Tuesday, March 17, 2009
[African news] 100 Best Blogs for Learning about Africa
I just ran across this post from LearnGasm with the 100 best blogs for learning about Africa. Nothing on Guinea, though, what gives? Still, a useful resource!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
[Guinean news] Is Guinea Africa's second narcostate?
Guinea-Bissau, where the president and army chief were recently assassinated, has often been described as Africa's first narcostate. There are increasing fears that neighboring Guinea is becoming the second.
Last month, several senior police officials along with the son of the late Gen. Lansana Conté were arrested on allegations of collaboration with South American cocaine cartels.
This Associated Press article shares details of Ousmane Conté's confession and the troubling admissions contained therein.
A junior police officer claimed "Eighty percent of the men in uniform lived off of" drug money.
Some snipets from the AP piece:
When planes loaded with cocaine arrived, Guinea's presidential guard secured the cargo. Drug deals were conducted inside the first lady's private residence and in the president's VIP salon at the airport. To avoid detection, cocaine was sent to Europe in the country's diplomatic pouch.
[...]
The confessions [of Ousmane Conté and other former top officials] paint a picture of an illicit trade conducted with total impunity, with the help of officials, members of the president's family and security forces. They also show the large role Guinea and other West African countries are playing as drug hubs, and how vulnerable they are to the corrupting influence of drug dollars.
[...]
The inner circle of former dictator Lansana Conté, who ruled Guinea for 24 years until his death, was deeply corrupt, with officials driving opulent SUVs in a capital where most people live without electricity.
[...]
In a jailhouse interview this week with The Associated Press, [Ousmane] Conté explained how he did it. He said a friend brought in "medicine" for his humanitarian foundation, using a Red Cross plane that landed at night at the international airport in the capital, Conakry. When the plane arrived, his friend called to wake him. Conté then went to the airport accompanied by the presidential guard to secure the cargo, he said.
Conté claimed he did not know at first that the cargo contained cocaine. But his friend later told him, he said, and Conte accepted a $300,000 bribe.
[...]
The late president's brother-in-law said he met with Latin American drug dealers inside a villa owned by his sister, the former first lady. The head of the country's intelligence unit said he personally accompanied a convoy of trucks containing drugs to the capital. The former head of the police force was challenged to account for the source of funds for a university he is building.
Even the former head of the country's anti-drug unit was interrogated on state TV for his alleged role. The unit was in charge of seizing drugs when a cache was found. But instead of securing and destroying the drugs, the cocaine was often "recycled," said top police officials and foreign diplomats.
Last month, several senior police officials along with the son of the late Gen. Lansana Conté were arrested on allegations of collaboration with South American cocaine cartels.
This Associated Press article shares details of Ousmane Conté's confession and the troubling admissions contained therein.
A junior police officer claimed "Eighty percent of the men in uniform lived off of" drug money.
Some snipets from the AP piece:
When planes loaded with cocaine arrived, Guinea's presidential guard secured the cargo. Drug deals were conducted inside the first lady's private residence and in the president's VIP salon at the airport. To avoid detection, cocaine was sent to Europe in the country's diplomatic pouch.
[...]
The confessions [of Ousmane Conté and other former top officials] paint a picture of an illicit trade conducted with total impunity, with the help of officials, members of the president's family and security forces. They also show the large role Guinea and other West African countries are playing as drug hubs, and how vulnerable they are to the corrupting influence of drug dollars.
[...]
The inner circle of former dictator Lansana Conté, who ruled Guinea for 24 years until his death, was deeply corrupt, with officials driving opulent SUVs in a capital where most people live without electricity.
[...]
In a jailhouse interview this week with The Associated Press, [Ousmane] Conté explained how he did it. He said a friend brought in "medicine" for his humanitarian foundation, using a Red Cross plane that landed at night at the international airport in the capital, Conakry. When the plane arrived, his friend called to wake him. Conté then went to the airport accompanied by the presidential guard to secure the cargo, he said.
Conté claimed he did not know at first that the cargo contained cocaine. But his friend later told him, he said, and Conte accepted a $300,000 bribe.
[...]
The late president's brother-in-law said he met with Latin American drug dealers inside a villa owned by his sister, the former first lady. The head of the country's intelligence unit said he personally accompanied a convoy of trucks containing drugs to the capital. The former head of the police force was challenged to account for the source of funds for a university he is building.
Even the former head of the country's anti-drug unit was interrogated on state TV for his alleged role. The unit was in charge of seizing drugs when a cache was found. But instead of securing and destroying the drugs, the cocaine was often "recycled," said top police officials and foreign diplomats.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
[Guinean news] Reported attempt on life of naval chief
According to a Reuters report, the Guinean junta claims that a junior officer tried to kill the head of the Guinean navy.
The non-commissioned officer, who military sources said was disgruntled because he did not get a promotion after the coup, fired gunshots inside the Navy headquarters last week, smashing windows and hitting vehicles, officers said.
The report adds that many members of the CNDD junta received promotions and that this caused dissatisfaction among military members who were not promoted.
The non-commissioned officer, who military sources said was disgruntled because he did not get a promotion after the coup, fired gunshots inside the Navy headquarters last week, smashing windows and hitting vehicles, officers said.
The report adds that many members of the CNDD junta received promotions and that this caused dissatisfaction among military members who were not promoted.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
[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.
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.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
[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
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!
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!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
[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.
Monday, February 09, 2009
[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.
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.
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