Voice of Liberia

Guinea Conakry on the brink of civil unrest

Tamba D. Aghailas | January 18, 2007

It has been reported that more than twenty people have died in demonstrations against Lansana Conte of Guinea. Various workers’ unions are leading the general strike. Eight days into the strike, which began on January 10^th, many political strategists are predicting an end to the regime of Lansana Conte as strike leaders continue to press ahead for a political change.

African presidents usually want to cling unto power until they can govern no more. The result is embezzlement, disregard for human rights, civil strife, and acute poverty for the masses. I am a living witness of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone’s problems.

This is the case of the Republic of Guinea: A former army general Lansana Conté is in power since the passing of the charismatic pro independence campaigner and first president, Ahmed Sekou Toure. Conte seized power in a bloodless coup in April of 1984, ousting the then transitional government of Lansana Beavogui, and suspended the constitution. Since then, “l’homme fort de l’armée,” (the army’s strongman) as he is known in Guinea, has metamorphosed from an army colonel to a general to a civilian president, through a deceptive and phony electoral process.

With his quest for absolute power, Conte has reduced the opposition to nothing but a “talking clown”, thus weakening civil society, and promoting corruption at all levels of government. He also allowed Guinean soil to serve as conduit for civil unrests in neighboring Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, and recently Ivory Coast. The man, despite his current medical condition – unable to carry himself physically and mentally unstable, continues to disregard international criticism of his rule and the will of his people. He maintains a firm grip on power through his military proxies.

According to GuineeNews, a Guinean online magazine, the president verbally threatened to kill Union leaders when they met him on Wednesday to present their demands. He said it was only a matter of time. Not deterred by his threats, union leaders have instructed their constituencies to continue the general strike.

AllAfrica quoted union leader Rabiatou Serah Diallo that "The solution to the strike is in the hands of President Conte and the institutions of the Republic. We will continue the fight until our demands have been met satisfactorily," the union general secretary said. They are calling for the president’s resignation.

Human rights groups and donors fear that any civil unrest in Guinea has the propensity to destabilize neighbors, especially Liberia and Sierra Leone, countries with decade-long histories of bloody civil wars.

Meanwhile, there are no reports as to the plight of refugees still living in various parts of Guinea. There are reports that people are pinned in their homes by the confrontations between youths and security forces. Food and other basic commodities are in shortage.