Initial optimism about the new regime has faded dramatically ever since junta leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara reneged on a promise to not participate in presidential elections scheduled for January 31.
A new political party, the Rally for the Defense of the Republic, was formed to back the military leader's candidacy. After Dadis, who unilaterally declared himself president following the death of Gen. Lansana Conté, broke his pledge not to run for the chief executive, the African Union imposed sanctions on Guinea.
Anti-Dadis has been rising ever since the coup leader's electoral ambitions became clear. He was met by huge protests when he visited Labé, the country's second largest city. And when the opposition tried to organize a rally against the regime, the junta banned it.
When the demonstration proceeded anyway, the "security" forces fired live ammunition at the crowd, reportedly killing dozens of demonstrators.
"It's butchery! There are dozens of dead," a Conakry doctor told the French news agency AFP.
Some media outlets reporting the death total as high as 87.
Another Conakry doctor told the IRIN news agency that there were 'hundreds' of injuries from bullets and beatings.
The massacre occurred on the 51st anniversary of the referendum in which Guineans voted for independence from France.
Update: Al-Jazeera reports that opposition leader and former prime minister Cellou Dalien Diallo and several other politicians were thrown in jail. A source indicated to me that Diallo was also shot during the protests. New reports suggest the death toll now exceeds 120.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 03, 2009
[Guinean news] Junta bans politics on state media, shuts down text messaging amid rising political tension
Despite previously promising that he would not stand in presidential elections now scheduled for January 2010, Guinea's military leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara seems to be encouraging rumors that he actually win run, prompting a rise in political tension in the country.
A group calling itself the Dadis Must Go Movement clashed with police following demonstrations last week.
A group favourable to the junta, the Dadis Must Stay Movement, was set up at the beginning of August and its representatives were received, amid much publicity, on state television, by the permanent secretary to the junta, Major Moussa Keita, reports Reuters.
"I might (run for election) or I might not stand," Dadis told Agènce France Presse. He added that those who don't want him to be a candidate "don't understand anything about democracy."
Yesterday, the authorities responded to the disquiet by banning political discussion on state media; private broadcasters are virtually non-existent in the country.
A senior source in the CNC [National Communications Council], which regulates all media in Guinea, told Reuters that the ban was a result of "pressure from the entourage around the head of the junta."
The measure follows a row last week over efforts by the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) junta to block a text message being sent to mobile phones that called on Guineans to resist plans by CNDD leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to stand in elections.
Telecommunications companies felt threatened by the CNDD's order and suspended the use of the text messages for several days to stop the message from spreading, the Ghana-based Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) said.
The move was panned by human rights' organizations. "The coup leaders keep saying they are breaking with the past, but the use of threats and intimidation against opponents look disturbingly familiar," said Corinne Dufka, of Human Rights Watch.
A group calling itself the Dadis Must Go Movement clashed with police following demonstrations last week.
A group favourable to the junta, the Dadis Must Stay Movement, was set up at the beginning of August and its representatives were received, amid much publicity, on state television, by the permanent secretary to the junta, Major Moussa Keita, reports Reuters.
"I might (run for election) or I might not stand," Dadis told Agènce France Presse. He added that those who don't want him to be a candidate "don't understand anything about democracy."
Yesterday, the authorities responded to the disquiet by banning political discussion on state media; private broadcasters are virtually non-existent in the country.
A senior source in the CNC [National Communications Council], which regulates all media in Guinea, told Reuters that the ban was a result of "pressure from the entourage around the head of the junta."
The measure follows a row last week over efforts by the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) junta to block a text message being sent to mobile phones that called on Guineans to resist plans by CNDD leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to stand in elections.
Telecommunications companies felt threatened by the CNDD's order and suspended the use of the text messages for several days to stop the message from spreading, the Ghana-based Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) said.
The move was panned by human rights' organizations. "The coup leaders keep saying they are breaking with the past, but the use of threats and intimidation against opponents look disturbingly familiar," said Corinne Dufka, of Human Rights Watch.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
[Guinean news] Flooding in Conakry
The UN's IRIN news service reports that flooding has hit parts of the Guinean capital Conakry last week. IRIN notes that torrential rains caused extensive damage in the Damondy neighborhood, near the international airport. The rains flooded homes, washed away belongings and destroyed some crops locals grow nearby.
It added: Dabondy residents said the area lacks the infrastructure to evacuate water. Everyone IRIN spoke to pointed to a low bridge nearby, where rubbish packed underneath hinders the passage of water. Fuel residue mixed in with debris in the area has exacerbated the blockage and hurt crops, residents said.
Other areas of the capital were also affected but Dabondy was particularly hard hit.
The UN news service points out that Dabondy is affected by flooding every year but that the rains have been particularly hard this year.
One resident who gave her name as Madame Bah said the floodwaters submerged a community well and swept away the cover. The well was used for cooking and bathing water; for drinking water residents fill jerry cans at a communal tap about 5km away.
The mayor of Matoto, the district in which Dabondy is located, blamed the residents for not being able to afford to build their houses anywhere else.
Note: a reader contacted me asking me if I had any more information other than the IRIN article on the flooding. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted this email and can not reply to her directly. But I do not really have any further details. I contacted an acquaintance of mine in Conakry but she didn't know much about it and hadn't been affected. If any readers have any further information, please feel free to comment.
It added: Dabondy residents said the area lacks the infrastructure to evacuate water. Everyone IRIN spoke to pointed to a low bridge nearby, where rubbish packed underneath hinders the passage of water. Fuel residue mixed in with debris in the area has exacerbated the blockage and hurt crops, residents said.
Other areas of the capital were also affected but Dabondy was particularly hard hit.
The UN news service points out that Dabondy is affected by flooding every year but that the rains have been particularly hard this year.
One resident who gave her name as Madame Bah said the floodwaters submerged a community well and swept away the cover. The well was used for cooking and bathing water; for drinking water residents fill jerry cans at a communal tap about 5km away.
The mayor of Matoto, the district in which Dabondy is located, blamed the residents for not being able to afford to build their houses anywhere else.
Note: a reader contacted me asking me if I had any more information other than the IRIN article on the flooding. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted this email and can not reply to her directly. But I do not really have any further details. I contacted an acquaintance of mine in Conakry but she didn't know much about it and hadn't been affected. If any readers have any further information, please feel free to comment.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
[FOG news] Communications director returns
With much regret, the FOG board has accepted the resignation of newly-elected Communications Director Rosemarie Rose, who has step down for personal reasons. Outgoing Communications Director Brian Farenell will remain in the position next year's elections.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
[Guinean news] AU denounces CNDD 'diversion'; Dadis threatens arrests for 'disinformation'
A followup to this story:
Guinéenews reports that the African Union has criticized the invasion claims of the Guinean junta and described the CNDD's actions as a 'diversion.' An AU spokesman charged the CNDD with seeking pretexts to postpone the elections scheduled for the end of the year. Radio France Internationale's Afrique Soir program reports that head of state Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara threatened to arrest anyone contradicting the CNDD's claims and spreading 'disinformation.' Guinéenews pointed out that the forest region of Guinea was the victim of an incursion from rebels based in Liberia in 2000 which caused hundreds of deaths and serious destruction.
Guinéenews reports that the African Union has criticized the invasion claims of the Guinean junta and described the CNDD's actions as a 'diversion.' An AU spokesman charged the CNDD with seeking pretexts to postpone the elections scheduled for the end of the year. Radio France Internationale's Afrique Soir program reports that head of state Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara threatened to arrest anyone contradicting the CNDD's claims and spreading 'disinformation.' Guinéenews pointed out that the forest region of Guinea was the victim of an incursion from rebels based in Liberia in 2000 which caused hundreds of deaths and serious destruction.
Monday, July 13, 2009
[Guinean news] Junta warns of invasion
The Guinean military regime has put the armed forces on high alert after claiming to have uncovered a plot to attack the country.
An announcement on state-run national radio said drugs cartels were believed to be behind the plans.
Cocaine cartels have essentially taken over the neighboring Republic of Guinea-Bissau, however the CNDD junta in Conakry said that armed men were also amassing along the borders in Senegal and Liberia.
"The ministry of defence was informed by the security services and other credible sources of the preparation of an armed attack on Guinea from its borders with Guinea-Bissau and the region of Casamance [in Senegal]," said a Guinean government statement. "These sources have also indicated that there are armed men regrouping on the border with Guinea Bissau to the north and the town of Foya to the south on the border with Liberia."
The governments of Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Liberia denied that there were any armed groups along their borders with Guinea.
An announcement on state-run national radio said drugs cartels were believed to be behind the plans.
Cocaine cartels have essentially taken over the neighboring Republic of Guinea-Bissau, however the CNDD junta in Conakry said that armed men were also amassing along the borders in Senegal and Liberia.
"The ministry of defence was informed by the security services and other credible sources of the preparation of an armed attack on Guinea from its borders with Guinea-Bissau and the region of Casamance [in Senegal]," said a Guinean government statement. "These sources have also indicated that there are armed men regrouping on the border with Guinea Bissau to the north and the town of Foya to the south on the border with Liberia."
The governments of Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Liberia denied that there were any armed groups along their borders with Guinea.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
[PCV news] PCV blogs collection
A new website called Peace Corps Journals has been created which aggregates Peace Corps Volunteers' blogs from around the world. Click to access their...
-Main Guinea web page
-Facebook page on Guinean blogs
-Twitter updates.
-Main Guinea web page
-Facebook page on Guinean blogs
-Twitter updates.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
[Guinean news] Ex-army chief charged with drugs trafficking
The former head of the Guinean army, Gen. Diarra Camara, and 19 others were charged with drugs trafficking. The group of defendants includes Nigerian, Ghanaian and Israeli nationals as well as Gen. Camara's son and the former and current heads of the country's Marine Corps.
The son of the late head of state Gen. Lansana Conte confessed early this year to being involved in drugs trafficking.
The son of the late head of state Gen. Lansana Conte confessed early this year to being involved in drugs trafficking.
Friday, June 12, 2009
[Guinean news] Army chief calls for poll delay but is rebuffed by Dadis
Earlier this week, Guinea's army chief made waves by claiming that the country was not ready for elections in 2009 and that they should be delayed until next year.
However, the head of state, Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara, responded by insisting that elections would take place this year as scheduled.
When the German ambassador pressed Dadis if he would contest presidential elections if they were postponed until 2010, the junta leader angrily lashed out at the envoy. Camara promised not to stand in the 2009 elections, but some observers wonder if the promise precluded a candidacy if the polls were delayed until next year.
An Afrik.com correspondent shared his thoughts on a visit to the head of state's lounge.
However, the head of state, Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara, responded by insisting that elections would take place this year as scheduled.
When the German ambassador pressed Dadis if he would contest presidential elections if they were postponed until 2010, the junta leader angrily lashed out at the envoy. Camara promised not to stand in the 2009 elections, but some observers wonder if the promise precluded a candidacy if the polls were delayed until next year.
An Afrik.com correspondent shared his thoughts on a visit to the head of state's lounge.
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