Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Conakry (Agenzia Fides) - “The two sides have started talks, but they are ready to play the ethnic card if negotiations fail,” say Fides sources from the Church (who requested anonymity for security reasons) in Conakry, the capital of the Republic of Guinea where tensions remain high between the military junta led by Moussa Camara Dadis and the opposition, grouped under the name of "Live Forces". This week, talks began in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) between the two sides, mediated by Burkina's President Blaise Compaoré. Yesterday, 20 November, the opposition accused the mediator of having encouraged the junta's proposal to let Camara remain head of the National Council of Transition for another 10 months. The Council would lead the country until new elections to be held in 2010.
"The fundamental issue is Camara's candidacy in elections. The 'Live Forces' do not want the current strongman of the military junta to stand for election," says the source of Fides. "This explains why, despite what may appear outside of Guinea, Camara has a certain consensus in the country, except in the capital Conakry, where the opposition is strongest. The Guineans perceive that the opposition is dominated by old politicians, in particular by former Prime Ministers of the late President Lansana Conté." Camara had taken power in a bloodless military coup following the death of Conté in December 2008, with the promise to renew the national policy framework. "The opposition, which is really internally divided, is strong in Conakry and controls the press. This is how an outside observer gets the impression that in the country there is a strong contrast between the military and the population. However, this is not so: while it may not arouse enthusiasm, it is perceived as a better alternative to politicians linked to the old regime," says the source of Fides.
"This does not mean that there is tension in the country, but this stems more from the living conditions of the population that the political struggle. Guinea is at a standstill: the roads are in poor condition, there is rationing in the distribution of gasoline, electric power outages are frequent, the banks have restricted credit and issuance of foreign currency." The economic conditions are exacerbated by the sanctions decreed by the international community following the massacre in the stadium in Conakry on September 28 (which caused about 150 deaths among the opposition's demonstrators).
Fides' source continued: "In this context, it is a great cause for concern if the ethnic card is played." Guinea is divided between the coastal region, where the dominant ethnic group is that of Poel, and the forestry sector, where Camara comes from. "The opposition shouted slogans such as forestry=Dadis= Christian. In Conakry, there are Poel taxi drivers and landlords who refuse to serve clients who are not of their ethnicity."
According to various press sources, the military regime took on foreign mercenaries to train a militia formed by young people from the Guinea forest. "I'm unable to confirm or deny this news," says the source of Fides. "I can only note that France has cancelled the contract for training of the Guinean Army. It is possible that foreign instructors have been recruited to continue the training of military personnel. But it is also possible that in the event of failure of the talks in Ouagadougou, Camara is preparing an ethnic-based militia. Moreover, even the opposition is playing the ethnic card. I repeat, it is a very worrying development," concludes Fides' source. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/11/2009)
