In coup-riddled Guinea, women have also been the target of violence. Anonymously circulating cellphone images reveal sexual molestation and physical beatings of women done in public. ‘They show that women were the particular targets of the Guinean soldiers who suppressed a political demonstration at a stadium here last week, with victims and witnesses describing rapes, beatings and acts of intentional humiliation.’
The perpetrators of such violence against women are seen to be dressed in military fatigues and wearing red beret. ‘Multiple witnesses corroborated the events depicted.’
Military repression in Africa is known to include rape. In fact, rape has admittedly become a weapon of war in the continent. In Guinea, however, ‘large-scale violence against women has not been a previous government tactic.’ Things have changed.
According to Sidya Touré, a former prime minister who was also recently beaten, “This time, a new stage has been reached. Women as battlefield targets. We could never have imagined that. Where could people get the idea to start raping women in broad daylight? It’s so contrary to our culture. To molest women using rifle barrels.”
The recent spate of violence against women in Guinea ‘were part of a violent outburst on September 28 in which soldiers shot and killed dozens of unarmed demonstrators at the main stadium where perhaps 50,000 had assembled. Local human rights organizations say at least 157 were killed; the government puts the figure at 56. The exact number of women who were abused is not known. Because of the shame associated with sexual violence in this West African country, victims are reluctant to speak, and local doctors refuse to do so. Victims who told of the attacks would not provide their names because they were afraid of retribution.’
Said another former prime minister, François Lonsény Fall who was also at the stadium, “They especially tore into the women. They were seeking to humiliate them. We want a force of intervention to protect us from the ferocity of the Guinean Army.”
