Guinea Junta Succumbs to Pressure

Guinea’s ruling junta deputy leader, General Sekouba Konate has invited opposition parties to nominate a prime minister to head the government and prepare for the free and fair elections in the West Africa state, state owned Radio station has reported.
The call come just two days after General Konate’s meeting with the United States and France top officials in Morocco.

General Konate has called for a quick return to democracy in order for the country to end its international isolation. "We need to act to restore peace and the unity of all Guineans, and to put our state and political system on a new foundation," said Mr Konate said. 

Guinea has faced a number of sanctions both from regional and international organizations for failing to return to civilian rule after Captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power in a bloodless coup in December 2008, a day after the death of President Lansana Conte, who ruled the country for two decades.

Crisis was further deepened when Captain Camara was injured in an assassination attempt on 3 December, with labour unions and civil society groups threatening to stage protests unless the government provides the country with reliable information about Captain Camara’s health.

Guinea drew international headlines in September after the killing of an estimated 157 opposition supporters at a national stadium, revealing a major gap in terms of control between Mr Camara and the army personnel.

A team of UN investigators sent to Conakry have recommended that Captain Camara and two other officers be referred to the International Criminal Court at The Hague for crimes against humanity.

The new PM who is expected to head the government will set a new date for the polls which were scheduled for 31 January.