New strikes have been planned in Guinea to protest the September 28 massacres. Shortly after a two-day national mourning, the women’s branch of Forces Vives (a coalition of parties and civil society) have declared strikes for Wednesday, October 28. An operation named “Guinea ghost country,” is rumoured to begin November 2nd until the departure of the junta.
Wednesday, October 28, has been declared a “no work day” by the women’s wing of Forces Vives. According to the organizers, it is a day of meditation and prayer “in memory of the illustrious victims of the September 28 tragedy. It will also and above all, be a day of peaceful protest against the junta,” said a politician and member of Forces Vives.
“This day is dedicated in particular to women and girls whose physical and moral integrity have been severely affected,” the statement read, advising Guineans to refrain from all professional activities.
“Ghost country” from November 2nd?
Meanwhile, there have been persistent rumours over a “ghost country” operation, which is expected to begin November 2 and continue until Captain Dadis Moussa Camara leaves power. The “Ghost country” operation could bring all commercial and industrial activities to a halt.
According to the communications officer of the Forces Vives, Aboubacar Sylla, president of the Union of Forces for Change (UFC), “the idea has been expressed by some members of the coalition.” But although it has begun to gain public support, the idea has not yet been accepted.
In fact, November 2 has been set for the beginning of talks between the junta and representatives of Forces Vives in Ouagadougou, the Burkina Faso capital. The dialogue is to be presided over by Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso, chosen as ECOWAS mediator in the conflict.
The EU sanctions
The European Union (EU) Tuesday imposed an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against the CNDD (National Council for Democracy and Development) as well as those close to the junta. Supported by the United States, an arms embargo was imposed by ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). The regional economic block has also asked the junta leader, Captain Dadis Moussa Camara, not to take part in the country’s presidential election scheduled for January.
A list of the 42 people affected by the sanctions will soon see their names published in the Official Journal of the EU, said the head of the French Foreign Ministry, Bernard Kouchner. The latter stressed that they were also considering the possibility of “freezing the assets” of those named.
