Guinea violence

Calls by opposition, civil society to prosecute killers

Article published on the 2009-10-07 Latest update 2009-10-07 13:28 TU

Soldiers keep watch at the international airport in Conakry
(Credit: Reuters)

Guinean civil society groups and opposition politicial parties have called for President Moussa Dadis Camara to step down and demanded the arrest of those responsible for the 28 September massacre and rape in Conakry. The groups issued a joint statement after a meeting on Tuesday. Burkinabé President Blaise Compaoré is in Conakry and has offered to mediate between the parties and hold talks in Ouagadougou.

But some Guineans are wary of  Compaoré, according to Tara O'Connor, director of Africa Risk Consultancy.

"There are suspicions that he has always been a loyal supporter of  [Guinean opposition leader] Alpha Condé, so he actually is seen locally to have a bias," she says.

"He is also very closely aligned to French foreign policy in the region so that raises suspicion about potential people who could intervene."

The main issue is whether Condé could persuade the army to do what is necessary to bring the country to working order, O'Connor told RFI.

The military junta has sacked most of the army, so there is lack of leadership and little respect, which is having an impact on the behaivour of the troops.

The militia groups that draw on southern Guineans come from the BATA, or the parachute regiment, which is run by the number two in the region Seku Konaté.

Konaté was, until he took up a role in the junta, the most senior military person of that particular regiment that recruited most of the foreign militias, O'Connor says.

"If the groups are moving over, as suspected, to the presidential guard, I don't expect the rule of law [to reign]," she said, adding that there is a dominant Malinka-Forestier alliance, referring to the southern regions of the country, where Dadis Camara is from.