West Africa’s Ecowas fears Guinea slipping back into dictatorship
West Africa’s economic community Ecowas fears Guinea is slipping back into dictatorship after the military junta there fired on 50,000 demonstrators a few weeks back, killing up to 200 people. The government claims 57 died and said most were killed in a stampede. Human rights groups have told of widespread rape during the violence, which saw the African Union impose sanctions and France and the US call for international intervention. News reports say the agriculture minister has resigned over the killings. A little-known army captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power in a December coup after long-time despot Lansana Conte died. Camara fomented the massive street demonstrations when he reneged on a promise not to run in presidential elections in January.
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