Letters & Opinions
Guinea: People reject appointment of Eugene Camara as PM
Mariam Tendou
2007-02-14, Issue 291
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/39762
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You may know by now that President General Lansana Conte has responded to the call by the Union Workers Leaders to nominate by Monday (February 12th) a new Prime Minister with independent powers to form a new government (Gouvernement d union nationale).
So, yesterday, Friday Feb 9th, at 19:45 pm it was announced that Eugene Camara, the current Minister of Presidential Affairs - who was nominated just a few weeks ago at the height of the first call for strike in replacement of Fode Bangoura - has been nominated as the new prime minister by presidential decree.
Unfortunately, just as the news spread people started reacting to this nomination. The mood in the streets is clear: Emotions are quite high, most are saying that Eugene Camara is no new face to Guinea's politics. He was moved from the Ministere du Plan to his last post by presidential decree. And now to Prime Minister.
People are asking for change and this nomination is not perceived as "change". Today, most taxis were parked, and there was almost no public transportation. Most businesses were closed. People were at home. Some groups started going into the streets but most streets down town were peaceful, with military men patrolling here and there. I have not been outside of my neighbourhood (down town).
Earlier it felt quite unsafe to take the highway as there were reports of cars being stopped, of tires burning . There have been reports of clashes with patrol men in suburban and popular areas ( Gbessia, Hamdallaye, Taouyah, Koleah, Matoto). Also reports of clashes in other cities inland. People are saying that it is time for the change they have long waited for: a glimpse of hope in their daily lives. Already a few successes from the first strike call have allowed in the reduction in prices of gas, and the Guinean France exchange rate has also gone down, merchants are slowly lowering their prices in market places. People feel that with more pressure they might get more. Although the families of those who lost their lives on January 22 are still mourning. Major international radios such as RFI and BBC are also covering the events.
Airlines cancelled their flights today inbound and outbound including Air France, Snairlines, Air Ivoire. But no reports yet that the airport is closed. So, I was supposed to leave tonight to attend a Forum in Paris, this coming Monday. Maybe tomorrow I will leave if the flights are not cancelled.