According to BBC breaking news, ‘Guinea’s vice-president has returned from business abroad to take charge of the country after an attempted assassination on the president. President Moussa Dadis Camara was flown to Morocco, where a spokesman said he underwent a “minor operation” after being shot on Thursday. Vice-President Sekouba Konate returned from Lebanon to take charge. The aide who allegedly shot Capt Camara remains on the run.’
Moussa Dadis Camara, a 45-year-old captain, is not a beloved man in his country. When he usurped power ‘at the end of last year, many Guineans and foreigners were by no means unhappy.’ His countrymen thought he would be better than his ‘corrupt and dictatorial predecessor, President Lansana Conté, who had just died after 25 years in charge. But hope evaporated at the end of September, when security forces smashed up an opposition rally in a stadium in Conakry, the capital. Soldiers and police killed at least 150 demonstrators and raped scores of women, says Human Rights Watch, a lobby based in New York.’
Outrage erupted from across the globe because of this incident. The African Union froze the junta members’ foreign assets. The European Union imposed an arms embargo. So did the US. Both also stopped issuing visas to Guineans suspected of being cronies of the regime. France, Guinea’s former colonial ruler, cut all military ties with the country.
The tremendous international pressure split the junta, instead of eradicating it. Some suspected a mutiny from among the ranks. Now, there are fears that Guinea may soon break into a civil war. Many fear that ‘the shaky west African state’ could spread its instability among its neighbors.
Guinea is rich in bauxite and gold. Its deal with a Chinese company for mineral and oil exploration rights is said to make the country $7 billion richer.
Via The Economist
