AU suspends Guinea

2008-12-29 11:29

Addis Ababa - The African Union on Monday suspended Guinea after a military coup in the west African nation.

"The African Union decides to suspend the participation of Guinea in the activities of the African Union until the return of constitutional order in that country," the pan-African body said in a statement.

The west African country's suspension from the continental body had been expected since a military coup took place on December 23.

Junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power after the death of long-serving president Lansana Conte, but the move by Camara and his military backers drew wide condemnation.

Guinea's temporary exclusion from the AU was decided during a meeting of the body's Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, where the organisation is headquartered.

"The only option is for Guinea to be suspended. The organisation should take tough measures against those that contradict its principles," an AU official had told AFP on condition of anonymity before the meeting.

"Coups will only exacerbate the continent's existing problems and there is no time to tolerate such actions."

Guinea's strongman Conte died on December 22 at age 74, after ruling the west African nation for 24 years, soon after which coup leaders from the military immediately announced the dissolution of the government.

Transition process

The junta has so far ignored international calls to relinquish power and allow for a democratic transition process and on Sunday consolidated its grip by retiring several senior army officers loyal to the late president.

Guinea's military junta also said Sunday that it would open negotiations with mining companies operating in the country "within the coming days" which would work towards "an advantageous collaboration for all parties".

Camara on Saturday said he had seized power to lead a crackdown on corruption and shut down all mining operations across the country.

The move risked threatening the country's economy, which relies heavily on mineral exports, especially in a time of financial crisis and falling raw material prices.

More than a third of the world's bauxite reserves are located in Guinea, making it the second-largest producer internationally after Australia and the world's biggest exporter.

It also has large reserves of gold, diamonds, iron and nickel, while uranium deposits were found at various sites in 2007.

But with sentiment on the streets favouring the coup, any attempts at resistance melted and even the overturned government pledged loyalty to Camara.

By Friday nearly all political parties and unions were on board.

- AFP