Council for a Community of Democracies

Guinean Political Unrest Continues After Coup Leader Is Shot
December 10, 2009
By: Randi Zung

The September 28 Guinean democracy rally killings in which at least 150 people died and over 1,200 were injured, continues to be a deciding factor in the country’s current state of political unrest. On December 3, Guinean junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara was shot in the neck twice by aide Lieutenant Toumba Diakite. In an interview with Radio France Internationale, Diakite said that he shot Camara in order to avoid being arrested by military leaders who were going to blame the September massacre on him, BBC News reports: “I shot him because at some point there was utter betrayal towards me, a complete betrayal of democracy, he tried to lay all responsibility for the events of 28 September on me.” The junta government has not made a clear official statement on Camara’s condition. Some reports claim he could be returning to Guinea in a few weeks, while other reports say that he will be in recovery for much longer. Diakite’s whereabouts are currently unknown. Since the shooting Defense Minister General Sekouba Konate has taken over as interim leader. AFP reports that Konate was one of the key figures that brought the current junta to power in December 2008.

According to news outlet AllAfrica, the International Contact Group on Guinea met in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to discuss how to address the country’s current political crisis. In addition, the group comprised of representatives from the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the European Union, met with military leaders on December 13 to resume talks to restart discussion about the possibility of holding elections. In addition, AllAfrica also reports the representatives are trying to work out a power sharing agreement with the junta government.

According to ECOWAS Secretary-General Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the political instability of Guinea is dangerous because it could cause further instability within neighboring countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Ivory Coast. The junta government has said that it will reject interventions from outside entities, and attempts to get involved with the current political crisis will be seen as an attack on the Guinean state’s legitimacy. Despite the junta’s threat, Chambas maintains that it is necessary for outside groups to intervene because of humanitarian issues. Chambas believes a force should be deployed immediately in order to help restore human rights, peace, and security within Guinea in order to help protect the country’s citizens.

Sources:
BBC News – Guinea Aide Admits Shooting Junta Leader Camara
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8415659.stm

AFP – Guinea's New Strongman Urges Army to Discipline
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gzDiM5yjrV7HZBTPAUuAFGxjrQEA

Voice of America – ECOWAS Leader Calls for Intervention Force in Guinea
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/ECOWAS-Leader-Calls-for-Intervention-Force-in-Guinea-79183697.html

AllAfrica.com – Region to Intervene Militarily in Guinea?
http://allafrica.com/stories/200912140747.html

AllAfrica.com – Junta Warns of Attack on Peace Troops
http://allafrica.com/stories/200912150993.htm