In most places of the world, not being paid your due salary for weeks would trigger harsh legal repercussions for the employer. In Guinea, the street cleaners have taken to the protests after three months of back-pay and no success in obtain legal backing for their case. Among President Conde’s first actions as president was to commit himself to ‘cleaning up the city of litter.’ This was a much welcome announcement which resulted in newly created jobs and some clean streets in the busy capital of Conakry.

The street cleaner now however, are claiming 1,500,000 GNF of backpay, about $206 USD. A financial officer at the cleaners agency, IC TRANSPORT Lamine Traore claims that once the government gave them the contract with the current cleaners, they were owed two months salary of October and November 2011 from the SPDT (Public society for the transport of waste).

The cleaners striked last Monday, throwing garbage in center of the capital, Kaloum, primarily as a protest against the minister of Justice, claiming that since April the handing down of court decisions have been suspended by Chief Justice Christian Sow. The national association of street cleaners have suspended their activities until further notice. (1)

Another strike this week was among students at University Julius Nyere in Kankan, the countries second largest university who have not been given their due university living and food stipend by governmental agencies since October. Instructors at the school are quoted to say the lack of stipend payment to students is nothing new. (2)

Then there was action 6 days ago in Kamsar, Guinea’s corporate mining town in the northwest where “hundreds of people, mostly students, poured into the streets in a spontaneous downtown protest to ‘show their frustration’ … throwing stones at official vehicles and public buildings.” (3)

All these events are pointing to a surge in citizen actions demanding just working conditions, respect for promises made during the elections and fairness in business dealings. Given the convergence of all these protests, and the ongoing disfunction in discussions between the Government and opposition groups in setting a date for the legislative elections, we can’t help but wonder if the protests reach a fever pitch? One person has already died in Kamsar. What can we do to ensure more are not killed?

Guinea certainly has its differences with North Africa, but some critical pieces are shared: a young, undereducated and unemployed population, tired of authoritarian rule (inspite of democratic elections, what has changed for the youth?) and a system of remuneration and justice that often cheat people of their rights. While we urge peaceful protest to prevail, we’re concerned that the intersection between these rights violations and the lack of responsiveness of Government authorities and the subsequent recriminations by various parties against the other are creating conditions that far to quickly lead to violence.

If we are to prevent a bloody spring in Guinea, we need to see more from its leaders to ensure rights are respected.

(1) http://wadr.org/fr/site/news_fr/2822/Guin%C3%A9e–huissiers-et-balayeuses-de-rues-en-col%C3%A8re.htm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

(2) http://www.guineenews.org/articles/detail_article.asp?num=2012110114249 http://www.guineenews.org/articles/detail_article.asp?num=201211143226

(3) http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h2WTS_CgIkHXfsCrua-hI8KmQb8g?docId=CNG.8755c3628b023cdc70d2df419a357c4e.551

Are Guineans Preparing their Spring? Remuneration and the Justice System is a post from: Alliance Guinea

This year, one of our top priorities as an organization is to promote the speedy and transparent organization of legislative elections with broad participation of all the parties, civil society and international observers. This would meet a promise that President Condé made upon his inauguration over one year ago.

However, progress has been slow. At an “inclusive dialogue” meeting this week, President Condé promised to listen to opposition groups and civil society organizations when setting the date for now postponed legislative elections. Alliance welcomes this sign of inclusivity, but we are worried the process could stall. After his visit late this week, former Senegalese President and Secretary General of the OIF Abdou Diouf expressed his deep worry about the political dialogue. We can’t help but agree, and wonder what is the ideal role for civil society?

What can we do to continue pushing it forward? We are calling on Alliance members to propose actions in Guinea and in the international community to ensure a participatory, transparent and democratic elections.

The past two years have been a series of ups and downs in Guinea’s push towards democracy.  In November 2010, after 50 years of military rule, Guinea held its first open and transparent Presidential elections.  President Condé promised to hold legislative elections within the next year.  After not setting a date for a majority of the year, the date was set in the late fall for December 29, 2011.  The short notice drew criticism from opposition and members of civil society, who accused the President and the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) of not allowing opposition enough time to prepare for the elections.  President Condé met with opposition leaders at the end of November, and the legislative election date was postponed.

We’re calling on the Guinean government to set a new date as soon as possible. The CENI recently promised to include the opposition when choosing a new date for the first elections since 2002.

The challenges for the coming year are steep, but can be overcome with your help.  Candidates will need to avoid playing on the ethnic tensions that could compromise peace and stability in the country.  Engaging Guinea’s youth will also be important; earlier this year young members from 29 political parties gathered in Conakry and pledged for peaceful participation in the upcoming election. Violence in general will be a concern.  It has been two years since the massacres of September 2009, and Guineans are still in search of justice.  Proving to Guineans that the military is accountable will be essential, and Guinea’s recent downsizing of the military was a positive step forward.   Human Rights Watch released a statement on the one year anniversary of President Condé’s term in office, highlighting the upcoming elections, the manipulation of the judiciary system, and conduct of the security forces as major concerns.

Holding free, fair and open legislative elections will be an incredible step forward in establishing representative institutions that are the foundations of a stable democracy.  The precedent has been set; the Presidential elections in November of 2010 were largely ruled as free and fair.  It is now the responsibility of President Condé, the CENI, and opposition parties to allow and promote peaceful and open dialogue so that Guinea can move forward in its pursuit of democracy.

Join us on facebook and twitter to stay up to date on news in Guinea, and participate in the conversation on current events.

Interested in sharing your thoughts in a longer form? E-mail info@allianceguinea.org about writing a blog for our website.

President Condé’s promise of transparent dialogue in preparing the legislative elections is essential for 2012 is a post from: Alliance Guinea

For Immediate Release

Guinea: Intensify Attention to Human Rights Challenges
Some Progress in Condé’s First Year, but Serious Problems Remain

(Conakry, December 21, 2011) – President Alpha Condé of Guinea should intensify efforts to confront chronic rule of law problems that sustained decades of abuse, Human Rights Watch said today. Condé completes a year in office on December 21, 2011.

In particular, Condé should confront impunity by the security services for past and ongoing abuses, the denial of the right to assembly, inadequate support for the chronically neglected judiciary, and delays in organizing long-overdue parliamentary elections, Human Rights Watch said.

“President Condé has made some progress in confronting the serious governance and human rights problems he inherited, but there is much work left to be done,” said Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “President Condé’s election raised hopes for a new day, for an end to the country’s long legacy of abuse, and he should not let Guineans down.”

The largely free and fair election that brought Condé to power in 2010 was widely viewed in Guinea as having the potential to end over 50 years of authoritarianism, human rights abuse, and corruption. But over the past year, there have been new security force abuses, including killings, a concentration of power in the executive, weak implementation of the rule of law, and a worrying rise in ethnic tensions, Human Rights Watch said.

Condé’s government has made some effort to rein in and professionalize the chronically abusive security forces. But at least five men have been killed and over 100 people injured in several incidents of excessive use of lethal force, looting, and criminality by security forces over the past year. None of these incidents were investigated, nor were charges brought.

The government has shown greater respect for due process rights, Human Rights Watch said. But support for the judiciary has been inadequate and there has been a lack of progress in ensuring accountability for the massacres of demonstrators by security forces in 2007 and 2009.

Ethnic and political tensions remain high, notably between Guineans from Condé’s Malinké ethnic group and the Peuls, many of whom supported his opponent in the 2010 election, raising concern for violence between members of the two groups. National and international observers maintain that actions or inaction by Condé’s government have significantly exacerbated this tension. These include the failure by the government to discipline members of security services for ethnic slurs against the Peul; discriminatory appointment practices which has resulted in the appointment by the president of a disproportionate number of individuals from the Malinké ethnic group; and the, at times, partisan use of the security services and judiciary to restrict and punish members of the political opposition for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

To his credit, Condé recently created a “Reflection Committee” to promote reconciliation. Guinea urgently needs a truth-telling and reconciliation mechanism with the capacity to explore the root causes of enduring communal conflicts and successive repressive regimes, Human Rights Watch said. This should not however, mean any amnesty, in law or in fact, for those who committed serious international crimes, such as crimes against humanity.

“President Condé has both an opportunity and the responsibility to lead a government that will benefit all Guineans, regardless of their region of origin, ethnicity, or political affiliation,” Dufka said. “President Condé must step up his efforts to ensure Guinea’s successful transformation from an abusive state into one that guarantees the rights of all its people.”

For background on the major security and governance issues facing Guinea, please see “The Issues in Guinea” below.

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on state-sponsored abuse and impunity in Guinea, please visit “‘We Have Lived in Darkness’: A Human rights Agenda for Guinea’s New Government” (May 2011):http://www.hrw.org/reports/2011/05/24/we-have-lived-darkness-0

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Guinea, please visit:
www.hrw.org/africa/guinea

For more information, please contact:
In Washington, DC, Corinne Dufka (English, French, Spanish): +1-301-852-9972 (mobile); or dufkac@hrw.org

The Issues in Guinea

Parliamentary Elections and Governance
Instead of moving forward with legislative elections by the end of 2011 as he had promised, Condé insisted for much of the year on redoing the electoral register, a demand he has since dropped. Parliamentary elections have not been held since 2002, denying Guineans political representation.

Condé made progress on improving financial governance and addressing corruption by eliminating discretionary funds within various ministries, passing a new mining code to improve management of Guinea’s extensive natural resources, and establishing a hotline to report graft and corruption. However, several international partners interviewed by Human Rights Watch said negotiations for several mining and infrastructure contracts, which were managed by the presidency, lacked oversight and transparency.

Judiciary and Detention Conditions
Decades of neglect and manipulation of the judiciary by successive administrations have created striking deficiencies in the system, resulting in impunity for all classes of crimes. Allocations for the judiciary for several years, including 2011, have been less than 0.5 percent of the national budget (a regional expert on justice sector reform told Human Rights Watch that an acceptable budget allocation should be at least 5 percent.) The government has yet to establish the 17-member Superior Council of Judges (Conseil supérieur de la Magistrature) tasked with the discipline, selection, and promotion of judges.

Condé’s government removed several judges and other judicial personnel implicated in corruption and swore in 38 new judges for the Conakry Court of Appeals in July. In May, the government released numerous detainees who had been held in extended pretrial detention for minor offenses and, with few exceptions, the detention and due process rights of the some 50 individuals arrested after a July assassination attempt against the president appear to have been respected.

But there are severe shortages of judicial personnel and insufficient infrastructure and resources for the justice system, contributing to abuses, including prolonged pretrial detention and poor prison conditions. Prison and detention centers are severely overcrowded, with inadequate nutrition, sanitation, and medical care for detainees. The largest detention facility, designed for 300 prisoners, accommodates over 1,000. Between 80 and 90 percent of detainees in Guinea are being held in prolonged pretrial detention.

On several occasions, the government appeared to use the security forces and judiciary for partisan ends. On at least three occasions, members of opposition parties and human rights groups were denied permission to assemble. In April, the government banned a gathering to welcome back to Guinea the opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo; several opposition supporters were later put on trial and convicted for participating in the gathering. In September the government refused permission for a ceremony by human rights groups and a march by the political opposition to commemorate the 2009 massacre, and in December the security forces broke up a peaceful meeting of supporters of former Prime Mminister Lansana Kouyaté in Kankan. Dozens of opposition members have been arbitrarily detained, although most were later released or pardoned by the president.

Accountability for the September 28, 2009 Massacre and Other Crimes
There has been insufficient progress in holding to account members of the security forces implicated in the September 2009 massacre of some 150 people and the rape of over 100 women at a peaceful demonstration at the main stadium in the capital to protest the continued military rule of Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara, then the country’s leader. Members of the Presidential Guard, gendarmes, anti-riot police, and militia in civilian clothes opened fire on the crowds in the packed stadium and on people struggling to escape and brutally attacked women sexually. A 2009 report by the United Nations-led International Commission of Inquiry concluded that the abuses probably constituted crimes against humanity. In 2010 the government at the time promised to bring those responsible to justice and appointed three investigating judges.

However, during Condé’s first year as president, there was little public evidence of progress in the investigation and no evidence of government efforts to locate the over 100 bodies believed to have been disposed of secretly by the security forces. The government’s refusal for much of the year to provide security to the investigating judges, coupled with Condé’s appointment of two men implicated in the massacre to high-level positions, brought into question his commitment to ensure justice for the crimes. The authorities have not investigated, much less held accountable, any of the members of the security forces responsible for the 2007 killing of some 130 demonstrators.

Conduct of the Security Forces
The government has made some efforts to reduce the number of security force member from the estimated 45,000 at the beginning of Condé’s term, to limit the presence of soldiers on the streets, and ensure more discipline by security forces responding to demonstrations. But there have been new abuses and no change in impunity for the forces.

Human Rights Watch documented the deaths of at least five men and wounding of at least 100 in two incidents of excessive force by police and gendarmes who responded to opposition gatherings on April 3 and September 27-28. During both incidents the security forces assaulted numerous demonstrators and stole cell phones, watches, money, cameras, and other items during sweeps of neighborhoods largely populated by members of the political opposition. They also used ethnic slurs against members of the Peul ethnic group. During the September violence they blocked the wounded from receiving treatment, including intimidating medical personnel at Donka General Hospital. Also in September, gendarmes gang raped a 14-year-old girl.

Throughout the year, members of the security services were credibly implicated in numerous acts of criminality, including extortion at checkpoints and the solicitation of bribes to liberate traders and opposition members, some of whom had been arbitrarily detained. In one incident in early October, armed and uniformed men aboard two army pick-ups looted at least 12 small stores and killed one trader who attempted to resist. There were no attempts to investigate, discipline, or prosecute those implicated in any of these abuses.

HRW’s Statement on Condé’s First Year: Intensify Attention to Human Rights Challenges is a post from: Alliance Guinea

• GUINÉE : Une décision judiciaire contre l’impunité des actes de harcèlement à l’encontre de cinq défenseurs, alors que les actes d’intimidation continuent Paris-Genève-Conakry, le 2 décembre 2011. http://www.radio-kankan.com/Nouvelles-Radio-KanKan.161.0.html?&cHash=0d296ef5ce&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=10334&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

• Guinee News Exclusif : l’intégralité du fameux accord politique signé entre Lansana Kouyaté et Alpha Condé qui fait jaser…http://www.guineenews.org/articles/detail_article.asp?num=2011112894950
• Guinée : enquête sur le phénomène tortionnaire | Grotius International http://www.grotius.fr/guinee-enquete-sur-le-phenomene-tortionnaire/ via @Grotiusinternat

Tell us what you think. Are we starting to see a new freedom of information in Guinea? Will this increase the chances for a free and fair election in Guinea for the legislatives?

Is this the beginning of the end of secrecy in Guinea? is a post from: Alliance Guinea

To participate, dial +1 (209) 647-1600, access code: 67-21-37. The show will also be available at www.rgusa.net.

We will be celebrating the glory of Guinea’s independence, honoring victims of 2009, and learning what has been done so far to ensure that justice for these crimes is served and what options Guinea has for justice moving forward.

Confirmed Guests/Panelists include:

-Mme Asmaou Diallo, President of a 9/28 victims’ association;

- Mlle Oumou Salamata Keita, demonstrator and victim of violence on 9/28/09

-Thierno Madiou Sow, President of the Organisation Guinéenne pour les Droits de l’Homme;

-Corinne Dufka, West Africa Director for Human Rights Watch

- Mouctar Diallo of the Observatoire National de Droits de l’Homme en Guinee

TONIGHT, 7pm – 10pm ET – Special September 28 Radio Show is a post from: Alliance Guinea

Kenneth Wollock, the President of NDI, , expressed his organization’s congratulations to and support for President Condé and their commitment to promoting the development of a strong and vibrant democracy in Guinea. President Condé was soon ushered into the room by secret service personnel, and immediately began addressing the room.

In his address, President Condé began by revisiting the particularities of the 2010 presidential elections in minute detail. Troubles at the CENI, the issuance of multiple voter cards per individual, and the issuance of voter cards to minors were all among Condé’s talking points – as well as details of feuds among political parties and factions within the CENI. He averred that the first round of elections in 2010 was plagued by serious irregularities, argued that the second round was better but far from perfect, and went on to guarantee that his administration would do everything in its power to avoid such problems in Guinea’s upcoming legislative elections.  He also used this occasion to counter arguments in the press that his government is composed only of members of one ethnic group, noting for instance that while he might have several “Fofanas,” there can be Fofanas and others that come from Lower Guinea and the Forest in addition to Upper Guinea, where he is from. His argument singled out the absence of names from Guinea’s largest ethnic group, the Fulani, which he stated were the most different group in Guinea. Given that last year’s elections were marred by violent ethnic clashes and regionalist politics and that these tensions continue to worsen and plague the country, there is concern that these remarks do not serve the cause of national reconciliation.

Glaringly absent from his address was any vision or program for the development of the country now that he is president.

Following his opening remarks, the president opened the floor for questions, and humorously added that there would be “no taboo questions” for him. Members of the audience took him up on this offer in posing a variety of solid questions. The first, asked by Binta Terrier and Ourouro Bah, covered two popular concerns in Guinea’s public discourse: the appointment of ministers and soldiers (Pivi Coplan and Thiegboro) who served under previous administrations and are accused of being implicated in serious acts of corruption and human rights violations, and the suggestion that the attacks against President Condé’s residence  should possibly be investigated by an independent commission supported by the International Contact Group for Guinea given the country’s past history with fabricated plots to overthrow the government as justification for crackdowns on opposition.

President Condé took a defensive stance in his responses, stating that he never appointed Pivi and Thiegboro to any post in his government (but that as a civilian he had to appease the outgoing acting president, General Sekouba Konate), and that the only minister that he retained from a previous administration was his current finance minister, Kerfalla Yansane, who was in attendance at the event.

President Conde also said with conviction, and repeated later, that he is a “head of state, not head of a human rights organization.” Later, in her closing statement, Jennifer Cooke of CSIS addressed the president with her hopes that “as head of state you will come to see yourself as head of the ultimate human rights organization.” These remarks were met with by far the most enthusiastic applause of the event.

In response to the question about a possible independent, international investigation into the attacks on his residence, President Conde responded with indignation that any Guinean who would suggest such a thing is no patriot and has no respect for the country’s sovereignty.  Again in her closing remarks, Ms. Cooke, the CSIS’s head for Africa, suggested that given the tensions and mistrust currently seen in the country, the president might consider certain tools at his disposal such as an independent investigation as a means to communicate that he understands the concerns and is working to increase trust.

Among other questions asked, two of them focused on the president’s plans to ensure that the legislative elections are free and fair and facilicate open campaigning for all candidates across the country (asked by Alliance Guinea’s own Mohamed Touré), and Nimatoulaye Conté’s concerns about the much-needed inclusion of women and youth in Guinea’s political life. “We will put all our resources to use to organize the legislative elections before the end of the year,” asserted President Condé.” He went on: “we will avoid a repeat of last year’s elections by issuing securitized voter cards and holding a new census in order to prevent children of 14 years of age from voting, and individuals with multiple voter cards from voting multiple times.” Condé took on a stern tone in tackling the issue of gender equality in his government, mentioning several times that won his the elections with the support of a coalition, and that he must satisfy the demands of his alliance. He did not address strategies to improve dialogue with the opposition or ensure safe and open campaigning.

In sum, from Alliance Guinea’s perspective, President Conde missed the opportunity at this event to present before its distinguished audience his vision for a new Guinea. He said nothing about how he plans to reconcile the country after terribly divisive presidential elections and a history of state crimes against its citizens; he said nothing about his overarching plan for Guinea’s sustainable development. He did not make any assurances that recent restrictions to freedom of expression would not be repeated nor did he address concerns of security for opposition party members and others in the country who might disagree with him.  Much more remains to be seen if and how this traditional opposition party leader will remember all that he fought for over the past several decades and how he will now work to serve as leader of all Guineans.

Alliance Guinea Report on President Condé’s Presentation to NDI is a post from: Alliance Guinea

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July 28, 2011

Dear President Obama:

As a nonpartisan organization of Guineans and friends of Guinea in America and around the world, Alliance Guinea wishes to thank you for your ongoing commitment to promoting a peaceful and democratic transition to civilian rule in Guinea. Your meeting on Friday with President Alpha Condé is a time to both celebrate Guinea’s significant progress toward a democratic state and to remind your counterpart that democracy cannot be accomplished with the grave curtailments of human rights and civic freedoms seen since he took office. Our analysis of the situation in Guinea and in the diaspora community suggests that unless these issues are addressed immediately, Guinea stands to lose all of the gains it has made to date – slipping back into authoritarianism and possibly even civil war that could endanger the entire sub-region. The consequences of such backsliding would be made all the worse by the loss of faith among citizens in the value of democratic elections.

Specifically, Alliance Guinea respectfully asks that you take advantage of this meeting with President Condé to address the following issues of great concern to all Guineans and friends of Guinea who wish to see the country realize true democracy, peace and sustainable development:

• The attack against President Condé’s family residence is deeply troubling. But regardless of who is responsible, it must not be used as justification to conduct extra-judicial arrests and intimidation against those thought to oppose his administration. All those who have been arrested without due process should be openly charged or released, and violence against opposition members, media and business professionals must stop.

• Legislative elections must be held before the end of the year, and in a safe and open atmosphere that facilitates campaigning across the country by all eligible candidates and allows all registered citizens to cast their votes in peace, and have that vote be counted.

• The recent ban of all media coverage of the attacks against President Condé’s residence – as well as of all political talk shows of any kind in Guinea – must not be repeated.* It is essential that freedoms of press and expression, together with all civic rights protected by the Guinean constitution, be hereafter guaranteed for all Guineans.

• Real dialogue must be held with members of the opposition parties in Guinea in order to ensure an open political environment as well as collaborative promotion of sustainable development in the country.

• The grave and worsening ethnic tensions in Guinea should be addressed by the president, setting the example in reaching out to members of all ethnic and regional communities to promote inter-community dialogue and reconciliation.

• The victims of the September 2009 atrocities and previous state crimes have yet to see justice. A truth commission or other process must be established to end the culture of impunity in Guinea.

As the historic opposition standard bearer in Guinea and winner of its first democratic elections, President Condé has an unprecedented opportunity to champion true democracy and to lead Guinea on a path that allows it to develop its incredible potential. As a leader for democracy in the world, the United States should take a stand in calling on President Condé to seize this opportunity and conduct state affairs with respect for his own constitution, international human rights treaties and the promises made to the Guinean people.

President Obama, thank you for your consideration and commitment to peace and democracy in Guinea.

Sincerely,
The members of Alliance Guinea

___________

*updated to reflect the cancellation of the media ban.

Alliance Guinea’s letter to President Obama on the occasion of his meeting with President Condé is a post from: Alliance Guinea

Restore immediately the freedoms of press and expression in Guinea is a post from: Alliance Guinea

I have some feelings that I would like to share with my Guinean brothers and sisters…

Here is a simple, yet powerful personal message: Clearly Guinea is in deep trouble at the moment (primarily between Malinké and Foula, but everyone else is involved as well).

Hate is what plagues us.

Hate is what is tearing us apart.

Hate is what is destroying us.

Hate is a disease.

Hate is like cancer: it must be completely eradicated, or it threatens to return and hurt even more, as it is currently doing with us. The question is, how do we cure ourselves from hatred? The answer is quite simple… through LOVE!

LOVE overpowers HATE. It really is that simple. No need for complicated theories or long explanations. Love is found in different forms all throughout human relationships, in families and in friendships. Clearly, I am encouraging everybody to build diverse friendships, but more importantly, I advise all Guineans to begin marrying outside of their tribe.

Families are the unit of society. The best way to build national unity is to build diverse families. Let us stop this close-minded business. Culture is not static, and in-breeding weakens the offspring. To avoid dying a slow, culturally stagnant and genetically defective death, let us foster national peace through love, literally. The middle ages are gone!!! The glorious empires of recorded history are never to return!!!

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON UNITY.

The space-time continuum is four dimensional. Time is the measurement of the movement of an object in space. Everything is constantly moving forward. History is just that: history; the key word is STORY! There is never a singular version of a story. As long as they are told by the imperfect minds and tongues of human beings, facts will always have a degree of relativity, and stories will always come in different versions.

Emotions are powerful. Feelings define who we are, our character. If we continue to hate “the other” tribe, when we are no longer in contact with “the other” tribe, we will begin hating “our own people.” In allegiance to the need to hate, the mind will find a “valid excuse” for hating one group or another. Why? Because we will have fixed our nature on hate. We will have a natural pre-disposition to hatred… Vilifying people from another village, tribe, or region, will not solve those of our own. Each of us needs to take responsibility, as responsibility is a pre-requisite for independence, interdependence, and authority.

My fellow Guineans, I would like you to consider one small thought… as you entered this world, you were greeted with love by your mother. It is in fact love, in one form or another, that brings a man and a woman together to perform the most miraculous act of (pro)creation in the animal kingdom. Love is the mother of creativity, and creativity is the mother of all human genius. The comfort we enjoy, the technologies we have, the cultures we hold dear… are all the product of creativity, and the root of creativity is love. If you don’t believe me, observe people that are in deep love. They become forgiving, oblivious to the negative traits in the target of their love. People in love are creative, imaginative, open, quasi possessed. Love is who we are. In creating us, our Creator bestowed his love and mercy upon us. Literally, without love we are nothing. With hate (the opposite of love), we meet our doom and destruction.

Think for a minute… who wants a civil war, or the consequences of physical and cultural in-breeding? Which Guinean can guarantee that none of his/her family members will be affected if chaos breaks out in Guinea?

So, my dear Guinean brothers and sisters. I won’t lie to you all. Despite the many talents and potential of the Guinean people, many of us are still sick in the heart. Some of us have forward thinking views, but our families and friends are eager to infect you with hate. I did not have the opportunity to grow up in Guinea or to spend time around Guineans during my adolescence, but since I began meeting my people a few years ago, these have been my observations.

There always seems to be a “valid excuse” to nurse hatred. Elections, Nafissatou Diallo, rocket fire on President Alpha Condé’s house. Despite all logic, it always seems that you our public eventually forfeits reason to follow the doubtful philosophies of an uneducated uncle, or the manipulated emotions of the masses. EVERY TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS, OUR ANALYSIS IS ONE DIMENSIONAL: WHICH TRIBE DID IT????

All this is the result of hatred. A hatred that we have preached and practiced for decades. For this, there is only one cure, and our creator has equipped us with this cure deep inside us: LOVE. LOVE EACH OTHER. BUILD NEW FRIENDSHIPS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, MARRY DIVERSELY.

To those that are already married, help your sisters and brothers and aunts and uncles, and cousins and friends to find marriage and love outside of your villages, outisde of your tribes, outside of your regions. This solution will naturally correct all anger and hatred that we have built around ethnicity, political affiliation, etc. It will also teach us to love, and give us a predisposition to love all.

In the end, ask yourself: will love overpower hate, or will hate overpower love?

The choice is ours…

I would like to ask our leaders, both President Alpha Condé and Cellou Dalein Diallo to sit down together and talk, so that the citizens of Guinea will be inspired to follow their noble example and work for national reconciliation. I am also appealing to our elders, sages, and religious leaders to give the future precedence over the past, and the larger collectivity precedence over their small immediate circles.

As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, May Allah bless us, may he clean our hearts and fill them with deep love for all.

If you want to discuss more about unity in Guinea, follow me on twitter @MohamedToure or e-mail me at mohamed@allianceguinea.org

Building National Unity in Guinea Through Love is a post from: Alliance Guinea

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Alliance Guinea est profondément attristée par les nouvelles d’une tentative sur la vie du Président Alpha Condé et l’attaque sur la résidence de sa famille. Nous condamnons l’usage de la violence, ce qui risque de compromettre le progrès historique vers la démocratieaquis depuis l’année dernière en Guinée. Plus de détails sur cette attaque va certainement émerger dans les prochains jours et nous appelons à tous les guinéens et à la communauté internationale de suspendre tout jugement prématuré. Alliance Guinea se rejoint à tous ceux qui se soucient de l’avenir de la Guinée en exprimant l’espoir ardent que ces événements n’entraveront pas le progrès vers une gouvernance démocratique et pacifique dans le pays.

Statement on the attack against President Conde/ Declaration sur l’attaque contre le president Conde is a post from: Alliance Guinea