Saliou Samb
24 December 2008
Conakry — Just under 48 hours after the death of Guinean president, Lansana Conté on Dec. 22, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara has been named Guinea's new head of state by the National Council for Democracy and Development, known by its French acronym, CNDD.
The CNDD, created on Dec. 23 by the leaders of a military coup launched shortly after Conté's death, has promised to lead a to hold democratic elections in December 2010. It has also decreed a country-wide curfew from 8 pm to 6 am, to be observed after the funeral for the deceased president is held on Dec. 26.
By the morning after President Conté's death, soldiers had forcibly occupied the premises of Guinea's national broadcaster to announce the suspension of the constitution, the dissolving of the government and the institutions of the republic.
Captain Camara read a declaration on national radio and television in his capacity as spokesperson for the coup plotters. "The Armed Forces of Guinea have decided to put an end to disorder, restore the authority of the state, fight against corruption to reinforce democracy and fight against poverty."
Calm reigns in the country for the moment, even if not everyone appears to support the takeover. While both the head of the national assembly, Aboubacar Somparé -- constitutionally-designated successor to Conté -- and Prime Minister Souaré, have rejected the coup, the putschists have occupied all strategic points in the capital Conakry.
Captain Camara has announced the names of 26 soldiers -- all young officers trained in major military academies in the West -- and six civilians who now make up the National Council for Democracy and Development, the self-designated body to lead the transition in the country.
The opposition has maintained a principled position of condemning the coup attempt.
"I am against all attempts to overturn legal power by force, and I will fight whoever tries to devalue the democratic gains of the Republic of Guinea," said Mouctar Diallo, a young political leader, president of the New Democratic Forces party.
The most important opposition leader, Alpha Condé, president of the Rally of the Guinean People, who returned to the country the day after Conté's death, is yet make a public statement.
However, the Party for Unity and Progress (PUP), on whose platform Conté stood for president in 1993, 1998 and 2003 has not been particularly outspoken.
"People are waiting to see what happens because the situation is confused and one doesn't know exactly where it will end now that the army is now involved in the succession of the president," PUP member of parliament Cheikh Tidiane Traoré told IPS.
Conté himmself came to power in a bloodless coup following the death of the president-dictator Sékou Touré in 1984 and ruled the country with an iron hand for 24 years. But he will also be remembered as the leader who introduced freedom of expression, a greater openness to the outside world and multiparty elections as part of a new constitution in 1990.
Camara and the CNDD have taken control of a country rich in natural resources (including bauxite, gold, diamonds and iron), but with a fragile state weakened by corruption and a culture of violence instilled in certain elements of the army. In January and February 2007, soldiers fired live ammunition at a crowd of demonstrators in Conakry, causing at least 186 deaths.
More than 53 percent of the Guinean population lives below the poverty line of less than a dollar a day, according to official figures.
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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.
I think the only effective solution to address the current political situation and the chronic corruption and crime is the military takeover. What will be the AU position if Mugabe is overthrown? I am very curious to know. Anyway, for the military takeover to be very effective, i suggest the following:
- an effective border control - arrest all members of the Conte regime - restructure the system (including the police) - bring in new constitution - ensure the best interest of all Guinean is served by giving them shares in all commercial contracts from foreign countries - the basic needs of the people of Guinea such as electric city, health care, agricultural production etc need to be met as soon as possible; -the new government should include well educated people.
Regards
Mohamed Kondeh
Sydney, Australia
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