Guinea: Camara is new head of state

  1. Posted on Thursday 25 December 2008 - 12:50
    diandonghol
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    Mamdou Dian Donghol Diallo, AfricaNews reporter in Conakry, Guinea
    Moussa Dadis Camara has been appointed as the head of state of Guinea by the military junta in that country. He is the successor of the late president Lansana Conté. After the announcement of the news on radio, thousands of people went out in the streets to acclaim and wave hands to their new president.
    soldiers in Guinea
    It was joy and happiness in many areas of the country. In Kaloum Commune, streets were overcrowded with young people under 40. The CNDD (National Council of Democracy and Development) accused some Generals of planning mercenaries’ intervention. In the evening these militaries went to the Palace to install their new chief. Till now the situation remains confused and dangerous. Threats are more frequent. The majority of the army is indifferent to their movement.

    In their 16th communiqué they requested the former government members and Army Generals to go to camp Alpha YAYA in 24 hours otherwise they will organise a research in the whole country. They also asked General Secretaries to replace their ministers until the appointment of the new government. They also replaced prefects and governors by army officers. The mutineers decided to do a curfew on Friday 26th.

    Last night there was a curfew because people heard gun shots almost in the whole capital. At 10 pm streets were deserted and only soldiers were on patrol in their pick ups. Christians also had a bad Christmas Eve because many were confined to their houses.

    Although they said their intention is not to remain in power and promised to organise free, transparent and credible elections in December 2010, opinions are mixed. They remind the Guinea people of Lansana Conté when he took power in 1984 and made too many false promises. Some people say that the military will not leave power to civilians.

    Others mention that these militaries will keep their promises and they prefer them to El Hadj Aboubacar Somparé. Somparé and Conté’s lobbies are responsible for the situation because they refused to establish real democracy in the country.

    As far as the burial of Conté is concerned, his family has already made the schedule. They fixed it for Friday 26th while the new president said that Conté will be buried after the new government has been appointment.

    This putsch had been condemned by the United Nations and the European Union suspended 15 million euro aid to Guinea.

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