GUINEA: CORRUPTION SCANDAL ROCKS THE NATION

President Accused of Interfering with Judicial Process

Conakry, Guinea - A shocking turn of events has unfolded in the West African nation of Guinea, where President Lansana Conté has been accused of interfering with the judicial process. The controversy centers around the personal release of two high-ranking officials from custody on suspicion of corruption.

The Charges: Embezzlement and Conspiratorial Acts

Fodé Soumah, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Guinea, and Mamadou Sylla were arrested in December 2006 and remanded in custody on charges of embezzlement, issuing bad cheques, and conspiring to defraud the state of over GNF 15.5 billion (approximately EUR 2 million). These allegations sparked widespread outrage across the country.

Protests Erupt Across Guinea

The trade union organizations Confédération nationale des travailleurs de Guinée (CNTG) and Union syndicale des travailleurs de Guinée (USTG) responded to the President’s actions by calling for an unlimited general strike. The strike notice condemned “the head of state’s interference in the work of the judiciary” and called for the restoration of the republican order.

Civil Society Organisations Weigh In

The National Council of Civil Society Organisations of Guinea (Conseil National des Organisations de la Société Civile Guinéenne, CNOSCG) also denounced corruption, nepotism, and clannism as a governance system. This statement highlighted the deep-seated issues within the government that have led to the current crisis.

Violence and Death Toll Rise

The protests were met with violence from the armed forces, resulting in over 60 deaths and thousands of injuries. In response to this escalating situation, tripartite negotiations were initiated between trade unions, employers’ organizations, and the government.

Agreement Signed: A Path Forward?

A four-point agreement was signed on January 27, 2007. Key points included:

• Establishing a broad-based government led by a Prime Minister
• Respecting the principle of separation of powers
• Prioritizing the fight against corruption

Specifically, the agreement stipulated that legal action would be continued against all those accused of embezzling state funds, including Soumah and Sylla, without interference.

International Community Calls for an End to Repression

The crisis has highlighted the lack of respect for constitutional legality and the inhuman side of the regime. The international community has called for an end to the deadly repression and for the government to prioritize the fight against corruption.

Related Stories

• FIDH-OGDH: “The FIDH calls for an end to the deadly repression in Guinea-Conakry”
• International Crisis Group: “Guinea: Change or Chaos” (Africa Report No. 121)

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