Katy Gabel and Brian Kennedy
13 June 2007
Washington, D.C. — Guinea's recently appointed Prime Minister, Lansana Kouyaté, has committed himself to holding "free and fair" elections in December this year, but has stressed the international community has an important role to play in facilitating them.
In a wide-ranging interview with allAfrica.com during his first official visit to Washington, DC last week, Kouyaté said his country did not even have the necessary buildings from which local election officials could work. "Immediately," he said, "we need money."
Kouyaté also discussed issues including his relationship with President Lansana Conté, his handling of discontent in the army, his efforts to combat corruption and his response to past human rights abuses.
Conté was forced to appoint Kouyaté as prime minister on February 26 in response to nationwide strikes, led by labor unions, which paralyzed the country. In January and February, tens of thousands of Guineans protested in the streets, and more than 100 were killed and hundreds more injured when police opened fire on demonstrators. Kouyaté was one of four names on a list of candidates approved by the unions.
Discussing the prerequisites for credible elections, he told allAfrica that administration in the countryside was "non-existent," adding: "All of the infrastructure ... has been destroyed during the turmoil period…. We have to rebuild all this before December, so elections can take place very safely and in total transparency."
In May, soldiers mutinied over low pay, at one time marching down the streets of Conakry, firing their weapons into the air. The government met their demands, but many questioned how the government could afford to pay the soldiers. Kouyaté said in the interview that there would be no increase in the military budget but that pay increases would be covered by scaling back other army spending.
Kouyaté also stressed the need to revitalize the country's economy, noting that contracts with companies such as Hyperdynamics, an offshore oil and gas company, are being explored. However, he said, such contracts must benefit all Guineans: "You cannot do that without giving priority to justice - precisely, social justice. To give people [the knowledge] that they are not abandoned."
Kouyaté said a meeting with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during his visit had gone very well.
"I did not know she was very aware of the situation in Guinea," he said. "She was following it personally. For me, it was a good surprise." He said Rice promised a "total commitment" to the elections.
Kouyaté also met with officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The IMF had decided to renew Guinea's program, he said, which had been stopped "a long time ago."
The World Bank is sponsoring a donor meeting in Paris on July 23 for Guinea. Kouyaté said the bank was also sending a delegation to Guinea to tackle electricity and water problems.
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How to fill the power vacuum in Guinea Conte had been inactive for sometimes now, the prime minister, the secretary general and the leader of the general assembly that wish to stay remain in power now that they deemed it constitutional, are the same people that have carry on this mess for a long time. For the few past years, these are people that have been running the country without any regards to the needs of the people. They all favor the way Guinea has been ruled since they didnt have to be accountable to anyone, Checks and balances do not apply to these politicians so letting them continue in name of peaceful transfer of power will not do Guinea any good. They may arrange some kind of election in the distance future but will make sure they win at any cost. The military on the other hand cant be trusted to take power in a way they wish now since the Guinean army is one of the most unprofessional, corrupt army that have killed many civilians during peaceful riots in Guinea and are highly divided along ethnic lines.
The west (The US, France and others) has failed guinea as they have let Conte carried on this madness for years without really doing anything about it. Guinea is blessed with huge deposit of rich minerals but it remains one of the poorest countries in world, while the masses continue to suffer, (three basic meals a day is luxury for the privileged few) Western companies are doing very well in Guinea. Government contracts are not negotiated in a way to benefit the country and the little funds that were generated, went to Conte, his friends and other high-ranking members of his government that wish to stay the course. As western interests were highly protected under the Conte regime, it doesnt seem they would care much if Contes people continue.
ECOWAS, AU, and UN need to step in now, hold a summit with all stake Guinean holders in, negotiate an inclusive transition that includes everyone or most Guinean tribes, set dates of free and fair elections and make sure elections are really carried on free and fairly. While its important to have peaceful transfer of power in , politicians and the military vetting for power now dont represent the interests of the Guinean people so the international community needs to step in now and if the UN or West doesnt want to move in quickly, AU and ECOWAS need not wait. They helped negotiate the conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone so if they are willing, they can resolve the power vacuum in Guinea peacefully in the interest of the masses.
How to fill the power vacuum in Guinea Conte had been inactive for sometimes now, the prime minister, the secretary general and the leader of the general assembly that wish to stay remain in power now that they deemed it constitutional, are the same people that have carry on this mess for a long time. For the few past years, these are people that have been running the country without any regards to the needs of the people. They all favor the way Guinea has been ruled since they didnt have to be accountable to anyone, Checks and balances do not apply to these politicians so letting them continue in name of peaceful transfer of power will not do Guinea any good. They may arrange some kind of election in the distance future but will make sure they win at any cost. The military on the other hand cant be trusted to take power in a way they wish now since the Guinean army is one of the most unprofessional, corrupt army that have killed many civilians during peaceful riots in Guinea and are highly divided along ethnic lines.
The west (The US, France and others) has failed guinea as they have let Conte carried on this madness for years without really doing anything about it. Guinea is blessed with huge deposit of rich minerals but it remains one of the poorest countries in world, while the masses continue to suffer, (three basic meals a day is luxury for the privileged few) Western companies are doing very well in Guinea. Government contracts are not negotiated in a way to benefit the country and the little funds that were generated, went to Conte, his friends and other high-ranking members of his government that wish to stay the course. As western interests were highly protected under the Conte regime, it doesnt seem they would care much if Contes people continue.
ECOWAS, AU, and UN need to step in now, hold a summit with all stake Guinean holders in, negotiate an inclusive transition that includes everyone or most Guinean tribes, set dates of free and fair elections and make sure elections are really carried on free and fairly. While its important to have peaceful transfer of power in , politicians and the military vetting for power now dont represent the interests of the Guinean people so the international community needs to step in now and if the UN or West doesnt want to move in quickly, AU and ECOWAS need not wait. They helped negotiate the conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone so if they are willing, they can resolve the power vacuum in Guinea peacefully in the interest of the masses.
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