Global Voices Online

International news sites, French radio [fr], BBC Africa, Twitter [fr], journalists, NGOs and political leaders report of on armed forces shooting on unarmed crowd in Conakry, Guinea capital, today on sept.28th a number of 58 protesters, wonded or dead, were evacuated to the main hospital in Conakry. The crowd was attending a rally called by the opposition group “Coalition des forces vives” .

Last weeks' torrential rains triggered disastrous floodings (Fr), killing 159 people and affecting over 600,000 in a dozen Western Africa countries, unprepared to face seasonal rains growing heavier and heavier. (See map). Afropages (Fr) describes the situation in Conakry, Guinea's capital.

The ReliefWeb, quoting the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reports that recent floods in West Africa have displaced or made homeless 600 000 persons, destroyed schools, roads, hospitals in Burkina Faso,Senegal, Niger,Guinea, and Ghana. Guinea alone account for 40.000 people in need of help.

A MISNA (Missionary International Service News Agency) report published on Sept. 25, states that massive street protests took place in Labé, Guinea second largest city, against Captain Dadis Moussa Camara, the military head of the state.

32 years ago, on August 27, 1977, the people of Guinea first rose up against the abuses of Sékou Touré's regime. Oumar, blogging (Fr) for Konngol Afirik at maneno.org, explains the background and speaks up for the duty of memory.

Black Star Journal reviews and analyses the latest developments in Guinea. He concludes: “With the former opposition political parties impotent and incoherent, an organized and assertive civil society might be the difference between a military junta that keeps its promise to cede power via democratic elections this year and one that finds a million excuses to hang on to power ad infinitum”.

Daily Maghreb reports that King Mohammed VI of Morocco sends his condolences to Guinea, a country which recently lost its leader, President Lansana Conté. Shortly following Conté's death, the country experienced a military coup d'etat.

Emmanuel of Liberia Journal expresses concern about the recent developments in neighboring Guinea because “any power struggle would be extremely dangerous, and could easily become a regional problem”.

Sofa Jawaro of The sword of truth reflects on the legacy of late President Lansana Conté of Guinea, and about what the future holds for the country after 24 years of dictatorship.