Mediator Sent to Guinea & Recent News

A photo given to The New York Times showed dead bodies after an opposition rally in Conakry, Guinea, on Sept. 28. Human rights officials have estimated that as many as 157 people died.

The President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Campaore, was chosen as a mediator by Western African nations in order to get the junta and the political opposition talking in light of the recent massacre that happened last week.

Campaore is essentially tasked to make sure there is a smooth transition of power from the military junta, led by Captain Dadis Camara, to a government that can stabilize the situation.  Also included in his mission is to come up with a report to be presented to Western African nations (and others), by Monday, on precise actions and recommendations.  Considering how Guinea is already under sanctions from the economic bloc of Western African nations (ECOMOG) what is stated in this report will be quite important.

The Chairman of the United Democratic Forces in Guinea (who meet with Campaore on the 5th of Oct.) was interviewed by the BBC (which appeared on the Africa Today podcast) and stated:

The biggest problem we have now is the security concern.  We don’t see what we can achieve in this situation where…the army commanders…are setting up his own militia…The security concern is very very high and very important.  We don’t want to negotiate an agreement that cannot be fulfilled because of the security concerns.

The demands given to Campaore where:

First of all we need the stepping down of the actual head of state, stepping down now, because he is not in the position to be the nation’s father…

Second, to set up a transitional body which will set up a government of national unity and to lead the transition…and setting up a new constitution and new law and free and fair elections.

The Daily Nation (Kenya) reported on Sunday that:

Guinean junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara has vowed to fight any foreign intervention forces that would be deployed in the country.

President Wade, 83, widely seen as the ‘godfather’ of the Guinean junta leader, made the appeal at the UN following a day-long visit he and the Liberian.

Guinea opposition had requested external support following last week’s massacre of an estimated 200 civilians by junta forces.