Monday, July 13, 2009

Guinean junta warns of invasion, blames cartels

Republished with permission from Friends of Guinea blog

The Guinean military regime has put the armed forces on high alert after claiming to have uncovered a plot to attack the country.

An announcement on state-run national radio said drugs cartels were believed to be behind the plans.

Cocaine cartels have essentially taken over the neighboring Republic of Guinea-Bissau, however the junta in Conakry said that armed men were also amassing along the borders in Senegal and Liberia.

"The ministry of defence was informed by the security services and other credible sources of the preparation of an armed attack on Guinea from its borders with Guinea-Bissau and the region of Casamance [in Senegal]," said a Guinean government statement. "These sources have also indicated that there are armed men regrouping on the border with Guinea Bissau to the north and the town of Foya to the south on the border with Liberia."

The governments of Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Liberia denied that there were any armed groups along their borders with Guinea.

Update: Guinéenews reports that the African Union has criticized the invasion claims of the Guinean junta and described the CNDD's actions as a 'diversion.' An AU spokesman charged the CNDD with seeking pretexts to postpone the elections scheduled for the end of the year. Radio France Internationale's Afrique Soir program reports that head of state Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara threatened to arrest anyone contradicting the CNDD's claims and spreading 'disinformation.' Guinéenews pointed out that the forest region of Guinea was the victim of an incursion from rebels based in Liberia in 2000 which caused hundreds of deaths and serious destruction.

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