Briefing at the State Department Friday March 5: Have your comments and questions heard

March 4th, 2010

We have been invited by the State Department to a the second special briefing for representatives of NGOs on the current situation in Guinea. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs, William Fitzgerald, will discuss ways that the United States can help facilitate the establishment of a democratically-elected government, restore economic and political development programs in Guinea on Friday, March 5, 2010 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the State Department.

“With the transition government in place, the United States looks forward to working with Guinea – in collaboration with our international partners – to help facilitate the establishment of a democratically-elected government, restore economic and political development programs and assist the Guinean Armed Forces in their goal of security sector reform.”

- PJ Crowley, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Public Affairs (2/18/2010)

Alliance Guinea will be represented and we would like to make sure that we are representing your voices. What would you like to see the State Department doing to support the transition to democracy, and help bring justice for the victims of crimes against humanity committed during last year dreadful events, in Guinea? Any questions or concerns that you would like the State Department to address? What do you want to understand better about the current situation, and the international community’s response?

Please leave your comments and questions here.

Parallel governments in Guinea: Will this lead to real change?

February 18th, 2010

A new transitional government has been formed in Guinea. The Prime Minister Jean Mary Dore and his cabinet members will lead the country through this difficult phase. Soon after the announcement of Mr. Dore’s government (list of ministers available here), President Sekouba Konate published the list of his own cabinet, endowed with important roles and involved in every decision making process.

It seems that the country has two distinct governments. However, the real executive power remains in the hands of Sekouba Konate and his cabinet members. The entire government is composed of members form all social and ethnic groups, but it is surprising and a tremendous disappointment to the cabinet appointments of hard core remnants of the CNDD – notably Commandant Claude Pivi and Lieutenant Colonel Thieboro Camara – widely thought to share responsibility with other junta leaders for the September 28 massacre and mass rapes.

In Dore’s government, one of the greatest disappointments is the Minister of Justice – which did not change from the previous CNDD military government. Colonel Siba Lohalamou, a close ally of Dadis, keeps his seat and in doing so squelches all hope for any serious action now against the perpetrators of the 9/28 crimes against humanity through the Guinean judicial system. Finally, the presence of General Toto Camara as Security and “Civil Protection” Minister also raises serious doubts about just how well civilians – and their rights – will be protected during the transition.

Until free democratic elections are organized and a President issued from popular votes is put into office, democracy will remain just a dream for Guineans all over the world. Apparently, justice and will have to wait until then as well. This transitional government is formed only to please everyone regardless of the qualifications and backgrounds of its members – and, probably, to try to keep some of the worst elements in check. The real test will be if they can do what it takes to organize the elections and set the stage for democratic change and the end of impunity in the long term.

Sekou Konde for Alliance Guinea

Guinea in President Obama’s State of the Union speech

January 28th, 2010

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President Obama, State of the Union (from White House)

Speaking in his first State of the Union address, President Obama tonight used Guinea as an example of how America’s fate and belief in liberty is inextricably linked to that of people around the world.

America takes these actions [of international engagement] because our destiny is connected to those beyond our shores.  But we also do it because it is right,” the president said. “That’s why, as we meet here tonight, over 10,000 Americans are working with many nations to help the people of Haiti recover and rebuild.  That’s why we stand with the girl who yearns to go to school in Afghanistan; why we support the human rights of the women marching through the streets of Iran; [and]

why we advocate for the young man denied a job by corruption in Guinea. For America must always stand on the side of freedom and human dignity.  Always.”

Haiti, Afghanistan, Iran, and Guinea – America must take a stand because it is right thing to do.

It is a powerful message, and the prominence that President Obama has given to the struggle for freedom and human dignity in Guinea in particular is an extraordinary recognition of the importance of our cause – and of the fact that this struggle is in fact everyone’s cause.

We thank the president for his commitment to American engagement in these crucial issues of our time and encourage him not to relent in undertaking and supporting concrete actions for real, positive impact.  Alliance Guinea supports ongoing US engagement in Guinea and rest assured that we will be continuing to advocate for that young man – as well as for the millions of his brothers and sisters who have been born and raised in dictatorship and poverty and are ready to build a new future of democracy and prosperity.

What did this part of President Obama’s speech meant to you?  Leave a comment and tell us what you think, and what we should include in a letter to the president that we are preparing in response to the speech.

And if you are in the US, NOW is the time to head to your Congressional representatives’ offices and tell them what the President meant by that line. To find people around you and set up a meeting, please contact the Alliance Congressional Action Team  at brian_d_b@yahoo.com.

Jennifer Swift-Morgan for Alliance Guinea

Falsehood has perished and Truth has triumphed

January 18th, 2010
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Dadis, December 2008 (from africa-terror.blogspot.com)

Moussa Dadis Camara declared on Sunday January 17, 2010 in Burkina Faso that he accepted to sign the declaration made on January 15, 2010 without any outside influences. He exhorted supporters to regain their houses calmly and bring the support necessary in a peaceful transition in Guinea under the auspice of Sekouba Konate.

This represents a major breakthrough in the crisis that continues to plague the innocent population of Guinea. The leader of the CNDD has finally faced the fact that only truth prevails and falsehood shines momentary before its doom. Dadis demeanor and speech sharply show that he can no longer lead and only time can tell if he will fully recover from his injuries.

Hopefully, those who are still reluctant to face this reality must know that the whole CNDD saga was just another tragic event with consequences of staggering proportion. Those who are responsible for the September 28th massacre shall account for their acts. It’s only the beginning of end for them.

Sekou Konde for Alliance Guinea

Between Dadis and Konate, who will be in charge now?

January 13th, 2010

The situation in Guinea continues to raise doubts and concerns. Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who was hospitalized in Morocco, has arrived in Burkina Faso. The reasons for this trip are for the moment not understood. Even if some are quick to associate it with the speech given on January 6 by General Sékouba Konaté. Will this speech, which brings hope and is highly praised by all constituents of the nation, be put into practice with eventual cooperation between Captain Dadis and General Konaté?

Today around 5:30pm a delegation led by General Konaté, Colonel Korka and the minister of foreign affairs Alexandre Cécé Loua went to Ouagadougou to meet Captain Dadis. This meeting will undoubtedly set once again Guinea’s fate.

On the other side the Forces Vives met at the house of Jean Marie Doré – for whom the post of Prime Minister is very likely – and decided to work quicker to take the hand extended by General Sékouba Konaté. This hand risks interception by Captain Dadis Camara, which will return Guinea to its original cage, which would be truly a shame. In any case we will see more clearly whether Captain Camara or General Konaté actually leads Guinea.

Regardless, Dadis’ approach is not fortuitous for the same reasons as the hand held out by Sékouba Konaté. Undoubtedly the two men are good friends but don’t share the same vision and maybe no longer even fight for the same cause. Dadis’ short absence illustrated this difference in all its glory. The differences between the two men are enormous, even if in Guinea diverse groups are brought together by demagoguery and bad luck. The Guinean people hope that the good faith of the General, if it actually is good, will dominate over the unspoken intentions of Captain Dadis, who became drunk on power. Life is full of choices, thus Konaté must justify his choice and above all to meet it, and the Forces Vives must continue to apply pressure.

Nasser Diallo

Yet another prime minister – who will replace Kabinet Komara?

January 8th, 2010
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The story always repeats itself twice.

The first time as tragedy, and the second as comedy.

The country of prime ministers continues to be faithful to its values and the population and the opposition learn no lessons. Each time pressure rises in Guinea we switch the Prime Minister to calm spirits and move forward. After the “Consensus” Prime Minister and the “Opening” Prime Minister there was the Junta Prime Minister Kabinet Komara. All raised hopes but what did they really do for Guinea? What marks did they leave for their people?

Today, we speak to you of a Prime Minister from the opposition and everywhere people are dancing and singing in Conakry. Open your eyes, the junta is not stupid—it is a creative way to give the position to the Guinean opposition, which will show that their unity is motivated by gaining power rather than freedom for their people. Without a doubt, each one, to the detriment of the greater interest of the nation will want to place themselves for one party, or place their guy for the other.

We all know from history there is no position in Guinea more unstable and fictionally based than that of the Prime Minister – the “First Minister,” because, for the junta, this position has one simple meaning, the first of all ministers. And this is no secret to the opposition since several of them are well acquainted with the privileges that come with the PM position. The most recent example is the remarkable anger displayed by Dadis Camara against Kabinet Komara for receiving a delegation for the mines without his permission. This is how far the power of a prime minister in Guinea stretches.

The administration is subject to speculations in Guinea and the Guinean peoples’ problem is too delicate for any prime minister as long as the self-proclaimed junta is in power. There are many high stakes facing the success of the transition in Guinea now, and with the approaching nomination of a prime minister from the opposition, we will know how urgent this was among the priorities.

Nasser Diallo

It’s the end of the year – what is really going on out there?

December 29th, 2009

La situation politique évolue en Guinée. La junte militaire au pouvoir est prise dans ses propres contradictions.

Les massacres du 28 septembre 2009 ont révélé le vrai visage des militaires qui ont pris le contrôle du pouvoir en Guinée le 23 Décembre 2008. Le peuple de Guinée et la communauté internationale sont désormais convaincus de la nature criminelle de cette junte. Tous les auteurs des crimes contre l’humanité devront être arrêtés et traduits devant la Cour Pénale Internationale. C’est désormais une question de temps car la machine judiciaire est en marche. Le rapport de la commission d’enquête internationale est clair : Moussa Dadis Camara et plusieurs membres du CNDD sont rendus coupables des massacres et des viols au Stade du 28 Septembre.

Isolé et dénoncé par la Communauté Internationale, Dadis a voulu porter toute la responsabilité du massacre et des viols sur Toumba Diakhité et ses troupes. Les règlements de compte ont ainsi commencé au sein de l’armée. La réaction de Toumba n’a pas tardé car se sentant livré à la justice internationale, ce dernier a aussitôt réagi en tirant une balle à la nuque de Dadis pour l’éliminer. Toumba est toujours en fuite et fait l’objet d’une recherche sur tout le territoire.

Dadis Camara, quant à lui, est toujours au Maroc sous la surveillance des services  de sécurité de ce pays. Les Américains et les Français mettent actuellement la pression sur le royaume chérifien pour garder Dadis en lieu sûr en attendant la décision de la CPI de l’arrêter et de le traduire devant la justice internationale.

En Guinée, comme la politique a horreur du vide, le Général Konaté assure l’intérim du pouvoir en attendant d’avoir le total contrôle de l’armée guinéenne en pleine déconfiture. Jusqu’ici, Konaté n’a fait aucun discours affirmant la pleine prise du pouvoir. Il laisse seulement entendre sa volonté de restaurer la discipline et le respect de la hiérarchie au sein de l’armée. Il s’engagerait aussi à organiser « dès que possible » des élections libres et transparentes pour laisser le pouvoir aux civils. Mais tous les officiers restés fidèles à Dadis n’entendent pas céder le pouvoir et perdre les privilèges attachés à la confiscation du pouvoir par la junte. Les militaires ayant participé aux massacres et viols du 28 Septembre 2009 savent que leurs crimes ne resteront pas impunis. Ils sont sous la menace d’une dénonciation certaine dans les semaines et mois à venir. Ils mettront donc tout en œuvre pour empêcher le départ de la junte du pouvoir.

Le Général Konaté est donc sous la menace d’un putch préparé et conduit par le capitaine Pivi, ses troupes et autres acolytes. Il vient de prendre la décision de libérer des officiers emprisonnés aux îles de Loos par Moussa Dadis Camara au lendemain de la prise du pouvoir par la junte. Cette libération et la demande de fermeture d’un camps de miliciens près de Forécariah augurent d’une volonté de neutraliser les troupes de Pivi acquises à la cause de Dadis. Le futur scénario des règlements de compte au sein de l’armée se traduira par l’affrontement possible entre les troupes de Pivi et les militaires qui se placeront sous l’autorité du Général Konaté.

La tâche de Konaté sera rude car le contrôle de l’armée guinéenne ne sera pas facile et ne se fera pas du jour au lendemain. Il aura besoin de temps et de beaucoup de moyens pour réussir un retour de l’ordre et de la discipline au sein de l’armée. Il lui sera surtout difficile de convaincre tous les militaires de la nature de leur mission pour la nation guinéenne.

La tentation de garder le pouvoir n’est toujours pas à exclure car face aux militaires, nous déplorons tous la division des partis politiques et le manque d’un réel leadership en Guinée. Les ambitions personnelles et l’organisation des partis politiques sur des bases ethnocentristes ou régionalistes constituent les causes des réelles faiblesses de la classe politique guinéenne.

Les leaders politiques et syndicaux doivent faire preuve d’un sens élevé de responsabilité pour ne pas encourager l’installation durable d’un autre régime militaire en Guinée. Nous devons arrêter de cautionner de manière directe ou indirecte l’usage de la force dans le contrôle et l’exercice du pouvoir en Guinée. Ne soyons pas amnésiques car toute dictature ne conduira notre pays qu’au chaos. L’usage de la force ne servira qu’à sauvegarder les intérêts d’une minorité aux dépens des intérêts légitimes de notre peuple.

Sous la dictature, il n’y'aura jamais de développement en Guinée. Seul l’avènement d’un régime démocratique et la création d’un Etat de droit conduiront notre pays vers le développement. Notre intérêt à tous est de cultiver et de développer la Conscience nationale. Nous devons nous battre pour élever le débat politique et sortir des considérations personnelles, ethniques et régionalistes. J’avoue que les vieux leaders politiques ne facilitent ce travail aux jeunes arrivants. Pourtant, il est plus que temps d’ouvrir notre pays aux réalités du monde et de s’inscrire dans sa marche et sa dynamique. La Guinée ne peut pas continuer de vivre à la marge du monde et de ne pas suivre la voie du progrès économique et social.

Nous devons rejeter toute idée de fatalité ou de malédictions.

La pauvreté et la misère ne sont pas des fatalités.

Notre peuple dispose de réelles potentialités pour lutter et vaincre le sous-développement dans notre pays. Travaillons à la mobilisation des consciences et des énergies pour construire notre pays. Aimons notre peuple et nourrissons la grande ambition de construire une grande nation éprise de paix et de prospérité.

Nous allons nous déterminer dans les futures élections démocratiques non pas en fonction de critères ethniques ou régionalistes mais uniquement en fonction des projets de société présentés par les partis politiques représentatifs et responsables. Notre vote fera le choix non d’un homme, d’une ethnie ou d’une région mais le choix du meilleur projet de société pour construire un Etat de droit, l’unité et la prospérité en terre guinéenne et africaine.

La jeunesse guinéenne est le fer de lance des transformations indispensables pour engager notre pays sur la voie du développement.

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Tous unis, tous solidaires pour construire la Guinée de demain.

Bonne année à tous les militants pour une guinée plus démocratique

Mamadou Barry

All perpetrators must be prosecuted “to the full extent of the law” – Norman Siegel

December 24th, 2009

In calling the atrocities committed in Conakry, Guinea “crimes against humanity,” the United Nations has taken one step toward bringing those responsible for that criminal behavior to justice.  Our world leaders must urge the International Criminal Court, which is legally independent of the U.N., to prosecute all perpetrators to the full extent of the law and to issue a status report of the I.C.C. investigation underway.

Although the U.N. has singled out specific military leaders as the individuals directly responsible for the massacre, the I.C.C. must fully investigate and hold accountable all individuals who were either directly or indirectly involved in the attacks.  Until that happens, justice will not be served.

Norman Siegel, New York

The writer is a civil rights lawyer and the Treasurer of the Amadou Diallo Foundation, Inc.

Atrocities strongly suggest crimes against humanity

December 19th, 2009

Since the September 28 massacre in Guinea by members of the Government security apparatus; human rights organizations and United Nations investigation teams have concluded their inquiries. Human Rights Watch (HRW) published its report on Thursday 17  December, which clearly demonstrates that the crimes (sexual, physical violence etc…) committed that day where premeditated and the evidence strongly suggests that they amount to crimes against humanity.

An interview of some 240 individuals, including victims wounded during the attack, witnesses present in the stadium, relatives of missing people, soldiers who participated in the violent crackdown and the government cover-up… led to their conclusion. This suggests that Presidential Guards acted according to specific orders and they intended to inflict serious harm on innocent people.

We also await the release of the UN Commission of Inquiry’s report, apparently delivered to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the same day as the HRW report release, but it is not yet in the public domain.  Given the interview that Dadis’s erstwhile right-hand man Toumba gave to RFI this week pointing the finger back at the incapacitated junta leader, it is more critical than ever that the investigation be transparent and the findings shared publicly.

Those who committed these murderous and heinous acts must not go unpunished. The perpetrators must be brought to justice or justice brought to them. Those who also assisted in the planned massacre must be held accountable for their behavior. An assistant to a crime has a responsibility in the crime committed.

Sekou Konde for Alliance Guinea

Music against violence: Celebrating the beauty of Guinea and praying for peace

December 11th, 2009

Wednesday night in New York, we gathered with Guinean music masters Famoro Dioubate, Missia Saran Dioubate, and Bailo Bah and their talented friends for an evening just to celebrate all that’s beautiful about Guinea and to pray for peace. Bailo Bah and then Famoro and his band Kakande played up a storm and made us all nostalgic, and hopeful for better times ahead.