Democracy News

South African Mercenaries Rumored To Be Training Guinean Troops
November 25, 2009
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

Online news outlet AllAfrica reports that Guinea’s junta government has recruited at least 50 South African mercenaries to help train the country’s military forces.  Reuters reports that the South African mercenaries, believed to be working for a Dubai-based firm, were reportedly seen outside of Conakry, the Guinean capital.  In addition to the South African mercenaries, Reuters also reports that Guinea has also employed the help of Ukrainian, Israeli, Sierra Leonean, and Liberian mercenaries, security groups, and soldiers.  This development is one of many instances that points to the continued dissolution of democratic principles in Guinea.

In September 2009, government soldiers interrupted a peaceful democracy rally that resulted in the deaths of at least 150 people.  Government officials maintain that only 57 individuals died during the incident.  The rally was held to protest the continued rule of current government leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who took office after a coup in December 2008.  Since the September massacre, Camara’s regime has been renounced by the international community and has been subject to many investigations and sanctions.

In a statement to BBC News, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa William Fitzgerald said that the recent sightings of South African mercenaries are a sign that Captain Camara is tightening his grip on control of the country, despite his initial pledge to step down after elections.  In an article by Reuters, South African director general of International Relations Ayanda Ntsaluba expressed that Camara is likely planning to run in the country’s upcoming January 2010 election and speculated that the South African mercenaries might be helping to train troops to quell potential citizen protests.  Camara initially pledged to hold elections in 2009, and also promised that he would not run in them.  AllAfrica reports the South African government has already pledged to investigate the situation, with Ntsaluba noting that “We would not like to see our country and its citizens involved in all sorts of nefarious activities and especially where the effect of that… is to strengthen activities that run counter to policies that are advanced by… the African Union.”  According to South African law, it is illegal for any South African citizen to fight for a foreign country without prior permission from the South African government.

Sources:
AllAfrica.com - South African Govt Probes Mercenary Reports
http://allafrica.com/stories/200911180600.html

BBC News - US has evidence of South Africa mercenaries in Guinea'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8365820.stm

Reuters - S.Africa investigating Guinea mercenary report
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5AH0H520091118

Also See:
Military State Violence Mars Pro-Democracy Protest in Guinea
http://ccd21.org/news/africa/guinea_prodemocracyprotest_quelled.htm