Agenzia Fides

Conakry (Fides Service) - Forty soldiers were arrested in connection with the July 19 attack against the residence of the President of the Republic of Guinea, Alpha Condé (see Fides 20/07/2011), while the reasons of this serious episode remain in the dark. "The most logical explanation is that it was a failed coup carried out by some sectors of the military army closer to Sékouba Konate, concerned about the arrest of several top officials linked to them", says a source of the local Church to Fides, who for security reasons does not want to be mentioned. General Konate was the strong man of Guinea during the transition period. "This in spite of the attempt to minimize the event by the Head of State. The interpretations of the event, however, are not unique. Speaking with many people in Conakry one realizes that there are still many unclear points. If the most reliable interpretation is that of a failed coup d’etat by some generals, the next step is to ask what are the interests that pushed them to act " wonders the source of Fides.
" Could there be links to drug dealing interests?" we ask our interlocutor. "We know that for years Guinea is a junction, along with Guinea-Bissau (although to a lesser extent than the latter Country) of Colombian drug dealing in West Africa. The leader of the military coup of December 2008, Daddis Camara, had undertaken a strong action against drug dealing with non contemptible results. Camara was then victim of an attack that forced him to abandon power. It can be assumed then that both Camara and the present President are victims of military factions linked to Colombian drug dealing? It is a possible hypothesis, but there is no evidence to confirm it ", says our source.
In the background there are also strong foreign investment that are flowing into the country. “An important French group has invested in the port of Conakry, considered safer than those in Côte d'Ivoire. The President is re-examining several mining concessions and in the forest area numerous multinationals have been set up, so much so that what was a depressed area has become an area where it is easier to find work", confirms the source of Fides.
"A positive element in this story is that Guinean democracy has stood the test, both because the international community immediately condemned the attack on the President, and because the same Guinean opposition has not blown on the flames and has sided in defense of the institutions " concludes the source of Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/07/2011)