webGuinée

Making guinea pigs of Guineans

Sun News Publishing, Lagos
Thursday, October 8, 2009

Guinean military junta leader, Moussa Dadis Camara, is using his people as guinean-pigs in the attempt to perpetuate himself in office. And no fewer than 157 people have been sacrificed on the altar of that mindless experiment.

When he came to power via a military coup last year, Camara promised quick polls, in which neither he nor other military leaders would run for office. Now, he has apparently changed his mind, and is being pig-headed about it.

Fed up with the antics of Camara, Guineans trooped into the capital's main soccer stadium recently, protesting what they perceived as another self-perpetuation antic. The government, however, unleashed troops against them, and by the time the smoke cleared, not fewer than 157 people had been killed, with thousands wounded and displaced.

The United Nations, the African Union, and the European Union, have all expressed alarm over the killings in Guinea, while France has suspended military ties with the country. All these are good steps meant to nip in the bud another burgeoning military dictatorship on the African continent.

Guinea has had the misfortune of being led by sit-tight leaders since independence. Sekou Toure held the nation by the jugular in a totalitarian rule, till he died in office after many decades in power. The then Col. Lansana Conte immediately seized power in a military coup, and later transmuted to a civilian leader. He clung to power for more than 20 years, till he bowed to cancer last year.

Moussa Dadis Camara and some other young military officers again captured power after Conte's death. This elicited widespread condemnation in Guinea and other African countries, but people were mollified when he promised early polls, in which neither he nor any member of the ruling junta would be a candidate. Now, the allure of power has proven too overpowering for him, and he's about to renege on the promise, leading to the protests in which 157 people were mowed down.

We condemn the perfidy by the Guinean head of state, and it shows him as neither worthy of being a military officer, nor a head of state. Part of the hallmark of leadership is honour and integrity. A leader's word must be his bond, and he should stand by it come rain or shine, hell or high waters. Sadly, Dadis Camara has fallen into the moral snare, which has been the bane of many African leaders. They get into office, mouthing platitudes about good leadership and democracy, but overnight, they become tin gods who want to rule forever.

Guinea is again dragging Africa's name through the mud. Togo had its Gnassingbe Eyadema, who was got out of office only through death. The same for Omar Bongo of Gabon, Houphet Boigny of Cote D'Ivoire, and many others. The continent still has the Paul Biyas, Muammar Ghaddafi, and other maximum rulers. After the Sekou Toure and Lansana Conte experiences, Guineans did right to promptly protest against another incipient dictatorship. The rallies were peaceful until the government sent troops against the people. This is sad, regretful and an act which the rest of the free world should not only condemn, but stand resolutely against.

We appeal to the Camara-led junta to listen to the strident voices of Guineans, and the rest of the world. You do not step into power, or consolidate your hold on it, through the blood of your own people. Democracy is about listening to every shade of opinion, and if Guinea is transiting to democracy as the world has been told, then the protesters should have been allowed to voice their opinion, and return safely to their homes.

The crackdown is unwarranted, sanguinary, and a shame to Guinea and the continent. We sympathise with the families of the deceased, and urge the government to immediately begin transparent processes that will lead to democratic rule. And like he earlier promised, Camara should not stand for election. That will be the path of honour and decorum. To do otherwise is to be numbered among covenant breakers and treacherous people.

Guineans should be resolute in their stand for democracy, and not be intimidated by autocracy. They should, however, do this creatively in a way that won't lead to the spilling of more blood. But definitely, Africa can do without another tyrannical, totalitarian regime.