| GUINEA Republic of Guinea Republique de Guinee Joined United Nations: 12 December 1958 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 08/04/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Conakry
10,324,025 (July 2010 est.)
Sékouba Konaté
Acting President for the Council For
Democracy and Development since
3 December 2009
Acting President for the Council For
Democracy and Development since
3 December 2009
NOTE: Following the death of President Lansana Conte, a
military coup toppled the Constitutional government. Junta
leader Camara installed himself as Chief of State and Head of
Government, Konaté was Vice President but became Acting
President when Camara had to flee country after being shot by
his aide-de-camp; election last held on 27 June 2010
Next scheduled election: runoff election scheduled for 24
August 2010 pending Supreme Court rulings on allegations of
voting fraud
military coup toppled the Constitutional government. Junta
leader Camara installed himself as Chief of State and Head of
Government, Konaté was Vice President but became Acting
President when Camara had to flee country after being shot by
his aide-de-camp; election last held on 27 June 2010
Next scheduled election: runoff election scheduled for 24
August 2010 pending Supreme Court rulings on allegations of
voting fraud
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
Jean-Marie Doré
Prime Minister since 26 January 2010
Prime Minister since 26 January 2010
Appointed by President for the Council For Democracy and
Development
Development
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
| RELIGIONS |
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Republic comprised of 33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special). Legal system is based on French civil law system,
customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Executive: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes
cast to be elected president; election last held 27 June 2010; runoff election scheduled for 24 August 2010 pending Supreme
Court rulings on allegations of voting fraud; the prime minister is appointed by the president; NOTE: Following the death of
President Lansana Conte, a military coup toppled the Constitutional government and Camara installed himself as Chief of
State and Head of Government. Konate, his Vice President, became Acting President when Camara had to flee country
after being shot by his aide-de-camp. .
Legislative: Unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected
by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 June 2002 (legislative elections first due in 2007 have been rescheduled multiple times and are
currently unscheduled)
Judicial: Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme
customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Executive: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes
cast to be elected president; election last held 27 June 2010; runoff election scheduled for 24 August 2010 pending Supreme
Court rulings on allegations of voting fraud; the prime minister is appointed by the president; NOTE: Following the death of
President Lansana Conte, a military coup toppled the Constitutional government and Camara installed himself as Chief of
State and Head of Government. Konate, his Vice President, became Acting President when Camara had to flee country
after being shot by his aide-de-camp. .
Legislative: Unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected
by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 June 2002 (legislative elections first due in 2007 have been rescheduled multiple times and are
currently unscheduled)
Judicial: Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme
| LANGUAGES |
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
| BRIEF HISTORY |
The modern state of Guinea did not come into existence until 1958 but the history of the area stretches back much further.
West Africa saw many empires rise and fall in the period before European intervention and Guinea fell within many of them.
The Ghana Empire is believed to be the earliest of these which grew on trade but contracted and ultimately fell due to the
hostile influence of the Almoravides. It was in this period that Islam first arrived in the region. The Sosso kingdom (12th to
13th centuries) briefly flourished in the void but the Islamic Mandinka Mali Empire came to prominence when Soundiata
Kéïta defeated the Sosso ruler, Soumangourou Kanté at the semi-historical Battle of Kirina in c. 1235. The Mali Empire
was ruled by Mansa (Emperors), the most famous being Kankou Moussa, who made a famous hajj to Mecca in 1324.
Shortly after his reign the Mali Empire began to decline and was ultimately supplanted by its vassal states in the 15th century.
The most successful of these was the Songhai Empire which surpassed the Mali Empire in both territory and wealth. It
continued to prosper until a civil war over succession followed the death of Askia Daoud in 1582. The weakened empire fell
to invaders from Morocco at the Battle of Tondibi just 3 years later. The Moroccans proved unable to rule the kingdom
effectively, however, and it split into many small kingdoms. Fulani Muslims migrated to Fouta Djallon in Central Guinea and
established an Islamic state from 1735 to 1898 with a written Constitution and alternate rulers. The slave trade came to the
coastal region of Guinea with European adventurers in the 16th century. Slavery had always been part of every day life but
the scale increased as slaves were exported to work elsewhere in the triangular trade. Some sources suggest that more than
half of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa were removed. Guinea's colonial period began with French military penetration
into the area in the mid-19th century. French domination was assured by the defeat in 1898 of the armies of Samory Touré,
Mansa (or Emperor) of the Ouassoulou state and leader of Malinké descent, which gave France control of what today is
Guinea and adjacent areas. France negotiated Guinea's present boundaries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the
British for Sierra Leone, the Portuguese for their Guinea colony (now Guinea-Bissau), and Liberia. Under the French, the
country formed the Territory of Guinea within French West Africa, administered by a governor general resident in Dakar.
Lieutenant governors administered the individual colonies, including Guinea. In 1958 the French Fourth Republic collapsed
due to political instability and its failures in dealing with its colonies, especially Indochina and Algeria. The founding of a Fifth
Republic was supported by the French people, while France's colonies were given the choice between more autonomy in a
new French Community and immediate independence. The other colonies chose the former but Guinea — under the
leadership of Ahmed Sékou Touré whose Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) had won 56 of 60 seats in 1957 territorial
elections — voted overwhelmingly for independence. The French withdrew quickly, and on October 2, 1958, Guinea
proclaimed itself a sovereign and independent republic, with Sékou Touré as president. De Gaulle withdrew the French
administration, with much of the French population following, which took much of the country’s infrastructure and large
amounts of capital. Guinea quickly aligned itself with the Soviet Union and adopted socialist policies. This alliance was short
lived, however, as Guinea moved towards a Chinese model of socialism. Despite this, however, the country continued to
receive aid and investment from capitalist countries such as the U.S.. Even the relationship with France improved after the
election of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing as president — trade increased and the two countries exchanged diplomatic visits.
Under Touré, Guinea became a one-party dictatorship, with a closed, socialized economy and no tolerance for human
rights, free expression, or political opposition, which was ruthlessly suppressed. Originally credited for his advocacy of cross-
ethnic nationalism, Touré gradually came to rely on his own Malinké ethnic group to fill positions in the party and
government. Alleging plots and conspiracies against him at home and abroad, Touré’s regime targeted real and imagined
opponents, imprisoning many thousands in Soviet-style prison gulags, where hundreds perished. The regime's repression
drove more than a million Guineans into exile, and Touré's paranoia ruined relations with foreign nations, including
neighboring African states, increasing Guinea's isolation and further devastating its economy. Sékou Touré died on March
26, 1984 after a simple heart operation in the United States, and was replaced in an interim role by Prime Minister Louis
Lansana Beavogui. Beavogui’s rule was brief, however, and a military junta headed by Lansana Conté and Diarra Traoré
seized power on April 3, 1984 in a bloodless coup. Conté assumed the role of president with Traoré as his prime minister.
Conté immediately denounced the previous regime’s record on human rights, released 250 political prisoners and
encouraged approximately 200,000 more to return from exile. He also turned away from socialism, but this did little to
alleviate poverty and the country showed no immediate signs of moving towards democracy. In 1992, Conté announced a
return to civilian rule, with a presidential poll in 1993 followed by elections to parliament in 1995 (in which his party - the
Party of Unity and Progress - won 71 of 114 seats.) Despite this, Conté's grip on power remained tight. In September 2001
the opposition leader Alpha Condé was imprisoned for endangering state security, though he was pardoned 8 months later.
He subsequently spent a period of exile in France. In 2001 Conté organized and won a referendum to lengthen the
presidential term and in 2003 begun his third term after elections were boycotted by the opposition. In January 2005, Conté
survived a suspected assassination attempt while making a rare public appearance in the capital Conakry. His opponents
claim that he is a "tired dictator" whose departure is inevitable whereas his supporters believe he is winning a battle with
dissidents. As of 2005 Guinea still faces very real problems and according to the International Crisis Group is in danger of
becoming a failed state.In 2000 Guinea became embroiled in the instability which had long blighted the rest of West Africa
as rebels crossed the borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone and it seemed for a time that the country was headed for civil
war. Conté blamed neighbouring leaders coveting Guinea's natural resources, though these claims were strenuously denied.
In 2003 Guinea agreed plans with her neighbours to tackle the insurgents. On 23 December 2008, Aboubacar Somparé,
flanked by the Prime Minister and the head of the Army, announced that the long-time President of Guinea, Lansana Conté,
had died "after a long illness". Under the Guinean constitution, Somparé was to assume the Presidency of the Republic and a
new presidential election was to have been held within 60 days. However, six hours after the announcement of Conté's
death, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara announced a coup d'état by the Guinean Army, saying that "the government and the
institutions of the Republic have been dissolved". Camara also announced the suspension of the constitution "as well as
political and union activity" and a new Prime Minister on 30 December 2008. Captain Camara has promised to ho;d
elections by the end of December 2009.
Sources: Wikipedia History of Guinea
West Africa saw many empires rise and fall in the period before European intervention and Guinea fell within many of them.
The Ghana Empire is believed to be the earliest of these which grew on trade but contracted and ultimately fell due to the
hostile influence of the Almoravides. It was in this period that Islam first arrived in the region. The Sosso kingdom (12th to
13th centuries) briefly flourished in the void but the Islamic Mandinka Mali Empire came to prominence when Soundiata
Kéïta defeated the Sosso ruler, Soumangourou Kanté at the semi-historical Battle of Kirina in c. 1235. The Mali Empire
was ruled by Mansa (Emperors), the most famous being Kankou Moussa, who made a famous hajj to Mecca in 1324.
Shortly after his reign the Mali Empire began to decline and was ultimately supplanted by its vassal states in the 15th century.
The most successful of these was the Songhai Empire which surpassed the Mali Empire in both territory and wealth. It
continued to prosper until a civil war over succession followed the death of Askia Daoud in 1582. The weakened empire fell
to invaders from Morocco at the Battle of Tondibi just 3 years later. The Moroccans proved unable to rule the kingdom
effectively, however, and it split into many small kingdoms. Fulani Muslims migrated to Fouta Djallon in Central Guinea and
established an Islamic state from 1735 to 1898 with a written Constitution and alternate rulers. The slave trade came to the
coastal region of Guinea with European adventurers in the 16th century. Slavery had always been part of every day life but
the scale increased as slaves were exported to work elsewhere in the triangular trade. Some sources suggest that more than
half of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa were removed. Guinea's colonial period began with French military penetration
into the area in the mid-19th century. French domination was assured by the defeat in 1898 of the armies of Samory Touré,
Mansa (or Emperor) of the Ouassoulou state and leader of Malinké descent, which gave France control of what today is
Guinea and adjacent areas. France negotiated Guinea's present boundaries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the
British for Sierra Leone, the Portuguese for their Guinea colony (now Guinea-Bissau), and Liberia. Under the French, the
country formed the Territory of Guinea within French West Africa, administered by a governor general resident in Dakar.
Lieutenant governors administered the individual colonies, including Guinea. In 1958 the French Fourth Republic collapsed
due to political instability and its failures in dealing with its colonies, especially Indochina and Algeria. The founding of a Fifth
Republic was supported by the French people, while France's colonies were given the choice between more autonomy in a
new French Community and immediate independence. The other colonies chose the former but Guinea — under the
leadership of Ahmed Sékou Touré whose Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) had won 56 of 60 seats in 1957 territorial
elections — voted overwhelmingly for independence. The French withdrew quickly, and on October 2, 1958, Guinea
proclaimed itself a sovereign and independent republic, with Sékou Touré as president. De Gaulle withdrew the French
administration, with much of the French population following, which took much of the country’s infrastructure and large
amounts of capital. Guinea quickly aligned itself with the Soviet Union and adopted socialist policies. This alliance was short
lived, however, as Guinea moved towards a Chinese model of socialism. Despite this, however, the country continued to
receive aid and investment from capitalist countries such as the U.S.. Even the relationship with France improved after the
election of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing as president — trade increased and the two countries exchanged diplomatic visits.
Under Touré, Guinea became a one-party dictatorship, with a closed, socialized economy and no tolerance for human
rights, free expression, or political opposition, which was ruthlessly suppressed. Originally credited for his advocacy of cross-
ethnic nationalism, Touré gradually came to rely on his own Malinké ethnic group to fill positions in the party and
government. Alleging plots and conspiracies against him at home and abroad, Touré’s regime targeted real and imagined
opponents, imprisoning many thousands in Soviet-style prison gulags, where hundreds perished. The regime's repression
drove more than a million Guineans into exile, and Touré's paranoia ruined relations with foreign nations, including
neighboring African states, increasing Guinea's isolation and further devastating its economy. Sékou Touré died on March
26, 1984 after a simple heart operation in the United States, and was replaced in an interim role by Prime Minister Louis
Lansana Beavogui. Beavogui’s rule was brief, however, and a military junta headed by Lansana Conté and Diarra Traoré
seized power on April 3, 1984 in a bloodless coup. Conté assumed the role of president with Traoré as his prime minister.
Conté immediately denounced the previous regime’s record on human rights, released 250 political prisoners and
encouraged approximately 200,000 more to return from exile. He also turned away from socialism, but this did little to
alleviate poverty and the country showed no immediate signs of moving towards democracy. In 1992, Conté announced a
return to civilian rule, with a presidential poll in 1993 followed by elections to parliament in 1995 (in which his party - the
Party of Unity and Progress - won 71 of 114 seats.) Despite this, Conté's grip on power remained tight. In September 2001
the opposition leader Alpha Condé was imprisoned for endangering state security, though he was pardoned 8 months later.
He subsequently spent a period of exile in France. In 2001 Conté organized and won a referendum to lengthen the
presidential term and in 2003 begun his third term after elections were boycotted by the opposition. In January 2005, Conté
survived a suspected assassination attempt while making a rare public appearance in the capital Conakry. His opponents
claim that he is a "tired dictator" whose departure is inevitable whereas his supporters believe he is winning a battle with
dissidents. As of 2005 Guinea still faces very real problems and according to the International Crisis Group is in danger of
becoming a failed state.In 2000 Guinea became embroiled in the instability which had long blighted the rest of West Africa
as rebels crossed the borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone and it seemed for a time that the country was headed for civil
war. Conté blamed neighbouring leaders coveting Guinea's natural resources, though these claims were strenuously denied.
In 2003 Guinea agreed plans with her neighbours to tackle the insurgents. On 23 December 2008, Aboubacar Somparé,
flanked by the Prime Minister and the head of the Army, announced that the long-time President of Guinea, Lansana Conté,
had died "after a long illness". Under the Guinean constitution, Somparé was to assume the Presidency of the Republic and a
new presidential election was to have been held within 60 days. However, six hours after the announcement of Conté's
death, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara announced a coup d'état by the Guinean Army, saying that "the government and the
institutions of the Republic have been dissolved". Camara also announced the suspension of the constitution "as well as
political and union activity" and a new Prime Minister on 30 December 2008. Captain Camara has promised to ho;d
elections by the end of December 2009.
Sources: Wikipedia History of Guinea
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The
country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounts for more than 70% of exports. Long-run
improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out
of poverty. Investor confidence has been sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure, a lack
of skilled workers, and the political uncertainty because of the death of President Lansana CONTE in December 2008.
International donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, cut their development programming significantly in
response to the coup. Growth rose slightly in 2006-08, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices
on world markets, but the standard of living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices for basic necessities like
food and fuel rose beyond the reach of many Guineans.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Guinea)
country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounts for more than 70% of exports. Long-run
improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out
of poverty. Investor confidence has been sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure, a lack
of skilled workers, and the political uncertainty because of the death of President Lansana CONTE in December 2008.
International donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, cut their development programming significantly in
response to the coup. Growth rose slightly in 2006-08, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices
on world markets, but the standard of living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices for basic necessities like
food and fuel rose beyond the reach of many Guineans.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Guinea)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
In December 1993, Conté was elected to a 5-year term as president in the country's first multi-party elections, which were
marred by irregularities and lack of transparency on the part of the government. In 1995, Conté's ruling PUP party won 76
of 114 seats in elections for the National Assembly amid opposition claims of irregularities and government tampering. In
1996, President Conté reorganized the government, appointing Sidya Touré to the revived post of Prime Minister and
charging him with special responsibility for leading the government's economic reform program. In the early hours of
December 23, 2008, Aboubacar Somparé, the President of the National Assembly, announced on television that Conté had
died at 6:45pm local time on December 22 "after a long illness", without specifying the cause of death. According to
Somparé, Conté "hid his physical suffering" for years "in order to give happiness to Guinea." Conté had left the country for
medical treatment on numerous occasions in the years preceding his death, and speculation about his health had long been
widespread. Contrary to his usual practice, Conté did not appear on television to mark Tabaski earlier in December 2008,
and this sparked renewed speculation, as well as concern about the possibility of violence in the event of his death. At
around the same time, a newspaper published a photograph suggesting that Conté was in poor physical condition and having
difficulty standing up. The editor of that newspaper was arrested and the newspaper was required to print a photograph in
which Conté looked healthy.
According to the constitution, the President of the National Assembly was to assume the Presidency of the Republic in the
event of a vacancy, and a new presidential election was to be held within 60 days. Somparé requested that the President of
the Supreme Court, Lamine Sidimé, declare a vacancy in the Presidency and apply the constitution. Prime Minister Souaré
and Diarra Camara, the head of the army, stood alongside Somparé during his announcement. The government declared 40
days of national mourning and Camara called on soldiers to remain calm.
Six hours after Somparé announced Conté's death, a statement was read on television announcing a military coup d'etat.
This statement, read by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara on behalf of a group called National Council for Democracy, said
that "the government and the institutions of the Republic have been dissolved". The statement also announced the suspension
of the constitution "as well as political and union activity". In its place, the military said it had established a consultative
council composed of civilian and military leaders. Elections were to be held by the end of December 2009.
Camara was shot and wounded during a leadership dispute in December 2009, and Sékouba Konaté then took his place in
an acting capacity. Konaté said that the opposition could choose a new Prime Minister to serve in the period leading up to a
new election. On 15 January 2010, the FFV proposed two candidates for the post, Doré and the key union leader Rabiatou
Serah Diallo, telling Konaté to choose between them. Konaté's spokesman said that Doré and Diallo would need to travel
to Ouagadougou for talks with Konaté, the recovering Camara, and Burkinabé President Blaise Compaoré, who was acting
as mediator. There was reportedly a split in the FFV regarding its choice, with political parties supporting Doré while the
unions and civil society groups backed Diallo. Each candidate reportedly received 94 votes. Later, on 18 January, it was
reported that the FFV had selected Doré as its sole candidate for the post of Prime Minister. The fact that Doré held a
university degree was reportedly the deciding factor, although Diallo's union supporters were unhappy with the outcome.
On 19 January 2010, the junta announced its designation of Doré as Prime Minister, while citing "his experience [and] his
knowledge of Guinean politics". He was to lead a 30-member government over the course of a six-month transitional
period, which was to conclude with an election; Doré emphasized that the essential purpose of his government would be "to
make the election a fair election". Doré's government was to be composed of ten ministers representing the opposition, ten
representing the CNDD, and ten representing the various regions of Guinea.
Doré was officially appointed as Prime Minister on 21 January 2010. In the days that followed, two commissions—one
representing the FFV and one representing the CNDD—were formed as part of negotiations between the two sides aimed
at determining the composition of Doré's government. Doré officially took office as Prime Minister on 26 January 2010,
succeeding Kabiné Komara. He said on the occasion that he was "committed to leading Guinea toward free, credible and
transparent elections". The second round of the Guinean presidential elections may be held 24 August, PANA learnt from
well-informed sources here on Monday. Cellou Dalein Diallo of the Union of Democratic Forces Guinea (UFDG) and
Alpha Conde of the Rally of the People of Guinea (RPG) are the two contestants in the second round of voting.
Sources: Wikipedia Politics of Guinea
marred by irregularities and lack of transparency on the part of the government. In 1995, Conté's ruling PUP party won 76
of 114 seats in elections for the National Assembly amid opposition claims of irregularities and government tampering. In
1996, President Conté reorganized the government, appointing Sidya Touré to the revived post of Prime Minister and
charging him with special responsibility for leading the government's economic reform program. In the early hours of
December 23, 2008, Aboubacar Somparé, the President of the National Assembly, announced on television that Conté had
died at 6:45pm local time on December 22 "after a long illness", without specifying the cause of death. According to
Somparé, Conté "hid his physical suffering" for years "in order to give happiness to Guinea." Conté had left the country for
medical treatment on numerous occasions in the years preceding his death, and speculation about his health had long been
widespread. Contrary to his usual practice, Conté did not appear on television to mark Tabaski earlier in December 2008,
and this sparked renewed speculation, as well as concern about the possibility of violence in the event of his death. At
around the same time, a newspaper published a photograph suggesting that Conté was in poor physical condition and having
difficulty standing up. The editor of that newspaper was arrested and the newspaper was required to print a photograph in
which Conté looked healthy.
According to the constitution, the President of the National Assembly was to assume the Presidency of the Republic in the
event of a vacancy, and a new presidential election was to be held within 60 days. Somparé requested that the President of
the Supreme Court, Lamine Sidimé, declare a vacancy in the Presidency and apply the constitution. Prime Minister Souaré
and Diarra Camara, the head of the army, stood alongside Somparé during his announcement. The government declared 40
days of national mourning and Camara called on soldiers to remain calm.
Six hours after Somparé announced Conté's death, a statement was read on television announcing a military coup d'etat.
This statement, read by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara on behalf of a group called National Council for Democracy, said
that "the government and the institutions of the Republic have been dissolved". The statement also announced the suspension
of the constitution "as well as political and union activity". In its place, the military said it had established a consultative
council composed of civilian and military leaders. Elections were to be held by the end of December 2009.
Camara was shot and wounded during a leadership dispute in December 2009, and Sékouba Konaté then took his place in
an acting capacity. Konaté said that the opposition could choose a new Prime Minister to serve in the period leading up to a
new election. On 15 January 2010, the FFV proposed two candidates for the post, Doré and the key union leader Rabiatou
Serah Diallo, telling Konaté to choose between them. Konaté's spokesman said that Doré and Diallo would need to travel
to Ouagadougou for talks with Konaté, the recovering Camara, and Burkinabé President Blaise Compaoré, who was acting
as mediator. There was reportedly a split in the FFV regarding its choice, with political parties supporting Doré while the
unions and civil society groups backed Diallo. Each candidate reportedly received 94 votes. Later, on 18 January, it was
reported that the FFV had selected Doré as its sole candidate for the post of Prime Minister. The fact that Doré held a
university degree was reportedly the deciding factor, although Diallo's union supporters were unhappy with the outcome.
On 19 January 2010, the junta announced its designation of Doré as Prime Minister, while citing "his experience [and] his
knowledge of Guinean politics". He was to lead a 30-member government over the course of a six-month transitional
period, which was to conclude with an election; Doré emphasized that the essential purpose of his government would be "to
make the election a fair election". Doré's government was to be composed of ten ministers representing the opposition, ten
representing the CNDD, and ten representing the various regions of Guinea.
Doré was officially appointed as Prime Minister on 21 January 2010. In the days that followed, two commissions—one
representing the FFV and one representing the CNDD—were formed as part of negotiations between the two sides aimed
at determining the composition of Doré's government. Doré officially took office as Prime Minister on 26 January 2010,
succeeding Kabiné Komara. He said on the occasion that he was "committed to leading Guinea toward free, credible and
transparent elections". The second round of the Guinean presidential elections may be held 24 August, PANA learnt from
well-informed sources here on Monday. Cellou Dalein Diallo of the Union of Democratic Forces Guinea (UFDG) and
Alpha Conde of the Rally of the People of Guinea (RPG) are the two contestants in the second round of voting.
Sources: Wikipedia Politics of Guinea
Freedom In The World 2010 Report
Political Rights Score: 7
Civil Liberties Score: 6
Status: Not Free
Ratings Change
Guinea’s civil liberties rating declined from 5 to 6 due to the military junta’s repressive measures, including the
massacre of more than 150 opposition protesters in September and the use of rape as a means of political intimidation.
Overview
Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, the leader of a military junta that took power in December 2008, refused in 2009 to adhere to an
initial promise that he would not run in the presidential election set for early 2010. His erratic and repressive rule during the year
culminated in the massacre of more than 150 opposition protesters in September. The incident, which also featured brutal rapes and
beatings by security forces, triggered an investigation by the United Nations as well as a series of international sanctions. In
December, Camara was shot and seriously injured by one of his officers, and the consequences remained uncertain at year’s end.
Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, the coup leader, initially enjoyed considerable popularity, especially as he sought to expose
corruption among former officials. However, his arbitrary and personalized style of rule quickly engendered opposition. In August,
under international and domestic pressure, the ruling junta—known as the National Council for Democracy and Development
(CNDD)—set presidential and legislative elections for January and March 2010, respectively. Camara began to hint that he might
renege on his earlier promise not to run for president, and opposition forces mounted a massive rally in late September. The
gathering was viciously suppressed by security forces, who killed more than 150 people and raped and beat hundreds of others.
The international community, including ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, and the United States, roundly
condemned the crackdown and imposed sanctions on the Guinean regime. However, China broke ranks and signed a $9 billion
mining agreement with the junta in October.
In December, as the International Criminal Court and a special UN panel investigated the September massacre, the commander of
Guinea’s presidential guard shot Camara in the head, seriously injuring him. The country’s leadership and the anticipated elections
remained in doubt at year’s end.
Guinea is not an electoral democracy. Elections under presidents Ahmed Sekou Toure and Lansana Conte were heavily
manipulated, and the December 2008 military coup suspended all political activity, civilian government institutions, and the
constitution. The resulting junta, the CNDD, promised to hold open presidential and legislative elections in early 2010, but those
plans were in doubt after the September 2009 massacre of opposition supporters and the December assassination attempt on junta
leader Moussa Dadis Camara.
There are several significant political parties, most of which have clear regional and ethnic bases. However, the country has no
history of peaceful rotation of power, and prior to the 2008 coup, Conte’s PUP controlled much of the government as well as
substantial patronage networks in the military and civil bureaucracy.
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Political Rights Score: 7
Civil Liberties Score: 6
Status: Not Free
Ratings Change
Guinea’s civil liberties rating declined from 5 to 6 due to the military junta’s repressive measures, including the
massacre of more than 150 opposition protesters in September and the use of rape as a means of political intimidation.
Overview
Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, the leader of a military junta that took power in December 2008, refused in 2009 to adhere to an
initial promise that he would not run in the presidential election set for early 2010. His erratic and repressive rule during the year
culminated in the massacre of more than 150 opposition protesters in September. The incident, which also featured brutal rapes and
beatings by security forces, triggered an investigation by the United Nations as well as a series of international sanctions. In
December, Camara was shot and seriously injured by one of his officers, and the consequences remained uncertain at year’s end.
Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, the coup leader, initially enjoyed considerable popularity, especially as he sought to expose
corruption among former officials. However, his arbitrary and personalized style of rule quickly engendered opposition. In August,
under international and domestic pressure, the ruling junta—known as the National Council for Democracy and Development
(CNDD)—set presidential and legislative elections for January and March 2010, respectively. Camara began to hint that he might
renege on his earlier promise not to run for president, and opposition forces mounted a massive rally in late September. The
gathering was viciously suppressed by security forces, who killed more than 150 people and raped and beat hundreds of others.
The international community, including ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, and the United States, roundly
condemned the crackdown and imposed sanctions on the Guinean regime. However, China broke ranks and signed a $9 billion
mining agreement with the junta in October.
In December, as the International Criminal Court and a special UN panel investigated the September massacre, the commander of
Guinea’s presidential guard shot Camara in the head, seriously injuring him. The country’s leadership and the anticipated elections
remained in doubt at year’s end.
Guinea is not an electoral democracy. Elections under presidents Ahmed Sekou Toure and Lansana Conte were heavily
manipulated, and the December 2008 military coup suspended all political activity, civilian government institutions, and the
constitution. The resulting junta, the CNDD, promised to hold open presidential and legislative elections in early 2010, but those
plans were in doubt after the September 2009 massacre of opposition supporters and the December assassination attempt on junta
leader Moussa Dadis Camara.
There are several significant political parties, most of which have clear regional and ethnic bases. However, the country has no
history of peaceful rotation of power, and prior to the 2008 coup, Conte’s PUP controlled much of the government as well as
substantial patronage networks in the military and civil bureaucracy.
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| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
Conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea, resulting in
domestic instability; Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the
Makona and Moa rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of
Yenga, occupied since 1998
domestic instability; Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the
Makona and Moa rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of
Yenga, occupied since 1998
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP) |
Refugees (country of origin): 21,856 (Liberia); 5,259 (Sierra Leone); 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone) (2007)
IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone) (2007)
Guinea: Upcoming Election Significant, Challenging
Landmark Presidential Vote a Potential Turning Point for Rights, Justice
June 25, 2010
(Washington, DC) - The winner of Guinea's hugely significant upcoming presidential election should urgently focus on rebuilding
the rule of law and holding human rights abusers to account, Human Rights Watch said today. The first round of voting is
scheduled for June 27, 2010.
The election will be the first real opportunity since independence in 1958 for Guineans to choose their leaders. A successful,
credible election could finally end over 50 years of authoritarian and abusive rule, Human Rights Watch said.
"The human cost of Guinea's decades-long and vicious cycle of bad governance, violence, and impunity has been profound," said
Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Dismantling the architecture of impunity and building a
society based on the rule of law will take time, but must top the agenda of both the incoming administration and Guinea's
international partners."
Human Rights Watch interviews with scores of political party members, civil society leaders, and human rights groups in May and
June suggest that since Guinea's transitional government came to office in February, allegations of violations of the key rights
necessary for free elections have notably diminished. They include freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, freedom of
association for political parties and movements, and protection from political violence.
Twenty-four candidates are competing in the first round of presidential elections, including four former prime ministers. A
compressed timetable for the elections has generated some irregularities and some technical challenges. But the Defense Ministry's
promise to keep the military in barracks during the election period, and to back whoever wins is a very positive sign, Human Rights
Watch said.
For decades, rampant corruption and mismanagement of Guinea's vast natural resources has impeded Guineans' access to basic
health care and education. Moreover, the prevailing culture of impunity has allowed members of the security forces and the political
elite to commit egregious crimes - including torture, murder, rape, and embezzlement - without fear of being held accountable.
Once the election is over, the new government and Guinea's international partners should make reforming the country's justice
system - characterized by inadequate resources, lack of independence from the executive, and corruption - a top priority, Human
Rights Watch said.
Click here to read more »
Landmark Presidential Vote a Potential Turning Point for Rights, Justice
June 25, 2010
(Washington, DC) - The winner of Guinea's hugely significant upcoming presidential election should urgently focus on rebuilding
the rule of law and holding human rights abusers to account, Human Rights Watch said today. The first round of voting is
scheduled for June 27, 2010.
The election will be the first real opportunity since independence in 1958 for Guineans to choose their leaders. A successful,
credible election could finally end over 50 years of authoritarian and abusive rule, Human Rights Watch said.
"The human cost of Guinea's decades-long and vicious cycle of bad governance, violence, and impunity has been profound," said
Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Dismantling the architecture of impunity and building a
society based on the rule of law will take time, but must top the agenda of both the incoming administration and Guinea's
international partners."
Human Rights Watch interviews with scores of political party members, civil society leaders, and human rights groups in May and
June suggest that since Guinea's transitional government came to office in February, allegations of violations of the key rights
necessary for free elections have notably diminished. They include freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, freedom of
association for political parties and movements, and protection from political violence.
Twenty-four candidates are competing in the first round of presidential elections, including four former prime ministers. A
compressed timetable for the elections has generated some irregularities and some technical challenges. But the Defense Ministry's
promise to keep the military in barracks during the election period, and to back whoever wins is a very positive sign, Human Rights
Watch said.
For decades, rampant corruption and mismanagement of Guinea's vast natural resources has impeded Guineans' access to basic
health care and education. Moreover, the prevailing culture of impunity has allowed members of the security forces and the political
elite to commit egregious crimes - including torture, murder, rape, and embezzlement - without fear of being held accountable.
Once the election is over, the new government and Guinea's international partners should make reforming the country's justice
system - characterized by inadequate resources, lack of independence from the executive, and corruption - a top priority, Human
Rights Watch said.
Click here to read more »
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
Current situation: Guinea is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are children, and internal trafficking is more
prevalent than transnational trafficking; within the country, girls are trafficked primarily for domestic servitude and sexual
exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced agricultural labor, and as forced beggars, street vendors, shoe shiners, and
laborers in gold and diamond mines; some Guinean men are also trafficked for agricultural labor within Guinea;
transnationally, girls are trafficked into Guinea for domestic servitude and likely also for sexual exploitation
Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts
to eliminate trafficking over 2006; Guinea demonstrated minimal law enforcement efforts for a second year in a row, while
protection efforts diminished over efforts in 2006; the government did not report any trafficking convictions in 2007; due to a
lack of resources, the government does not provide shelter services for trafficking victims; the government took no measures
to reduce the demand for commercial sexual exploitation (2008)
purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are children, and internal trafficking is more
prevalent than transnational trafficking; within the country, girls are trafficked primarily for domestic servitude and sexual
exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced agricultural labor, and as forced beggars, street vendors, shoe shiners, and
laborers in gold and diamond mines; some Guinean men are also trafficked for agricultural labor within Guinea;
transnationally, girls are trafficked into Guinea for domestic servitude and likely also for sexual exploitation
Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts
to eliminate trafficking over 2006; Guinea demonstrated minimal law enforcement efforts for a second year in a row, while
protection efforts diminished over efforts in 2006; the government did not report any trafficking convictions in 2007; due to a
lack of resources, the government does not provide shelter services for trafficking victims; the government took no measures
to reduce the demand for commercial sexual exploitation (2008)
Guinea interim PM Jean Marie Dore takes office
Location: Guinea. Source: BBC. Posted on Wed, 27th Jan 2010.
The new interim prime minister of Guinea, who is charged with organising elections that will see the end of military rule, has taken
office.
Jean Marie Dore was appointed by the general in charge of Guinea, Sekouba Konate, after the military government agreed to step
down.
He made a brief speech setting out some big objectives. Reforming Guinea's armed forces was top of the list.
But it is no small order in a country controlled by the military for decades.
The current government took power in December 2008 after the death of Lansana Conte, himself an army man who staged a coup
24 years earlier.
Mr Dore said he would organise elections and prioritise the economic revival of Guinea, which is the world's largest exporter of
bauxite and is rich in other minerals.
Huge task
Still to be formed is the transitional government that Mr Dore is in charge of.
It is meant to have 20 members drawn from political parties and civil society and 10 members from the military.
Mr Dore said he hoped that the transitional authority would be in place by the end of the month.
The task ahead is huge.
Click here to read more »
Location: Guinea. Source: BBC. Posted on Wed, 27th Jan 2010.
The new interim prime minister of Guinea, who is charged with organising elections that will see the end of military rule, has taken
office.
Jean Marie Dore was appointed by the general in charge of Guinea, Sekouba Konate, after the military government agreed to step
down.
He made a brief speech setting out some big objectives. Reforming Guinea's armed forces was top of the list.
But it is no small order in a country controlled by the military for decades.
The current government took power in December 2008 after the death of Lansana Conte, himself an army man who staged a coup
24 years earlier.
Mr Dore said he would organise elections and prioritise the economic revival of Guinea, which is the world's largest exporter of
bauxite and is rich in other minerals.
Huge task
Still to be formed is the transitional government that Mr Dore is in charge of.
It is meant to have 20 members drawn from political parties and civil society and 10 members from the military.
Mr Dore said he hoped that the transitional authority would be in place by the end of the month.
The task ahead is huge.
Click here to read more »
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Annual Report 2009 - Guinea
18 June 2009
Political context
In 2007, Guinea had been faced with a revolt of the people against the Government of late President Lansana Conté, who had been
in power for 23 years. Following negotiations, an agreement had been reached on January 27, 20071 regarding the formation of a
new Government led by Mr. Lansana Kouyaté, appointed Prime Minister by consensus and given extensive executive powers for a
three year transitional period, during which parliamentary and presidential elections were to be organised.2 The dismissal of the
Prime Minister in May 2008, and his replacement by Mr. Ahmed Tidiane Souaré, clearly demonstrated the lack of willingness from
the General-President to carry out reforms and to organise transparent elections before the end of 2008, with a view to presidential
elections being held in 2010.3 In addition, the President of the National Independent Election Commission (Commission électorale
nationale indépendante – CENI) announced on October 20 that the election could not be held within the allotted time due to
considerable delays in organising the voting process.
From the beginning of 2008, trade unions and civil society organisations led peaceful protests against the violations of the January
27, 2007 agreements. The commission of enquiry in charge of elucidating the circumstances of the human rights violations
committed during the demonstrations in 2007 and those responsible for such violations was unable to complete its mission due to
lack of resources,4 and its mandate ended in December 2008. In addition, the National Observatory on Democracy and Human
Rights (Observatoire national de la démocratie et des droits de l'Homme – ONDH), set up by the Prime Minister in July 2008 to
investigate and report on human rights violations, to lead initiatives in human rights education, essentially with the security forces,
and to advise the Government on matters relating to human rights and humanitarian law, was still not operational as at the end of
2008, due to finance problems.
Following the announcement of the death of President Lansana Conté on December 23, 2008, the National Council for Democracy
and Development (Conseil national pour la démocratie et le développement – CNDD) came to power in a coup led by Captain
Moussa Camara. In accordance with an EU demand, the CNDD appointed a civilian Prime Minister, Mr. Kabine Komara.5 The
CNDD met with civil society, the political parties and women's and young people's associations from the beginning, leaving hopes
of a new start within the public opinion. However, some civil society organisations, including the Guinean Human Rights
Organisation (Organisation guinéenne des droits de l'Homme – OGDH), showed their concern regarding the presence, amongst the
members of the CNDD and within the Government, of individuals responsible to varying degrees for human rights violations, acts
of corruption, and other serious crimes. They also alerted public opinion on the risks of jeopardising the rule of law and establishing
arbitrary justice, especially after a statement made by some CNDD members according to which "if there's a criminal around, he
must be killed on the spot".6 They called on CNDD to repeal the ban on all political and union activity that had been imposed on
December 23, 2008. At the end of 2008, the NGOs were still waiting for a response to their views.
Click here to read more »
18 June 2009
Political context
In 2007, Guinea had been faced with a revolt of the people against the Government of late President Lansana Conté, who had been
in power for 23 years. Following negotiations, an agreement had been reached on January 27, 20071 regarding the formation of a
new Government led by Mr. Lansana Kouyaté, appointed Prime Minister by consensus and given extensive executive powers for a
three year transitional period, during which parliamentary and presidential elections were to be organised.2 The dismissal of the
Prime Minister in May 2008, and his replacement by Mr. Ahmed Tidiane Souaré, clearly demonstrated the lack of willingness from
the General-President to carry out reforms and to organise transparent elections before the end of 2008, with a view to presidential
elections being held in 2010.3 In addition, the President of the National Independent Election Commission (Commission électorale
nationale indépendante – CENI) announced on October 20 that the election could not be held within the allotted time due to
considerable delays in organising the voting process.
From the beginning of 2008, trade unions and civil society organisations led peaceful protests against the violations of the January
27, 2007 agreements. The commission of enquiry in charge of elucidating the circumstances of the human rights violations
committed during the demonstrations in 2007 and those responsible for such violations was unable to complete its mission due to
lack of resources,4 and its mandate ended in December 2008. In addition, the National Observatory on Democracy and Human
Rights (Observatoire national de la démocratie et des droits de l'Homme – ONDH), set up by the Prime Minister in July 2008 to
investigate and report on human rights violations, to lead initiatives in human rights education, essentially with the security forces,
and to advise the Government on matters relating to human rights and humanitarian law, was still not operational as at the end of
2008, due to finance problems.
Following the announcement of the death of President Lansana Conté on December 23, 2008, the National Council for Democracy
and Development (Conseil national pour la démocratie et le développement – CNDD) came to power in a coup led by Captain
Moussa Camara. In accordance with an EU demand, the CNDD appointed a civilian Prime Minister, Mr. Kabine Komara.5 The
CNDD met with civil society, the political parties and women's and young people's associations from the beginning, leaving hopes
of a new start within the public opinion. However, some civil society organisations, including the Guinean Human Rights
Organisation (Organisation guinéenne des droits de l'Homme – OGDH), showed their concern regarding the presence, amongst the
members of the CNDD and within the Government, of individuals responsible to varying degrees for human rights violations, acts
of corruption, and other serious crimes. They also alerted public opinion on the risks of jeopardising the rule of law and establishing
arbitrary justice, especially after a statement made by some CNDD members according to which "if there's a criminal around, he
must be killed on the spot".6 They called on CNDD to repeal the ban on all political and union activity that had been imposed on
December 23, 2008. At the end of 2008, the NGOs were still waiting for a response to their views.
Click here to read more »
2009 Human Rights Report: Guinea
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Guinea has a population of approximately 10 million. Its constitution was suspended by a military junta that seized power in a
December 2008 coup, hours after the death of former president Lansana Conte. In 2003 Conte won an election boycotted by the
opposition and criticized by international observers as neither free nor fair. The junta, known as the Council for Democracy and
Development (CNDD), proclaimed Captain Moussa Dadis Camara head of state and dismissed the National Assembly. Despite the
appointment of a civilian prime minister, Kabine Komara, to serve as head of government, the CNDD consolidated power within the
presidency. On December 3, President Camara was shot in the head in an apparent assassination attempt and was recovering in
Morocco at year's end. Defense minister and CNDD vice president Sekouba Konate became the interim CNDD president on
December 3. The country's constitution and National Assembly remained suspended during the year. Civilian and military
authorities did not maintain effective control of the security forces.
Serious human rights abuses occurred during the year.
Due to Captain Camara's August announcement that he might run for president, the opposition coalition known as "Les Forces
Vives" held a large protest on September 28 in a Conakry sports stadium, which soldiers violently suppressed with live ammunition,
resulting in deaths of at least 157 demonstrators and injuries to approximately 1,200. Security forces also publicly raped
approximately 100 women in and near the stadium and arrested demonstrators, an unknown number of whom remained in
detention at year's end. On December 3, an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Captain Camara resulted in another military
crackdown, in which an unknown number of civilians and military personnel were arbitrarily killed, injured, or detained.
Click here to read more »
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Guinea has a population of approximately 10 million. Its constitution was suspended by a military junta that seized power in a
December 2008 coup, hours after the death of former president Lansana Conte. In 2003 Conte won an election boycotted by the
opposition and criticized by international observers as neither free nor fair. The junta, known as the Council for Democracy and
Development (CNDD), proclaimed Captain Moussa Dadis Camara head of state and dismissed the National Assembly. Despite the
appointment of a civilian prime minister, Kabine Komara, to serve as head of government, the CNDD consolidated power within the
presidency. On December 3, President Camara was shot in the head in an apparent assassination attempt and was recovering in
Morocco at year's end. Defense minister and CNDD vice president Sekouba Konate became the interim CNDD president on
December 3. The country's constitution and National Assembly remained suspended during the year. Civilian and military
authorities did not maintain effective control of the security forces.
Serious human rights abuses occurred during the year.
- Citizens did not have the right to change their government through periodic elections.
- Security forces conducted mass killings and beatings, publicly raped women and girls, and tortured and abused detainees to
extract confessions. - Prison conditions were inhumane and life threatening.
- Perpetrators of killings and abuse acted with impunity.
- There were arbitrary arrests, prolonged pretrial detention, and incommunicado detention.
- The judiciary was subject to corruption and outside influence, including intimidation from security forces.
- The government infringed on citizens' privacy rights and restricted freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, and
movement. - Sexual violence against women and girls, societal discrimination against women, and female genital mutilation (FGM) were
problems. - Trafficking in persons, ethnic discrimination, and forced labor, including by children, occurred.
Due to Captain Camara's August announcement that he might run for president, the opposition coalition known as "Les Forces
Vives" held a large protest on September 28 in a Conakry sports stadium, which soldiers violently suppressed with live ammunition,
resulting in deaths of at least 157 demonstrators and injuries to approximately 1,200. Security forces also publicly raped
approximately 100 women in and near the stadium and arrested demonstrators, an unknown number of whom remained in
detention at year's end. On December 3, an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Captain Camara resulted in another military
crackdown, in which an unknown number of civilians and military personnel were arbitrarily killed, injured, or detained.
Click here to read more »
| ORGANISATION GUINÉENNE DE DEFENSE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ET DU CITOYEN/ GUINEAN ORGANIZATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS (OGDH) |
TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
Arrest Mouctar Diallo ONDH: The President of the OGDH gives his version of events
01 January 2010
The arrest of former U.S. Embassy employee and current member of the Observatory of Human rights in Guinea, surprised and
indignant over a Guinean, when the country is between the hammer of crisis resulting from the massacres of September 28 and the
anvil of condemnations of the international community.
With these words, a defender of human rights in Guinea spoke to our reporter before that it does not meet the evening of Tuesday,
at his home on President of the Guinean Human Rights Organization of Rights (OGDH) and Vice-President of the International
Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), Dr. Maadjou Thierno Sow.
The latter, after a very arduous day, lying on a LIPCO has agreed to answer questions from our reporter on the circumstances and
reasons for the arrest of Mr. Mamadou Diallo Mouctar, well known in the socio-political Guinea.
According to Dr. Maadjou Thierno Sow, two versions were circulated on the reasons for the arrest of former political assistant to
the Embassy of the United States. Some people, he said, "indicate that these bores are linked to an interview with Voice of America,
a few days earlier and would not longer in power.
"Others argue that he has visited a place that the officer was not on good terms with the government." One the other, the truth is
that Mr. Diallo in the hands of the junta since last November 26, retained in custody to view under a shed at the head of the CNDD
at Camp Alpha Diallo.
The circumstances of his arrest, according to Dr Sow is at a gas station that Cosa was arrested after receiving a phone call. He
was accompanied by a cousin at the facts.
Now, the view that questions the presence of a defender of human rights in these areas less suitable, requiring his immediate release
and hope that full light is shed on the ins and outs of this arrest that n is not likely to fix the image of the governance of the junta in
Guinea.
Click here to read more »
Arrest Mouctar Diallo ONDH: The President of the OGDH gives his version of events
01 January 2010
The arrest of former U.S. Embassy employee and current member of the Observatory of Human rights in Guinea, surprised and
indignant over a Guinean, when the country is between the hammer of crisis resulting from the massacres of September 28 and the
anvil of condemnations of the international community.
With these words, a defender of human rights in Guinea spoke to our reporter before that it does not meet the evening of Tuesday,
at his home on President of the Guinean Human Rights Organization of Rights (OGDH) and Vice-President of the International
Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), Dr. Maadjou Thierno Sow.
The latter, after a very arduous day, lying on a LIPCO has agreed to answer questions from our reporter on the circumstances and
reasons for the arrest of Mr. Mamadou Diallo Mouctar, well known in the socio-political Guinea.
According to Dr. Maadjou Thierno Sow, two versions were circulated on the reasons for the arrest of former political assistant to
the Embassy of the United States. Some people, he said, "indicate that these bores are linked to an interview with Voice of America,
a few days earlier and would not longer in power.
"Others argue that he has visited a place that the officer was not on good terms with the government." One the other, the truth is
that Mr. Diallo in the hands of the junta since last November 26, retained in custody to view under a shed at the head of the CNDD
at Camp Alpha Diallo.
The circumstances of his arrest, according to Dr Sow is at a gas station that Cosa was arrested after receiving a phone call. He
was accompanied by a cousin at the facts.
Now, the view that questions the presence of a defender of human rights in these areas less suitable, requiring his immediate release
and hope that full light is shed on the ins and outs of this arrest that n is not likely to fix the image of the governance of the junta in
Guinea.
Click here to read more »
10 August 2007
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Thirty-ninth session
23 July-10 August 2007
Concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Guinea
A. Introduction
2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its combined fourth, fifth and sixth periodic report, which was
candid, while regretting that the report was overdue, did not comply with the Committee’s guidelines for preparation of reports, did
not make reference to the Committee’s general recommendations and the written submission in response to the list of issues and
questions raised by the pre-session working group did not directly address many of the questions raised.
Positive aspects
5. The Committee commends the State party on the establishment of several institutions to promote gender equality, including the
equality committees in the education system, the gender focal points in some ministerial departments, the Observatory on Respect
for Women’s Rights in the National Assembly, and the national and regional CEDAW monitoring committees.
6. The Committee welcomes the progress made to combat human trafficking, such as the creation of a national committee to
combat trafficking in 2005; the elaboration of a national Plan of action; the accession to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and
Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime; the amendment of the Penal Code and the conclusion, in 2005, of one bilateral cooperation agreement and one
multilateral agreement with seven countries of West Africa on the repatriation of trafficked children.
D. Principal subjects of concern
9. While recalling the State party’s obligation to implement systematically and continuously all the provisions of the Convention, the
Committee views the concerns and recommendations identified in the present concluding comments as requiring the State party’s
priority attention between now and the submission of the next periodic report. Consequently, the Committee calls upon the State
party to focus on those areas in its implementation activities and to report on action taken and results achieved in its next periodic
report. It calls on the State party to submit the present concluding comments to all relevant ministries and to Parliament so as to
ensure their full implementation.
10. While noting that the Convention is an integral part of Guinean law, the Committee also notes that the absence of a specific legal
provision in its domestic legislation, with a definition of discrimination against women in accordance with article 1 of the
Convention, which encompasses both direct and indirect discrimination, constitutes an impediment to the full application of the
Convention in the State party, as already stated in its previous concluding comments (see A/56/38, part two, chap. IV, para. 118).
Click here to read more »
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Thirty-ninth session
23 July-10 August 2007
Concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Guinea
A. Introduction
2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its combined fourth, fifth and sixth periodic report, which was
candid, while regretting that the report was overdue, did not comply with the Committee’s guidelines for preparation of reports, did
not make reference to the Committee’s general recommendations and the written submission in response to the list of issues and
questions raised by the pre-session working group did not directly address many of the questions raised.
Positive aspects
5. The Committee commends the State party on the establishment of several institutions to promote gender equality, including the
equality committees in the education system, the gender focal points in some ministerial departments, the Observatory on Respect
for Women’s Rights in the National Assembly, and the national and regional CEDAW monitoring committees.
6. The Committee welcomes the progress made to combat human trafficking, such as the creation of a national committee to
combat trafficking in 2005; the elaboration of a national Plan of action; the accession to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and
Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime; the amendment of the Penal Code and the conclusion, in 2005, of one bilateral cooperation agreement and one
multilateral agreement with seven countries of West Africa on the repatriation of trafficked children.
D. Principal subjects of concern
9. While recalling the State party’s obligation to implement systematically and continuously all the provisions of the Convention, the
Committee views the concerns and recommendations identified in the present concluding comments as requiring the State party’s
priority attention between now and the submission of the next periodic report. Consequently, the Committee calls upon the State
party to focus on those areas in its implementation activities and to report on action taken and results achieved in its next periodic
report. It calls on the State party to submit the present concluding comments to all relevant ministries and to Parliament so as to
ensure their full implementation.
10. While noting that the Convention is an integral part of Guinean law, the Committee also notes that the absence of a specific legal
provision in its domestic legislation, with a definition of discrimination against women in accordance with article 1 of the
Convention, which encompasses both direct and indirect discrimination, constitutes an impediment to the full application of the
Convention in the State party, as already stated in its previous concluding comments (see A/56/38, part two, chap. IV, para. 118).
Click here to read more »
Guinea: Further information: Six soldiers released, four still held
10 March 2010
URGENT ACTION
Six of the soldiers held without charge in Guinea were released in January and February. The four still detained remain at risk of
torture or other ill-treatment.
Commander Issiaka Camara,Sub-Lieutenant Alpha Oumar Diallo and Sub-Lieutenant Hassiniou Pendessawere released without
charge on 25 January, after more than a year in custody. Captain Mamadou Bah Syllah,Captain Lansinet Keitaand Lieutenant
Ibrahima Kadja Barry were released on 18 February. One of them was seriously injured in custody, and has been left with sight and
hearing problems. Another of those who was detained has pain in his knees from not being able to leave his cell. When the three
men were released in January, the authorities told them to accept their fate, because ce qui est fait, est fait("what's done is done").
The remaining four (Colonel Soryba Yansané, Lieutenant Colonel David Syllah, Commander Pathio Bangourah and Sergeant
Moussa Sylla) were moved in December 2009 to a police detention centre in Conakry, run by the Ministry of Interior. They are
allowed visits from their families and lawyers, but have not been charged with any offence.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in French or your own language:
*Urging the authorities to release Colonel Soryba Yansané, Lieutenant Colonel David Syllah, Commander Pathio Bangourah and
Sergeant Moussa Sylla immediately, or else charge them with a recognizably criminal offence;
*Urging them to ensure that the men continue to have access to their families, lawyers and any medical treatment they may
require;
*Calling on them to guarantee that the four men will not be tortured or otherwise ill-treated.
Click here to read more »
10 March 2010
URGENT ACTION
Six of the soldiers held without charge in Guinea were released in January and February. The four still detained remain at risk of
torture or other ill-treatment.
Commander Issiaka Camara,Sub-Lieutenant Alpha Oumar Diallo and Sub-Lieutenant Hassiniou Pendessawere released without
charge on 25 January, after more than a year in custody. Captain Mamadou Bah Syllah,Captain Lansinet Keitaand Lieutenant
Ibrahima Kadja Barry were released on 18 February. One of them was seriously injured in custody, and has been left with sight and
hearing problems. Another of those who was detained has pain in his knees from not being able to leave his cell. When the three
men were released in January, the authorities told them to accept their fate, because ce qui est fait, est fait("what's done is done").
The remaining four (Colonel Soryba Yansané, Lieutenant Colonel David Syllah, Commander Pathio Bangourah and Sergeant
Moussa Sylla) were moved in December 2009 to a police detention centre in Conakry, run by the Ministry of Interior. They are
allowed visits from their families and lawyers, but have not been charged with any offence.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in French or your own language:
*Urging the authorities to release Colonel Soryba Yansané, Lieutenant Colonel David Syllah, Commander Pathio Bangourah and
Sergeant Moussa Sylla immediately, or else charge them with a recognizably criminal offence;
*Urging them to ensure that the men continue to have access to their families, lawyers and any medical treatment they may
require;
*Calling on them to guarantee that the four men will not be tortured or otherwise ill-treated.
Click here to read more »
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| ILLEGAL DRUGS |
None reported.
