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Guinean Military Junta; a Time Bomb
for West Africa By: Musa Sekou Fofana from Atlanta,GA. September 29, 2009
Reports emanating from the Guinean capital Conakry; is very disturbing.
According to BBC 58 persons were killed by the Military in clashes
between the Army and opposition protesters. Among them the renowned
Guinean Economist and the legendary former Prime Minister Sidiya Toure;
who is reported to have sustained a head injury. Other Opposition
leaders are also in custody. Scores of innocent Civilians were injured
and heavily armed military personnel’s are patrolling the quiet streets
of Conakry. The Military Junta’s history of deceit and disappointment
When the Military headed by Capt. Musa Dadis Camara announced a takeover after the death of the late president Lansana Conte, Guineans found themselves in a state of bewilderment. Some were no longer comfortable with the left over cronies of Conte. The poor stricken Guineans welcomed the Military intervention (especially headed by an unknown and junior officer). Initially, the international community opposed the coup. Nevertheless, some high liners in African politics like Abdou Diouf (former Senegalese President) intervened and carried out vigorous public relations activities on behalf of the Junta; with the anticipation of shimmering the wishes of the Guinean people. After numerous diplomatic negotiations, the Junta agreed and promised the Guineans and the International Community that they will host free and fair elections within a year and Dadis will not be a contestant in those elections. History repeated itself; the first thing Dadis and his hooligans embarked on was deepening their root and solidifying their grip on power. He then hinted some of his closer lieutenants about his intention to run for the presidency in the elections. This thought met mixed reactions within his ranks; one top advisor to Capt. Camara (on condition of anonymity)hinted that some of them tried to prevail on him to abandon such plan and act like Toumani Toure of Mali; refrain from contesting the elections now, come back and contest the following elections. The Guineans will consider you a hero and the international community will develop esteem for you. Those brilliant advises fell to death ears and the captain went ahead and formed his political party, appoint one of his friends as the chairperson of the Party. These activities (in contradictions to Mr. Camara’s initial message of hope) has sparkled an unpredictable political environment for the opposition politicians. Based on these and other factors, the opposition politicians tried to galvanize the population; who showed support for the Junta over the remnant Conte allies. Unfortunately, the Dadis regime has disappointed the Guinean people and the international community. He has turned his weapons on the very people who welcomed him with his false message of hope and change. Human Rights Violations Guinean leaders have tainted the human right history in that country since independence in 1958. Sekou Toure ruled Guinea for 26 years, and his regime was characterized by political eliminations; disappearance, torture, and execution were the hallmark of his presidency. After Sekou Toure’s death in 1984, General Lansana Conte seized power through a bloodless Coup. There were countless human right abuses during his 24 years of leadership. He jailed Opposition leaders and killed those he perceived as threats (like Diarra Traore). Corruption was rampant. They diminished the rule of law. Mismanagement of the natural resources manufactured the Mass Weapons of Destruction used by the military government against the population. Extreme Poverty, lack of running water, six hours rationing of the electricity (in the capital Conakry)are few of the shame that Gen. Conte brought to the Guinean people. The CNDD of Capt. Musa Dadis Kamara manipulated their way into the power vacuum left by the death of President Conte. They made promises that their leadership will eliminate all the above odds of the previous governments. The few months Dadis has been in power are somehow the worst in the history of the country. For a sitting president to preside over judiciary hearings on national TV, where accused individuals are intimidated to confess a crime is a mockery of Criminal Justice System and an indication that the captain is unaware of the functions of a president. The Junta also arrested and incarcerated Hon. Sekou Damate Konneh (a citizen of another country) without due process of international law and human rights. Capt. Camara is reported to have yelled at and used profanity in the face of a German Diploma in Conakry simply because the diploma was critical on the need for him to make a solid commitment that he is not going to run for the presidency in the upcoming elections. Now we see the source of his anger at the German Diploma; he had sinister motives. Today’s incident in Conakry is just the beginning of what the Crisis Group; an European Think- Tank predicted years ago that Guinea will result into a FAILED STATE.
The West African Regional Factor
Guinea played a Pivotal role in the Refugees Crisis that hit and crippled West Africa in the 90s. With the simultaneous civil war in Liberia, Sierra Leon, and the Ivory Coast, Guinea provided shelter for over half a million Refugees. We are all aware of the tremendous sacrifices made by the West African community through the ECOWAS, the AU, UN, EU and the U.S.A. to bring those situations under control. Guinea should have been the country to discourage any symptom to that ugly situation in our Sub-region. Unfortunately, Guinea under the suppressive regime of unprofessional Military elites has planted the seed of destabilization. The good will by means of manpower, financial resources and technical assistance provided us by the above mentioned institutions need to be protected. Political stability should be the primary concern of every patriotic citizen of West Africa. Creation of an environment in which; social justice and human status elevation, quality of life improvement, economic growth shall be the ultimate goal of the Sub-Region. ECOWAS in Cooperation with the AU needs to step up and discourage this tendency. Let us use the preemptive measures to curtail future bloodbath in the Sub-Region. The only way we can do that, is to prevail on the likes of Musa Dadis Camara. We are in the 21st century; the era of imposition as a leader is over. The act of Suppression has no place in the civilized world. No Mass killer shall go with impunity; others need to learn from the rest. Charles Taylor is at the war crime tribunal for crimes against humanity. He committed these crimes in Sierra Leone. What about Musa Dadis Camara who is carrying out mayhem against his own people; he needs to be stopped and he needs to be brought to justice. The views expressed in this article are exclusively that of the author. They are in no way related to the Mandingo Nations website Please direct all comments to Bro. Musa Fofana at sheikhmusa@gmail.com or +1404-644-8057
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Picture from today’s military brutality
in Guinea