The recent decision by head of state Gen. Lansana Conté to fire the national unity government prime minister Lansana Kouyaté has been widely condemned.
The UN’s IRIN news service called the sacking a ‘threat to stability,’ a prediction which seemed validated by yesterday’s kidnapping of the national army chief.
One of the main opposition parties, the Guinean People’s Rally (RPG), said it would refuse to participate in a government headed by any prime minister unilaterally appointed by Conté.
The RPG declaration was another blow for [the newly named prime minister Ahmed Tidiane] Souaré, who has said he would like to form a politically all-inclusive government to push ahead with reforms, noted Reuters.
Though the RPG had no members in the Kouyaté cabinet.
And perhaps most crucially, the Guinean trade unions have rejected Souaré’s appointment as a violation of last year’s agreement between them and Conté and threatened another general strike.
"We solemnly demand that this decree be revoked and if necessary a prime minister be named, complying with the profile defined in the accords," said Ibrahima Fofana, head of the USTG union.
Showing posts with label Lansana Kouyaté. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lansana Kouyaté. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
[Guinean news] Conté sacks consensus prime minister
Guinean head of state Gen. Lansana Conté has fired Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté and replaced him with Ahmed Tidiane Souaré, a former minister of mines and education and ally of the general.
The sacking of Kouyaté is noteworthy because the former diplomat was named head of government in order to bring an end to the 2007 general strike.
However, the BBC's correspondent in Conakry told Network Africa that one of the trade unions' leaders said the sacking of Kouyaté was not her problem and that labor would focus on what sort of people the new prime minister brought into the cabinet.
Public reaction to Kouyaté's sacking was generally muted, although protesters in his hometown of Kankan marched and burned tires.
Guinéenews reports that in Souaré's first public declaration, the new head of government would consult with Conté to form a government that would 'avoid exclusion.'
Kouyaté is the third prime minister in the last several years to be sacked or resign after a relatively brief time due to what many believe is the refusal of the clan surrounding Conté to cede any power to a reformist leader.
The sacking of Kouyaté is noteworthy because the former diplomat was named head of government in order to bring an end to the 2007 general strike.
However, the BBC's correspondent in Conakry told Network Africa that one of the trade unions' leaders said the sacking of Kouyaté was not her problem and that labor would focus on what sort of people the new prime minister brought into the cabinet.
Public reaction to Kouyaté's sacking was generally muted, although protesters in his hometown of Kankan marched and burned tires.
Guinéenews reports that in Souaré's first public declaration, the new head of government would consult with Conté to form a government that would 'avoid exclusion.'
Kouyaté is the third prime minister in the last several years to be sacked or resign after a relatively brief time due to what many believe is the refusal of the clan surrounding Conté to cede any power to a reformist leader.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
[Guinean news] Threats of another general strike
The IRIN news service has an article warning of further labor unrest in Guinea. The country's trade unions are reportedly considering whether to go ahead with a general strike at the end of March.
During the 2007 general strike, unions demanded an independent prime minister, a post filled with their accord by former diplomat Lansana Kouyaté.
However, union officials criticize the government as 'dysfunctional'. Some argue that Kouyaté has never been truly given the authority he needs to implement needed reforms.
During the 2007 general strike, unions demanded an independent prime minister, a post filled with their accord by former diplomat Lansana Kouyaté.
However, union officials criticize the government as 'dysfunctional'. Some argue that Kouyaté has never been truly given the authority he needs to implement needed reforms.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
[Guinean news] Calm returns to Guinea in advance of anticipated general strike
Voice of America reports that calm has returned to Guinea after anti-government protests following the controversial sacking by the head of state of the communications minister.
Youths in suburbs of Conakry burned tires, built barricades and threw stones.
One man was killed as he stepped out of a taxi and was hit by a thrown rock.
Unions have called for a nationwide general strike, suspended last February, to resume on January 10. Embattled Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, named to the post with union agreement following last year's strike, has engaged in talks with the syndicates to avert another work stoppage.
"Efforts are being made to defuse the crisis, besides all the efforts made by state institutions, religious leaders and union leaders," Kouyate told a private radio station in Conakry, notes Reuters.
Kouyaté also had what he termed a "very conciliatory exchange" with head of state Gen. Lansana Conté but offered no concrete details.
Youths in suburbs of Conakry burned tires, built barricades and threw stones.
One man was killed as he stepped out of a taxi and was hit by a thrown rock.
Unions have called for a nationwide general strike, suspended last February, to resume on January 10. Embattled Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, named to the post with union agreement following last year's strike, has engaged in talks with the syndicates to avert another work stoppage.
"Efforts are being made to defuse the crisis, besides all the efforts made by state institutions, religious leaders and union leaders," Kouyate told a private radio station in Conakry, notes Reuters.
Kouyaté also had what he termed a "very conciliatory exchange" with head of state Gen. Lansana Conté but offered no concrete details.
Friday, January 04, 2008
[Guinean news] General strike to resume on January 10
There has been rioting in Guinea after the head of state Gen. Lansana Conté fired Communications Minister Justin Morel Jr.
Voice of America reported that Conté's New Years Day message attacked the government of Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, calling it a "disappointment."
However an analyst for the International Crisis group disagreed, saying that "[t]here has been some clear improvement in social services, water, electricity, and all these issues were really the core reason of the general strike and the massive demonstrations last year.".
Morel responded by telling state television that the words attributed to Conté were penned by extremists "nostalgic for a past that no longer exists."
Kouyaté and his cabinet were appointed after an agreement struck last year between Conté and labor unions in order to end a debilitating general strike.
Many inside Guinea are outraged by Morel's sacking by presidential decree, arguing that he was named minister via consensus and could only be sacked via the same method.
This is seen as only the latest move by the presidency to undermine Prime Minister Kouyaté's authority.
Last month, Conte signed a decree giving more control within the government to one of his closest allies, the presidency secretary-general, Sam Mamadi Soumah.
Guinéenews reported that Kouyaté's government threatened to resign if Conté's decree was not reversed.
Outraged by what it sees as Conté's betrayal of last year's deal and undermining of Kouyaté's authority, unions have called for a resumption of the nationwide general strike, starting on January 10.
"We are going to stage an unlimited general strike to force the government to respect these agreements," the secretary-general of the National Confederation of Guinean Workers (CNTG), Rabiatou Serah Diallo, told a news conference.
Earlier a union leader told Reuters: "This is a serious violation of the agreement which ended last year's crisis."
Officially, union leaders did not end last year's general strike following the power-sharing deal, but only suspended it.
Voice of America reported that Conté's New Years Day message attacked the government of Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, calling it a "disappointment."
However an analyst for the International Crisis group disagreed, saying that "[t]here has been some clear improvement in social services, water, electricity, and all these issues were really the core reason of the general strike and the massive demonstrations last year.".
Morel responded by telling state television that the words attributed to Conté were penned by extremists "nostalgic for a past that no longer exists."
Kouyaté and his cabinet were appointed after an agreement struck last year between Conté and labor unions in order to end a debilitating general strike.
Many inside Guinea are outraged by Morel's sacking by presidential decree, arguing that he was named minister via consensus and could only be sacked via the same method.
This is seen as only the latest move by the presidency to undermine Prime Minister Kouyaté's authority.
Last month, Conte signed a decree giving more control within the government to one of his closest allies, the presidency secretary-general, Sam Mamadi Soumah.
Guinéenews reported that Kouyaté's government threatened to resign if Conté's decree was not reversed.
Outraged by what it sees as Conté's betrayal of last year's deal and undermining of Kouyaté's authority, unions have called for a resumption of the nationwide general strike, starting on January 10.
"We are going to stage an unlimited general strike to force the government to respect these agreements," the secretary-general of the National Confederation of Guinean Workers (CNTG), Rabiatou Serah Diallo, told a news conference.
Earlier a union leader told Reuters: "This is a serious violation of the agreement which ended last year's crisis."
Officially, union leaders did not end last year's general strike following the power-sharing deal, but only suspended it.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
[Guinean news] Praise for the new prime minister
Despite massive challenges, an article in the pan-African weekly Jeune Afrique gives high marks to the new Guinean prime minister Lansana Kouyaté. The ex-diplomat was named head of government after a nationwide general strike earlier this year.
Ibrahima Diakité, head of the National Council of Civil Society Organizations said, "[Kouyaté] came to address the economic situation which had been seriously affected years of plunder and waste... at present, he hasn't been able to change the system in terms of the administration, but he has kicked out the old barons, ministers, governors and prefects."
Kouyaté himself added that basic services, particularly water and electricity, are in the process of being re-established in places that had been deprived on them for dozens of years.
A union official, under cover of anonymity, said that the new government was progressively beginning to 'make its mark.'
"The new government is the most transparent we've had for 20 years," he added.
Ibrahima Diakité, head of the National Council of Civil Society Organizations said, "[Kouyaté] came to address the economic situation which had been seriously affected years of plunder and waste... at present, he hasn't been able to change the system in terms of the administration, but he has kicked out the old barons, ministers, governors and prefects."
Kouyaté himself added that basic services, particularly water and electricity, are in the process of being re-established in places that had been deprived on them for dozens of years.
A union official, under cover of anonymity, said that the new government was progressively beginning to 'make its mark.'
"The new government is the most transparent we've had for 20 years," he added.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
[Guinean news] Unions slam prime minister
Reuters reports that Guinean trade unions have launched a broadside against the country's consensus prime minister, whom they helped bring to power earlier this year, for failing to tackle the high cost of basic goods and utilities.
In a letter to head of government Lansana Kouyaté, the main CNTG and USTG union federations said, "You make public statements which you then do not respect. This is the case with water, electricity, transport, the price of basic foodstuffs at market and the valuation of the national currency."
This came after several protests in the Conakry suburbs about increasing cost of living.
Inflation in Guinea is estimated at around 30 percent.
In a letter to head of government Lansana Kouyaté, the main CNTG and USTG union federations said, "You make public statements which you then do not respect. This is the case with water, electricity, transport, the price of basic foodstuffs at market and the valuation of the national currency."
This came after several protests in the Conakry suburbs about increasing cost of living.
Inflation in Guinea is estimated at around 30 percent.
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