The Legacy of Impunity in Guinea!

The legacy of Impunity in Guinea: The Soul of Her Victims Won't Rest in Peace Until Justice Prevails.

After 16 years, 10 months and 2 days, I made it back home to Conakry, Guinea, West Africa. it was October 2, 2016, Guinea's Independence Day. But, there were no signs of celebration, it has been an illusion since 1958.

Guinea is not to be confused with Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana or Guyana. It is a country in West Africa. As of January 1, 2017, the population of Guinea is estimated to be 13 123 767 million. Guinea's size is almost 246,000 square kilometers (94,981 sq. mi). The Atlantic coast borders Guinea to the west, along with Guinea-Bissau. Senegal forms its inland northern border, along with Mali to the north and north-east. Ivory Coast is to the southeast, the Liberia lies to the south and Sierra Leone to the southwest. Conakry is the capital (seat of the national government) and largest city. Guinea is home to twenty-four ethnic groups, the 3 largest and most dominant of which are the Fulbe, Malinke, and Susu. Guinea was a creation of French colonial administration. She used to be called the "South Rivers" because most rivers (i.e., Niger, Senegal, Gambia, Milo etc..) in West Africa were born in Guinea, and more precisely in the region of Futa Djallon.

The Futa Djallon is a region of Guinea characterized by its beautiful hills, grasslands, plateaux, douche climate and an abundance of rivers. These ideal conditions attracted the Fulbes who were living a nomadic pastoral life, to settle between 13th and 16th Centuries. They founded the kingdom of Futa Djallon after the battle of Talansan in 1725. The Futa Djallon was divided into 9 provinces called diwe, with Timbo as the capital and under the reign of 2 families (Alfaya and Soraya) who alternated power. The Fulbes came with their cattle, wisdom, faith in God and hopes to construct a bright future for themselves as people. They created a prosperous kingdom and learned to live peacefully with their neighbors, the Susus in base Guinea, the Malinkes in Haute Guinea and the Forestiers in Forest Guinea. However, in 1896 at the Battle of Poredaka, the French defeated the Futa Djallon and his last Almami Bokar Biro.

After World War II, France was weakened and needed more than ever its colonies’ natural resources; but it also wanted to embellish its image of “a champion of values of liberty, equality, and fraternity”. Therefore, under the direction of President Charles de Gaulle, a referendum on a new constitution was held, which allowed the emancipation of the black Galois. This referendum gave French African colonies the choice of independence, or to remain part of the French community. However, behind De Gaulle's political rhetoric, there was only one choice without reprimand, to remain part of the French community.

On September 28, 1958, among all France's sub-Saharan colonies, only Guinea opted for independence by referendum. On August 25, 1958, when General De Gaulle arrived in Conakry, Sekou Toure, Mayor of Conakry at that time, reiterated the desire of the Guinean people for independence, saying: "Guinea prefers poverty in freedom to riches in slavery." And General DeGaulle feeling humiliated, angrily responded "Then all you have to do is to vote "no" I pledge myself that nobody will stand in the way of your independence." Guinea was the “child rebel” and needed to be the outcast of the Galois family. Therefore, before leaving Guinea, the French colonial administration destroyed all archives, emptied all monies from banks and cut all ties with Guinea.

Guinea was a young independent country full of ideas and hope, but she found itself without money in a world where countries relations were based only on interest. Therefore, Sekou Toure allied himself with the Reds to consolidate his power and invited Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (URSS) to come and teach the ideas of Marxism and Leninism to Fulbe cattle raisers, Malinke hunters, Susu fishermen and Forestier farmers. To achieve his goals, he decided to build the prison camp, Boiro, for whoever refused to learn or were not learning faster enough. In this camp, Guinean were sent and subjected to extra-judicial killings, torture and prison sentences. He banned the traditional chieftains accusing them of being anti-revolutionaries and colonial collaborators. Further, he purged the army, intellectuals and professional classes.

During Sekou Toure’s reign (1958-1984) the “new society” he wanted to create, turned out to be a heavy burden on the people placing Guineans under permanent fear. “The revolution” was above people's freedom and couldn't be wrong. The only rights Guineans had, were the rights to applaud Toure, sing his name and draw his pictures. Guineans were called to support “his Revolution” or pay the price for not doing so. The red terror infected all country. In offices, managers found themselves fearing their assistant because, in some cases, they had better ties with their superiors or bowing down to the security guards at the door, for fear that they may be the ears and eyes of “The revolution”. Neighbors didn't trust neighbors: an ethnic dispute may lead one family to report another family as a conspirator against “The revolution”, which consequently meant that family's death sentence. A husband didn't trust his wife vice versa. And Fathers and mothers didn't trust their children because they were taught that their ultimate father and mother were “The revolution”, and “The revolution” was incarnated by the silly "elephant" Sekou Toure.The red psychological terror led many Guineans to believe that the eyes and ears of “The revolution” were everywhere, ready to deliver them to their death. Therefore, they found their salvation in exile. On March 28, 1984, The New York Times writer, Clifford D. May wrote that an estimated 1.5 million Guinean sought refuge in exile to nearby countries.

As former U.S President, Abraham Lincoln said, "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time but you cannot fool all the people all the time." On March 26, 1984, Sekou Toure died during heart surgery in Cleveland, Ohio. “The Revolution” died along with him. The BBC world edition, on Tuesday, October 22, 2002, estimated that 50,000 people were killed under his regime at Camp Boiro; and, today they are still recovering mass graves. After his death, the Guinean authorities took no action to investigate atrocities committed during his reign, and nobody was held liable. The children of the victims of camp Boiro are still claiming the remains of their relatives; and the country is still very divided with regard to that dark chapter of Guinean history.

When it comes to Sekou Toure’s legacy, opinions are divided. Many Guineans who lived under his regime were tired of being poor and without independence, they wanted to live without fear so his death and the death of “The revolution” were good thing. For many other young Africanists, apprentice revolutionaries, Sekou Toure was the African leader who stood up to DeGaulle and said "no" to France, while other African leaders opted to sell their dignity for small pieces of French bread. These apprentice revolutionaries or Africanists today spend most of their time in coffee shops or bars dreaming of revolutions, discussing politics, drinking themselves to death, and screaming "Afrique est mal partie"; or they have joined corrupt governments and curse whoever dares to remind them that they are stealing the common good.

The soldiers in Kaki who did the dirty deeds of killings, hangings, torturing and jailing Guineans during “The revolution” were in power on April 3, 1984. So, they testified, they were only following orders, and it was time to move on. Additionally, they advised them to let the past be the pass, to forget about the victims and start fresh; to get ready of their revolutionary clothes and embrace their new way of life. They also made sure, Guineans understood that since they were in charge and on the new road to capitalism, they should be the first in line to sugar themselves.

Therefore, from 1984 to 2008, Guineans lived under a situation of radical conversion. It was the Wild West in its primitive form, Guinea was a garage sell, with its enormous natural resources sold to multinational companies and countries at cheap prices, so few individuals could pocket of the pennies made, in the detriment of the majority who were still disillusioned by foreign systems, agonized by poverty and lack of education. While the new bourgeoisie was enjoying their new cars, houses; new leaders overlooked or viewed laws as piece of paper they could apply or ignore based on their personal interests. Solders in position of power, newly nominated intellectuals and professional adopted corruption as a virtue, and went underground with dealings that authorized occidental companies (such as A.S. Bulk Handling Inc.) to dump their industrial toxic waste on the beautiful island of Kassa. For more evidence, read the New Year Times published July 16, 1988, by James Brooks, entitled: Waster Dumpers Turning to West Africa. Other tragedies included opening Guinean seas to Chinese boats, so they could empty the riches of the waters to the sorrow of Susu fishermen, unable to compete while watching their century-long traditions disappeared for not good reason.

In the Guinea of the second republic, money was a god; traditions and moralities faded; the arrogance of new elites ruined the country; and, corruption rampaged. The world banks and IFM gave loans, knowing that their money would return to their banks under a new account and in a different name, and the people of Guinea will have to pay back those loans with interest for generations to come. As former U.S. President Bill Clinton said, "Simply put, unsustainable debt is helping to keep too many poor countries and poor people in poverty."  In that confusion, a great number of O.N.G came with their luggage full of medication to be prescribed without consultation in the name of the Croix, Moon or Goodwill.

President Lansana Conte, as a good soldier, followed France’s dictate to keep himself in power. Therefore, when at the conference of Baule on June 20, 1990, the French president Francois Mitterrand urged African countries to subscribe to the European model of democracy; President Conte decided, without question, to trade his military uniform in for a civilian clothing, organized elections from 1993 to 2001, and made sure he won them. At the end of his term (November 2001), he organized a referendum, modified the term limit and died in power. Like his predecessor, he died in power by killing, torturing, denying Guinean of their freedom while abusing their human rights. For instance, January 10, 2007. Guinea's trade unions and opposition parties called on President Conte to resign, accusing him of mismanaging the country. In response, he ordered the police to disperse the crowd of 30,000 thousand protesters. At his command, they opened fire killing hundreds of people, causing thousands of injuries and property damages.

 

After Conte’s death, on December 23, 2008, history repeated itself. The Guinean authorities took no action to persecute the actors of these atrocious human rights violations perpetrated during Conte's regime. Impunity prevailed.

By December 24th, 2008, the military (again under Captain Dadis Camara) took power. The priority was not based on crimes committed during Lansana Conte reign, but on cleaning the house of corruption. The new government started to clean the house, while fearful politicians and intellectuals stepped aside. Captain Dadis decided to use his new-found freedom of speech to create a TV show called Dadis show in which he defiled Guinean corrupt officials, businessmen and insulted them in front of his audience. Over time, Camara pushed forward, by canceling lucrative multi nationals' contracts, because they didn't benefit Guinea, and humiliated foreign diplomats and businessmen. At that point, those who understood the game of world politics knew his days were numbered, and he was heading to his own downfall. Slowly he succumbed to the addiction of power and changed his narrative from "cleaning the house and leaving" to "cleaning house and staying." On September 28, 2009, political opposition leaders and their members went on to the street to demonstrate and asked for the return to civilian rule. The police, gendarmerie, and army were sent to suppress the demonstration –and so, they did. Human Rights Watch estimated that 150 were killed. 1,200 injured in the stadium and around the Conakry neighborhoods, dozens of women raped and other victims disappeared. investigations were started, accusations of crimes against humanity were made. At the end of the all saga, Captain Dadis was shot in the head by one of his lieutenants. He survived a surgery in Morocco and forced to exile in Burkina Faso. The army organized an election and made sure the only opposition leader Alpha Conde, who was not part of September 28, 2009 demonstration, won the election. Consequently, the case of accountability for the victims of September 28 was forgotten.

Today, all around the country, you can hear people cries for justice with feelings of desperation, because President Professor Alpha Conde spends his time with his toes (cellular phones) calling, messaging or twitting; traveling to foreign countries for months; bribing loud political leaders by offering them office positions and perhaps contemplating on ways to eternalize in power. Instead of dealing with political, economic and social crimes Guineans have been subjected since 1958. This was the present situation of Guinea when I arrived in October 2,2016. A country that looks like a beggar sitting on a bag full of gold, caring a suitcase full of unresolved crimes.

Everything must come to an end, my month-long journey in Guinea was a great experience in many ways; but it was time for me to head back to my new home, Chicago. On November 2, 2016, I headed to the airport leaving behind my family, friends, dog and a country of ancestor's roots, knowing the soul of Guineans victims would not rest in peace until justice prevails. On October 2, 1958, Guineans from all regions, ethnics groups and faiths came together to celebrate their independence with hopes for a bright future-for themselves, their children and their new country. They simply wanted to live free and provide food, shelter, and education to their family without being bothered. But they soon realized…when the white cats left, the black cats took their place. The newly recovered joy of independence was transformed into a nightmare by politicians thirsty for power. So many Guineans didn't have the chance to enjoy their newly earned freedom--they were killed, tortured, imprisoned or exiled with impunity. The people of Guinea need to come together under the palabre tree and discuss crimes that have been committed since 1958, so healing can begin. I believe there is always a room for forgiveness in the African spirit of justice, but the first step of sincere apology must occur before any act of pardon.

After checking in and going through security, I waited at the boarding room. I felt saddened not having the chance to inhale the fresh healing air of the Atlantic Ocean, to contemplate the sunset and connect with the spirit of Mamiwatta (mother of waters); because of few corrupt officials who decided to go so low to sell the coastal land that belong to her and her children, the Guineans people. I also felt saddened, because Guinea was not the beauty, I once contemplated, but I am not the same person either. So… I am glad I came, I will come again, and I hope if there is a change, the change will bring with it a day in which justice will prevail and crimes against humanity committed in Guinea are never again silenced and forgotten. The gate attendant announced it was time to board, I stood, took my carry-on luggage and started walking toward the hallway that leads up to the plane. As I looked to my left, there was a sculpture of Mamiwatta carrying her beloved Guinea, and a feeling of joy and compensation hugged me and I understood the reason why we needed artists!

Sincerely,

Alpha Diallo