Guinea: Europe Imposes Sanctions on Junta

27 October 2009

The European Union (EU) has placed an arms embargo on Guinea and banned members of its military junta from travelling to Europe.

The EU's council announced Wednesday that it had adopted a common European position imposing "restrictive measures" following the massacre of demonstrators on September 28 and later human rights violations.

About 160 people were reported killed and hundreds injured in a military crackdown on a demonstration on September 28. Witnesses said soldiers opened fire on demonstrators, stabbed people with bayonets and gang-raped women and girls.

The EU council said in its statement on Wednesday: "The restrictive measures are made up of an arms embargo and a visa-ban in order to prevent the entry into the EU territory to members of the National Council for Democracy and Development (NCDD) and individuals associated with them responsible for the violent repression or the political stalemate in the country."

The NCDD seized power last December soon after death of President Lansana Conté. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) imposed its own arms embargo on Guinea earlier this month.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.