built to transport goods as fast as possible, designed to the cheapest specification without safety in mind, will make the world's most dangerous road network worse. The roads built to make poverty history must be safe.
It recommended roundabouts be built whenever possible, since they are reportedly 70 times safer than intersections.
In response, many volunteers organized a memorial walk in their honor to bring attention to the issue of road safety. Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death in developing countries, with Africa the most affected.
According to a UN report, the economic costs of such deaths in Africa is $6.2 billion... which is equivalent to the combined gross domestic products of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and the Gambia.
The UN has recognized how serious an issue road safety is by creating an independent Commission for Global Road Safety. One of the commission's members, ex-Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, notes in this opinion piece that 1.2 million people are killed each year in road accidents, 200,000 of whom in Africa. The scourge is the leading killer globally of people 10-25 years old
Schumacher points out a recently issued UN report that recommends action to cut injuries in developing countries, including a $300m 10-year programme to develop road safety skills, a 10% minimum spend on safety in aid-funded road projects, and a UN ministerial conference.
Prompted by the Make Poverty History campaign, the G8 leaders of the major industrialised countries have committed themselves to doubling aid and improving Africa's road infrastructure. Fewer than 20% of roads in sub-Saharan Africa are paved, and the Commission for Africa recommended that at least 90,000 miles of new roads are needed. But roads built to transport goods as fast as possible, designed to the cheapest specification without safety in mind, will make the world's most dangerous road network worse. The roads built to make poverty history must be safe.
It recommended roundabouts be built whenever possible, since they are reportedly 70 times safer than intersections.
Friday, April 20, 2007
[FOG News] Reminder: American Friends of Guinea is NOT Friends of Guinea
I've noted on this blog on a couple of occasions on the apparent creation of a new non-governmental organization called American Friends of Guinea (AFG) and how it's NOT AFFILIATED IN ANY WAY with our group Friends of Guinea (FOG). AFG was created last year by the CEO of Hyperdynamics Corp. FOG was founded in 2000.
Some board members noticed a recent story regarding Hyperdynamics. After initiating a review of all natural resource exploitation contracts, the new Guinean government said it was withdrawing an agreement with the Texas-based corporation.
[T]he government said the fact the U.S. company had been given rights to explore one-third of Guinea's entire offshore acreage did not conform to international practice. The normal practice was to award smaller blocks, it added, according to Reuters.
The government added that the Hyperdynamics contract would be reviewed by legislators.
Some board members noticed a recent story regarding Hyperdynamics. After initiating a review of all natural resource exploitation contracts, the new Guinean government said it was withdrawing an agreement with the Texas-based corporation.
[T]he government said the fact the U.S. company had been given rights to explore one-third of Guinea's entire offshore acreage did not conform to international practice. The normal practice was to award smaller blocks, it added, according to Reuters.
The government added that the Hyperdynamics contract would be reviewed by legislators.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
[FOG news] Two ideas on how help Guineans
Two weeks ago, I posted a request asking for suggestions on ways RPCVs and other Guineaphiles can help Guineans.
I got a couple of responses. Mark Lynd*, who lived in Guinea implementing a USAID education project, wrote to tell of an organization he and his wife started.
He writes: School-to-School International is an effort to provide a more holistic type of support to kids in elementary schools. Since its founding in 2002, STS has been working in one country – Guinea (we intend to expand to others some day). I go there 3-4 times a year to work with our staff of 3 and 24 schools. We’re VERY SMALL – no big funding, just donations, small grants and contracts – but everything in Guinea is done by Guineans – we expats just provide assistance as we can.
We can always use support in a variety of ways – we do pen pal links with elementary schools in the US and Guinea , send books… Of course cash donations are always very much appreciated.
SIS's website is sts-international.org
***
RPCV Wayne Kleck writes:
I have been helping people informally by paying their costs to go to private schools, or to pay the costs of living in cities where they can attend Lycees. I am in the process of helping two members of my host family (Thiam) from Gbereire attend a private Uiniversity in Conakry. I keep in touch with these folks by phone and email. I send money by way of Western Union and have a network of friends who support the cause by sending money which I forward directly to these students. I have done this since before the strike and now am expanding my contributions to help even more. I am also in touch with the Fullbright Scholar who lived down the street from me in Kankan. She supports several other students in this same manner.
I support two Lycee students in Kankan (one originally from Kissidougou, one from Gueckedou). I also send periodic contributions to a student in Kindia, and have been informally sending assistance to my host family in Gbereire for illnesses, funerals, etc... ( I served my first year in Falessade, only 50 km. away from Dubreka. My third year was spent in Kankan working for WFP).
[...]
I am in the process of establishing a 501(c)(3) through an organization in Austin, TX, but will not complete the process until I establish a contact in Guinea to distribute the funds. Now that the strike is over and things are stabilizing, I am once again pursuing a local NGO in Kankan to accept the funds and distribute them. I hope PC will be back there soon to oversee this process. Until I get this up and running. My friends are still willing to contribute without the tax deduction, but I figure I can get much more money to help folks in Guinea if the Americans have the added incentive of a tax deduction.
After more than three years in Guinea, I am reluctant to trust ANY organization to distribute funds directly to those who need it. But I am making progress in getting something set up. Meanwhile, I send money directly to these students. I am not concerned that they waste the money as I send just enough to pay tuition and daily expenses. They, of course share their money with family and continue to live a very basic existence. Most of the students I am helping have assisted me in projects I implemented while in Guinea, so they know about my demands for transparence, honesty, and accountability.
If you hear of any news of how to get funds distributed in a better manner, please keep me posted. The main problem with my 'direct' system is the high cost of using Western Union or moneygram. Thanks to good broadband internet service in Korea, I am able to manage all of this from Busan.
Keep me posted on what you know and feel free to give my email address* to anyone interested in improving methods of getting assistance to Guineans in need.
*-Note: if you are interested in contacting Wayne or Mark, please email me at communications @ friendsofguinea.org
Got any more ideas? Let me know, either by leaving them in the comments section of this entry or by sending me an email at communications @ friendsofguinea.org
I got a couple of responses. Mark Lynd*, who lived in Guinea implementing a USAID education project, wrote to tell of an organization he and his wife started.
He writes: School-to-School International is an effort to provide a more holistic type of support to kids in elementary schools. Since its founding in 2002, STS has been working in one country – Guinea (we intend to expand to others some day). I go there 3-4 times a year to work with our staff of 3 and 24 schools. We’re VERY SMALL – no big funding, just donations, small grants and contracts – but everything in Guinea is done by Guineans – we expats just provide assistance as we can.
We can always use support in a variety of ways – we do pen pal links with elementary schools in the US and Guinea , send books… Of course cash donations are always very much appreciated.
SIS's website is sts-international.org
***
RPCV Wayne Kleck writes:
I have been helping people informally by paying their costs to go to private schools, or to pay the costs of living in cities where they can attend Lycees. I am in the process of helping two members of my host family (Thiam) from Gbereire attend a private Uiniversity in Conakry. I keep in touch with these folks by phone and email. I send money by way of Western Union and have a network of friends who support the cause by sending money which I forward directly to these students. I have done this since before the strike and now am expanding my contributions to help even more. I am also in touch with the Fullbright Scholar who lived down the street from me in Kankan. She supports several other students in this same manner.
I support two Lycee students in Kankan (one originally from Kissidougou, one from Gueckedou). I also send periodic contributions to a student in Kindia, and have been informally sending assistance to my host family in Gbereire for illnesses, funerals, etc... ( I served my first year in Falessade, only 50 km. away from Dubreka. My third year was spent in Kankan working for WFP).
[...]
I am in the process of establishing a 501(c)(3) through an organization in Austin, TX, but will not complete the process until I establish a contact in Guinea to distribute the funds. Now that the strike is over and things are stabilizing, I am once again pursuing a local NGO in Kankan to accept the funds and distribute them. I hope PC will be back there soon to oversee this process. Until I get this up and running. My friends are still willing to contribute without the tax deduction, but I figure I can get much more money to help folks in Guinea if the Americans have the added incentive of a tax deduction.
After more than three years in Guinea, I am reluctant to trust ANY organization to distribute funds directly to those who need it. But I am making progress in getting something set up. Meanwhile, I send money directly to these students. I am not concerned that they waste the money as I send just enough to pay tuition and daily expenses. They, of course share their money with family and continue to live a very basic existence. Most of the students I am helping have assisted me in projects I implemented while in Guinea, so they know about my demands for transparence, honesty, and accountability.
If you hear of any news of how to get funds distributed in a better manner, please keep me posted. The main problem with my 'direct' system is the high cost of using Western Union or moneygram. Thanks to good broadband internet service in Korea, I am able to manage all of this from Busan.
Keep me posted on what you know and feel free to give my email address* to anyone interested in improving methods of getting assistance to Guineans in need.
*-Note: if you are interested in contacting Wayne or Mark, please email me at communications @ friendsofguinea.org
Got any more ideas? Let me know, either by leaving them in the comments section of this entry or by sending me an email at communications @ friendsofguinea.org
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
[Guinean news] Plane crashes into state broadcasting house
Yesterday, a Guinean military jet crashed into a building in Conakry housing the RTG, Guinea's state-run radio and TV stations. It was during routine military exercises
Amazingly, there were no serious casualties, only "some slight injuries in the panic that followed the collision (involving) broken glass," according to Guinea's communications minister.
Apparently, the RTG building is located just across the street from the US embassy in Conakry. An embassy spokesman said no one was hurt at the US mission and the embassy building not damaged.
Reuters reports that the crash sparked clashes between angry crowds and the police. Reportedly, some of the youths suspected the plane crash was an attempt to undermine the new government of Lansana Kouyate, named last month as consensus prime minister under a deal to end the general strike.
Amazingly, there were no serious casualties, only "some slight injuries in the panic that followed the collision (involving) broken glass," according to Guinea's communications minister.
Apparently, the RTG building is located just across the street from the US embassy in Conakry. An embassy spokesman said no one was hurt at the US mission and the embassy building not damaged.
Reuters reports that the crash sparked clashes between angry crowds and the police. Reportedly, some of the youths suspected the plane crash was an attempt to undermine the new government of Lansana Kouyate, named last month as consensus prime minister under a deal to end the general strike.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
[FOG news] Helping Guineans: organizations and ideas
As I posted on the blog recently, I am trying to compile a list of suggestions on ways RPCVs and other Guineaphiles can help Guineans. While the general strike may be over, the living and economic conditions remain extremely difficult.
So as part of my research, does anyone know of any international organizations (besides the Peace Corps) who've left Guinea? Or of any that are still there? If you've heard anything, please let me know. You can either email me anything you've heard at:
communications @ friendsofguinea.org
Or simply leave a comment on this blog entry.
Additionally, if you've organized any fundraisers recently to help Guineans and would like to share details, please email me a little writeup. (And for this part, email is preferable so I can give this their own entries). I know there's a lot of energy and good will out there, but I think some people are at loss to know how specifically they can help. And I was hoping by sharing what some have done, others may get ideas.
-Brian Farenell
FOG Communications Director
So as part of my research, does anyone know of any international organizations (besides the Peace Corps) who've left Guinea? Or of any that are still there? If you've heard anything, please let me know. You can either email me anything you've heard at:
communications @ friendsofguinea.org
Or simply leave a comment on this blog entry.
Additionally, if you've organized any fundraisers recently to help Guineans and would like to share details, please email me a little writeup. (And for this part, email is preferable so I can give this their own entries). I know there's a lot of energy and good will out there, but I think some people are at loss to know how specifically they can help. And I was hoping by sharing what some have done, others may get ideas.
-Brian Farenell
FOG Communications Director
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