West African CSOs plan mass protest against Guinean junta

November 12, 2009
The mass social and civil agitation would also target the ECOWAS Commission, member countries and the African Union (AU) to adopt proactive and punitive stand against the Guinean military dictators, Mr Alimou Diallo, Regional Coordinator, West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP) stated in Accra.

He said the suspension of Guinea from ECOWAS and AU in line with the principle of zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government was not enough.

He said there was rising concern that the political imbroglio unfolding in Guinea, once regarded as an oasis of calm against the civil wars in neighbouring countries, could lead to uncertain and dangerous scenarios that would spread across the region.

Mr Thierno Balde, Guinean Attorney and President of the Research Institute on Democracy and Rule of Law (IRDED), said the level of security in Guinea had deteriorated steadily since the coup in December 2008 and had been made worse by the massacre of more than 150 people on 28 September in Conakry.

Many shops, offices, banks and petrol stations are currently closed while the military junta that took over power on 23 December 2008, the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) had banned any gatherings of large groups and prohibited demonstrations.

Mr Balde, who is also a member of the Guinean Bar Association, said the country was on the verge of total collapse and called on ECOWAS, AU and the international community to intervene immediately.

On September 28 some military personnel opened fire on thousands of opposition activists protesting against the prospect of the junta leader standing in presidential elections set for January 31 next year.

Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of MFWA, said the foundation in collaboration with other civil society groupings was using the forum to draw attention to the deteriorating political situation in Guinea.

GNA