Sexual violence is used as a war tactic against women in Guinea. The details given by survivors are graphic and hard to erase from your consciousness.Sexual violence is used as a war tactic against women in Guinea. The details given by... more
The African Union gave Guinea's military leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara until midnight on Saturday to formally promise he would not participate in next year's presidential elections.The African Union gave Guinea's military leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara until... more
Cellphone images and witnesses show soldiers in Conakry, Guinea quell a peaceful demonstration at a local stadium by RAPING women. Rape is a "cause for shame" in these parts so victims are reluctant to speak.
The government put the number killed in the demonstration last week at about 50; humanitarian groups say the number is closer to 160.Cellphone images and witnesses show soldiers in Conakry, Guinea quell a peaceful... more
Africa is the land where humanity was born and is also the mirror that shows the world all the problems that humanity has never been able to solve. Corrupt governments controlled by oligarchic groups, international companies that seek to control them at the expense of citizens, environmental destruction, poverty, diseases and social problems which aren't solved yet. But the real drama of modern Africa is still the heavy legacy of colonialism.Africa is the land where humanity was born and is also the mirror that shows the world... more
L'Africa è la terra dove è nata l'umanità ed è anche lo specchio che mostra al mondo tutti i problemi che l'umanità non è mai riuscita a risolvere. Governi corrotti controllati da gruppi oligarchici, aziende internazionali che cercano di controllarli a scapito dei cittadini, distruzione dell'ambiente, povertà, malattie e problemi sociali che non si riescono a sconfiggere. Ma il vero dramma dell'Africa moderna è ancora la pesantissima eredità del colonialismo.L'Africa è la terra dove è nata l'umanità ed è anche lo specchio che mostra al... more
Really disturbing story from Guinea this morning as reports are filtering out of the West African nation’s capital about soldiers killing pro-democracy demonstrators in the streets. Its estimated that as many as 157 people have died and the AP reports that soldiers, smelling of alcohol, were witnessed even raping protestors.
From the Washington Post:
"An Associated Press reporter said he saw halls full of wounded patients at the city’s large Donka Hospital, some with bullet wounds, others who appeared to have been beaten. Opposition politician Mutarr Diallo said he witnessed soldiers raping women with rifle butts during Monday’s protests. He was arrested during the protest but released Tuesday morning. New York-based Human Rights Watch said eyewitnesses also told them that security forces had stripped female protesters Monday and raped them in the streets. Other eyewitnesses said soldiers had stabbed protesters with knives and bayonets."
Guinea has been in trouble for decades. Ever since declaring independence from France, it has been cursed with a series of corrupt administrations focused more on getting themselves rich than bringing stability and prosperity. This corruption and lack of stable law enforcement has made Guinea (and other nations in West Africa) a prime location for drug trafficking into Western Europe. (Our new season of Vanguard will include a story on this by Christof Putzel, actually). At the end of last year, the military took control of the country in a coup. This is the government pro-democracy protestors were hoping to get rid of. So it’s even more chilling that soldiers, directly part of the ruling military body could inflict such damage.
Military leader Capt. Moussa “Dadis” Camara told Radio France International: “Those people who committed those atrocities were uncontrollable elements in the military….Even I, as head of state in this very tense situation, cannot claim to be able to control those elements in the military.”
Well that’s not very reassuring.
We’ll have more updates on this story for you during the day – and video later on in the afternoon.Really disturbing story from Guinea this morning as reports are filtering out of the... more
Politicians in Guinea have proposed that elections be held by the end of 2009 to replace the army officers who took power in a coup in December. If Guinea's military rulers agree, legislative elections will be held in November followed by polls to elect a civilian president in December.Politicians in Guinea have proposed that elections be held by the end of 2009 to... more
This video paints a vivid picture of some young women's lives in Guinea. From Plan International, a worldwide non-profit. Check it out!This video paints a vivid picture of some young women's lives in Guinea. From Plan... more
The eldest son of the former President of Guinea, Lansana Conte, has confessed to drugs trafficking on state TV. Ousmane Conte was arrested on Monday on drug trafficking charges by the junta that seized power hours after the death of his father in December.The eldest son of the former President of Guinea, Lansana Conte, has confessed to... more
Guinea coup leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara has assured senior officials that they are safe.Guinea coup leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara has assured senior officials that they... more
The death of Guinean President Lansana Conté has left the country in a state of utter confusion. In power since 1984, the authoritarian ruler leaves behind a financially devastated country, despite its wealth of minerals.
Just hours after the former French army sergeant died, the Guinean Army suspended the constitution and parliament and set up a committee for national recovery - news announced to the country's population of 10 million over state radio
Noel Etienne Gnimassou lives in Fria, a town 160km north of capital Conakry. He works on the production of aluminium oxide in a laboratory. His blog.
Everything's calm in Fria; people have gone back to work as though it were a normal day. Most of the shops are open and there's no rush to buy food - except for those getting provisions for Christmas Eve. Even the children wanted to get to school this morning, but they were sent home. The soldiers are in their barracks and there are no troops moving through the town.
We heard about Conté's death at two in the morning. The army waited until people were sleeping so to avoid gatherings in the street. But in the end people received the news almost indifferently. Everyone's so tired because of the financial crisis here and in the rest of the world, that the reaction's not that strong.
Under Conté we had more freedom than before. But Guinea's an economic wasteland. The country's rich in minerals but the people don't benefit from it.
Today I mourned a little and paid my respects to the dead. But I hope in all my heart that we see a positive and real change. We need someone righteous to take control of the country, so that we can finally see an end to the old guard and allies of the president. Guinea needs a new class of younger, more competent leaders."
Henri Willox is a blogger who contacted us to tell us about the situation in Conakry.
Here in Conakry everyone's going about their business as normal and life goes on except that we don't have any electricity (while normally it gets cut at six in the morning).
We haven't heard one gunshot the whole night and everyone around here is happy to know that the young militaries have taken power [while the army says there's been a coup, the prime minister assures that the government still holds power]."The death of Guinean President Lansana Conté has left the country in a state of utter... more
Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara has declared himself leader of Guinea. The country has been in a state of uncertainty since the death of its President.Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara has declared himself leader of Guinea. The country has been... more
Guinea's army has announced that it has dissolved the country's government and suspended the constitution, hours after the death of President Lansana Conte.
In a state radio statement, Capt Moussa Dadis Camara said a "consultative council" of civilian and military leaders would be set up in their place. All ministers and other top officials have been summoned to the main military camp "to guarantee their security".
Mr Conte had ruled the West African country with an iron fist since 1984. The precise circumstances of the president's death are not yet known, but he had been suffering from diabetes.
BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross says it is important to see whether the army is united on the way forward for Guinea, as a power struggle could be extremely dangerous given the deep ethnic divisions there. Guinea's neighbours - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast - are enjoying relative stability after many years of brutal conflict, and there are fears that any unrest there could spread across the borders and embroil the sub-region in fighting once more.
Only hours after the speaker of parliament announced that President Conte had died after a "long illness", Capt Camara went on state radio to say that the army had taken over, and a body called the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) set up.
"As of today, the constitution is suspended as well as political and union activity," he said. "The government and the institutions of the republic have been dissolved.
Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare earlier appealed for "calm and restraint" and declared 40 days of national mourning. "I call on the defence and security forces to assure the security of our borders and calm inside national territory in homage to the memory of the illustrious late leader," he said.
[Credit BBC News]Guinea's army has announced that it has dissolved the country's government and... more
Ieri sera il 74enne presidente Lansana Conte, al potere dal 1984, è morto in circostanze non ancora chiarite. Le Forze Armate del paese hanno annunciato la sospensione della Costituzione e lo scioglimento di governo e Parlamento. Il Paese, uno tra i più poveri del continente e in cui i servizi sono ormai al collasso, passa così da un regime militare all'altro.Ieri sera il 74enne presidente Lansana Conte, al potere dal 1984, è morto in... more
Guinea's government has been dissolved and the constitution suspended, an army spokesman has announced, hours after the death of President Lansana Conte.
President Conte, who died at the age of 74, had ruled the West African country with an iron fist since 1984.
The precise circumstances of Mr Conte's death are not yet known, but he had been suffering from diabetes.
Guinea's Prime Minister, Ahmed Souare, earlier appealed for calm and declared 40 days of national mourning.Guinea's government has been dissolved and the constitution suspended, an army... more
Iraq has been ranked by Transparency International(TI) as one of the world's most corrupt countries, just above Somalia as the "least clean" state.
The index is based on perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories.
The high levels of corruption amount to a humanitarian disaster said Huguette Labelle, chair of the watchdog.
At the bottom of the transparency table, along with Somalia and Iraq, are Burma, Haiti, Afghanistan and Sudan.
While Iraq remains in the same bottom-three position in the table as last year, the level of perceived corruption in the country collated by the Berlin-based organisation has increased.
The score is based on perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts.
TEN MOST CORRUPT STATES
Somalia
Burma
Iraq
Haiti
Afghanistan
Sudan
Guinea
Chad
Equatorial Guinea
DR Congo
TEN LEAST CORRUPT STATES
Denmark
Sweden
New Zealand
Singapore
Finland
Switzerland
Iceland
Netherlands
Australia
Canada Iraq has been ranked by Transparency International(TI) as one of the world's most... more
The bodies of 13 African migrants have been found in a boat off Spain's Canary Islands, local officials said.
Coast guards spotted the boat, also with 46 survivors on board, about 2km (1.2 miles) off Gran Canaria and escorted it to Puerto de Arguineguin.
In a separate incident, 85 migrants were rescued from a rubber dinghy about 160km south of Malta.
The migrants told their Maltese rescuers that five people had died on the journey and been put overboard.
Switch to dinghies
Spain's interior ministry said some of the migrants who arrived off Gran Canaria told police they had left the west African state of Guinea more than a week ago.
The Spanish Red Cross said it appeared that the fishing boat had lost its way several times and suffered engine problems.
The 13 victims probably died from hypothermia, the Red Cross spokesman said.
Two of the migrants were taken to hospital. The survivors included two women.
Every year thousands of Africans attempt treacherous journeys to the Canary Islands in overcrowded boats.
However, many are now being turned back following increased surveillance of African coastal waters by local and European vessels.
In the second incident, the Maltese army said it had received an alert about the rubber dinghy and diverted a tanker to go to its assistance.
The tanker crew gave the migrants water and food and transferred them to a Maltese army patrol boat.
The 85 migrants included 13 women and a nine-month-old baby.
Observers say illegal migrants from Libya are now using large rubber dinghies able to take up to 80 people, rather than small fibreglass boats with a capacity of 20 people. The bodies of 13 African migrants have been found in a boat off Spain's Canary... more
British mercenary Simon Mann has been jailed for 34 years for his part in plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea.
The former British military officer confessed to trying to topple long-time ruler Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo - but denied being the plot's leader.
The goal of the plot was to install exiled opposition leader Severo Moto who is currently in Spain awaiting trial on charges of arms trafficking, and to gain access to the former Spanish colony's oil wealth. British mercenary Simon Mann has been jailed for 34 years for his part in plotting a... more
Former British soldier Simon Mann is waiting to hear the verdict in his trial in Equatorial Guinea for a 2004 coup plot, which ended on Friday.
Mr Mann, who potentially faces 30 years in prison, has admitted guilt but has tried to convince the court that he was not the most senior coup plotter.
The former SAS officer was held four years ago with 64 others in Zimbabwe. He served four years in prison there for trying to purchase weapons without a licence before being extradited.
The trial was held at a conference centre in the capital, Malabo, amid heavy security.
It was not immediately clear when the verdict would be issued.
Click on the image or go to the link for video.Former British soldier Simon Mann is waiting to hear the verdict in his trial in... more
Spain and South Africa both "gave the green light" for a failed coup in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, a British mercenary has told a court in Malabo. Simon Mann said it felt as though the coup attempt was an official operation.
He also said that Sir Mark Thatcher, son of UK former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was one of the plot's organizers.
But Mann said London-based millionaire Eli Calil was "the boss". He and Sir Mark have both denied plotting a coup.
Sir Mark was fined in 2005 and received a suspended sentence in South Africa for unknowingly helping to finance it. But Mann said Sir Mark was part of the "management team... not just an investor".
Mann was speaking on the second day of his trial, in which Equatorial Guinea prosecutors have called for him to serve 30 years in jail. Mann, an ex-SAS officer, was arrested four years ago with 64 others in Zimbabwe.
He served four years in prison there for trying to purchase weapons without a licence before being extradited to Equatorial Guinea earlier this year.
Equatorial Guinea, an oil-rich former Spanish colony, has been ruled by Teodoro Obiang since he seized power from his uncle in 1979. Spain and South Africa both "gave the green light" for a failed coup in oil-rich... more
