Crisis Group report on Guinea

Here is an excerpt from an International Crisis Group report that just came out on the massacre of protesters in Guinea last month:

The defence minister, Sekouba Konaté, a key figure in the current power structure, has important connections with rebel and militia groups from Guinea’s and Liberia’s recent past. He has built up substantial connections within the military and business community over the years and has reportedly gained considerable control over the award of government contracts.51 For example, the contract awarded to an American company SCS Hyperdynamics to share offshore oil exploration, was done with his support.

 

Konaté was appointed by Conté to oversee operations of the LURD rebels in Macenta due to his experience in the Liberian and Sierra Leone conflicts. He has strong ties with the LURD leadership and rank and file and is currently tightly linked to Aisha Damate Conneh, an important figure in that organisation to whose house in Conakry he provides protection. He has also helped secure jobs for ex-LURD combatants at the Cellcom phone company.53 These links may shed some light on the reported presence of Liberians among the armed men who attacked and killed protesters on 28 September. In addition, several credible sources claim that Konaté, or people acting for him, have been involved in recruiting young men from his Malinké ethnic group to join the contingent at the Kaliah military training centre.

I haven’t read the whole report yet (microeconomics midterm on Monday!), so if anyone gets to it before me let me know what you found most interesting.