Paul Ohia With Agency Report
24 December 2008
Lagos — Mutinous Guinean soldiers yesterday launched a coup by suspending the country's constitution hours after the death was announced of the country's President Lansana Conte.
But the Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare said the government was still intact even as the army chief, Gen. Diarra Camara, called the mutineers a minority.
The revolting soldiers broadcast a communiqué on state radio suspending the constitution and the government.
"I think they are in the minority ... they are not the majority in the army," Camara, told French TV station, France 24.
Officials said negotiations were held at the main Alpha Yaya Diallo military base in Conakry's suburbs, between soldiers and officers who supported the coup and those who wanted to stay loyal to constitutional procedure.
National Assembly President Aboubacar Sompare, who under the constitution should take over as interim head of state following Conte's death on Monday, told French TV an "attempted coup d'etat" was under way, Reuters reported.
Shots were heard from the neighbourhood of the Alpha Yaya Diallo camp, residents said. But despite the presence of heavily-armed military patrols, and at least one tank in the streets, the dilapidated seaside capital Conakry was calm.
"I don't think all of the army are behind the mutineers ... It's a group," Sompare told France 24, speaking from his home in the capital, Conakry.
The attempted coup was launched just hours after government leaders said Conte, 74, had died from illness following nearly a quarter century of rule over the country, the world's leading exporter of bauxite aluminium ore.
In radio broadcasts, the soldiers attempting the coup told government leaders to go to the Alpha Yaya Diallo camp "for their protection," but Sompare said he and Souare were still at liberty.
Former colonial power, France, which holds the rotating European Union (EU) presidency, said it would oppose any coup in Guinea, a position echoed by the African Union (AU) and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
I think the Guineans need a change,it does not matter who ever replace Lansana Conte. All we have to do is to support the present coup leader Captain Kamara, as an african we should start to think outside the box,he has made a promise that he will hand over in 2010.Au,Eu,America and the world should stop contradicting and listen to the voice of the poor Guineans.This is a lesson for those leaders who thinks they're extra ordinary, one day it will be your turn Mr Dictator leader,power is to be loyal and treats every one with respect and dignity,stop the wicked acts and remember that you are representing a nation or a society.
A change made by the use of the "GUN" you recommend is a good change? My brothers,stop fooling yourselves.If Capt. Kamara mean a good change,why suspend the constitution,ban all public gathering? I am in sympathy with the people of Guinea.There is nothing that we can do now to change the situation in Guinea. But we can whole-heartedly condemn it.For the AU,just shut up! and let the EU or America speak. Because if there is anything wrong,you will be running to America and EU, telling them you have troops but you can't sponsor their expenses.What a big shame! Thanks to Nigeria in many conficts.
We note with increasing alarm your deviation from fundamental principles of anti-soupism.
This is your second infringement. STOP!
ON ALL MATTERS SOCIO-POLITICAL, WE DO NOT LISTEN TO THE WEST, under the anti-soupist principle of authentic and principled REFLECTIVE SELF-DETERMINATION.
AUTHORIZED AND ISSUED BY THE REFLECTIVE ANTI-SOUPIST OPPOSITION IN EXILE, AND NOW IN THE SOUPIST OCCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF GUNIEA, SIERRA LEONE, GAMBIA, SENEGAL, NIGERIA, LIBERIA, AND EXPANDING.
Did I hear AU and ECOWAS condemning the military takeover in Guinea? Do AU and ECOWAS have what it takes to be true custodians of democracy? Where were AU and ECOWAS when Lansana Conteh actually, and in broad day light, seized power in questionable elections? I do not support the military takeover, but I think the military takeover is the less of the two evils. Having said that, the AU and ECOWAS should take more proactive positions on issues than to beat drums of rethorics just to give the international community a false sense of appeasement.
To my Guinean brothers and sisters, please reminisce about the past and imagine what you have endured. Please unite on a common sense...that Guinea is more important than everyone of you.
This has nothing to do with the AU or whatever.
We condemn soupists whether robed in civilian garb or khaki: down with the soupist coupists.
Please note, as a partial confirmation of our theory of territoriality, that the soupist gun toter, Camara, did not mention, in his announcement of the estrangement of power from his fellow soupists in 'parliament', THE NATION OF GUINEA.
And, correctly so: ain't no nation called "GUINEA." An occupied West African territory called "Guinea" vraiment.
AUTHORIZIED AND ISSUED BY THE ALL AFRICA ANTI-SOUPIST OPPOSITION IN EXILE.
See all comments (13).
Active Discussions: Army Captain Named Head of State, Promises Elections