Guinea-Conakry

Soldiers mutiny in Conakry

Article published on the 2008-05-27 Latest update 2008-05-28 10:08 TU

Former defence minister General Baïlo Diallo
(Photo: AFP)

Guinea Conakry's Defense Minister General Mamadou Baïlo Diallo was sacked Tuesday by President Lansana Conté, on the second day of a mutiny by soldiers demanding back pay they said was promised to them by the government. Meanwhile, soldiers took the army's paymaster hostage today. One woman was killed by a stray bullet Monday night after soldiers randomly fired their rifles.

A top military officer, Major Korka Diallo, was shot during the attack, one of reportedly eight people wounded. 

Soldiers say that they are owed 1,100 euros in unpaid wages. They launched protests for the same reason a year ago, when some eight people were killed by stray bullets.

Tuesday evening, the government responded to the soldiers' demands.

"Following the demands formulated by the soldiers, the government has decided on the following measures: the gradual payment of five million Guinean francs (785 euros) per person," a statement said.

Just last week, Conté sacked Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté. 

"Most Guineans seem to feel that Kouyaté was very inneffectual and not much better than his predecessors,analyst Mike McGovern, from Yale University, Connecticut, told RFI. "It may be that [the soldiers] are using the events of Kouyaté's sacking to bring people's attention to the malfunctioning of the government to have yet another mutiny where they can claim back pay," .