Republic of Guinea: An Analysis of Current Drivers of Change
By Ana Larcher Carvalho. Norwegian Peacebulding Centre, March 2011. Ethnic divisions exploited by politicians during recent elections, legacy power structures that inhibit democratization, and impunity for past human rights violations are among the continuing sources of instability in Guinea. Though Guinea’s newly emerging democratic order remains weak, it can draw on an increasingly strong civil society sector to prevent ethnic polarization, improve accountability, and maintain popular support and public dialogue as extensive governance reforms are implemented. Download the Article: [PDF]We Have Lived in Darkness
By Human Rights Watch, May 2011.
To sustain momentum generated by Guinea’s first ever democratic elections in 2010, President Alpha Condé must take decisive steps to address weaknesses within the judicial system and ensure that domestic investigations and prosecutions are conducted fairly and independently, particularly for those responsible for the 2007 and 2009 massacres of peaceful demonstrators. The government should also implement the pertinent recommendations contained in the joint ECOWAS-UN security sector reform roadmap, such as steady reductions of troop strength and military spending, both of which have risen considerably over the last decade. Download the Article: [ENGLISH] [FRANÇAIS]Guinea at a Crossroads: Opportunities for a More Robust Civil Society
By Kalie Sillah and Charles Kojo VanDyck, West Africa Civil Society, 2009. While the quest for self-rule, democracy and good governance has been the fundamental motivating factor behind the emergence and proliferation of civil society institutions in Guinea, structural difficulties have hampered its progress. Sillah and VanDyck explore civil-political patronage and how it has affected the development of a viable civil society in Guinea. Historical analysis for these institutional weaknesses is traced post-independence from President Toure to the present. In spite of the challenges faced, the authors are of the belief that a viable civil society is a realistic prospect in the evolving Guinean political landscape. Download the Article: [PDF]Guinea: Rein in Soldiers
By Human Rights Watch, 2009. This report documents episodes of the military systematically using intimidation, rape and violence against the civilian population to advance the personal and financial interests of members of the military prior to the September 2009 crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrators. This includes pressure on the judiciary to rule in favor of individual soldiers and the military’s takeover of the investigative work of the police and gendarmerie despite the military’s lack of expertise and respect for the rule of law. The report concludes with series of eyewitness accounts of abuses and calls on the military junta to condemn these actions while reinstating the capacity for independent criminal investigations. [HTML]
