Vol. 73/No. 3      January 26, 2009

The U.S. government responded to the coup by suspending its aid—a pittance of $15 million a year.

Conté, a former army colonel, seized power in a coup shortly after the death in 1984 of the country’s independence leader and first president, Ahmed Sékou Touré. Backed by Washington, Conté’s regime was characterized by blatant corruption and complicity with the imperialist plunder of the country’s mineral resources. In January 2007 Guinean unions waged an 18-day general strike demanding a new government. Conté’s military killed some 90 people during the work stoppage.

The National Council for Democracy and Development took power within hours of Conté’s death, suspending the country’s constitution and dissolving the rest of the government. Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara leads the new junta. A week after the coup, Kabine Komara was named prime minister. He is a former executive at the African Export-Import Bank based in Cairo, Egypt.

Some of the world’s largest mining companies have operations in Guinea, including British, Russian, South African, and U.S.-based firms. Mining bosses were given pause in late December when the new government announced it would reevaluate existing contracts. Guinea produces 10 percent of the world’s bauxite, a key ingredient in aluminum production, and also has diamonds, gold, and iron ore. Yet it ranks as one of the world’s poorest countries.

Several mining companies, anxious to continue exploiting Guinea’s vast deposits of minerals, indicated they were ready to give the junta the benefit of the doubt. After the government briefly shut down operations run by English-based Crew Gold Corp., interim chief executive Bill LeClair said, “We understand that this is a difficult time for the government and will continue to support the government in any way we can.”

Kevin Lowery, a spokesman from Alcoa, a major aluminum producer, expressed the company’s willingness to cooperate with the new government. “We have been operating there for more than 40 years,” he said. “This is part of operating in that part of the world. Everything in the country is always fluid.”

Announcing Washington’s suspension of aid, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, “We reiterate our call for a return to civilian rule and the holding of free, fair, and transparent elections as soon as possible. We note that at the time of President Conté’s death, Guinea was preparing for legislative elections in early 2009.”

Paris, on the other hand, responded warmly to the junta’s promises that it will restore “constitutional order.” During a January 3-4 trip to Guinea, France’s secretary for cooperation, Alain Joyandet, while calling for “vigilance,” said he felt “great satisfaction” about the junta’s commitment to hold elections and its appointment of a civilian as prime minister. Joyandet said that France would have a “greater presence” in Guinea and would make funds available for the elections.

Many Guineans support the new government because of its promises to combat corruption and restore a democratic electoral process. The coup was at first rejected by officials of the ousted regime, but most now support the new government. Since its consolidation of power the government has also won the support of most political parties and trade unions. Elections have been promised within two years.  
 
 
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