NIGERIA: West African regional bloc ECOWAS suspends Guinea until military junta which took over power in December holds elections and returns democratic rule

Record ID: 234766

  • Title: NIGERIA: West African regional bloc ECOWAS suspends Guinea until military junta which took over power in December holds elections and returns democratic rule
  • Date: 11th January 2009
  • Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (JANUARY 10, 2009) (REUTERS) +++QUALITY AS INCOMING +++ VARIOUS OF HEADS OF STATE FROM THE WEST AFRICAN BLOC ECOWAS AT ROUND TABLE MEETING (7 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) UMAR YAR'ADUA, PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA AND CHAIRMAN OF THE WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOC ECOWAS, SAYING: "Your excellencies, I would like to solicit your kind cooperation in impressing on the military authority in Conakry, the importance of returning the country to constitutional democracy as quickly as possible. It is particularly necessary for all ECOWAS member states in their actions and statements to avoid creating an impression that we are working at cross purposes. Indeed, we should all be united in the principle of upholding principles of democratic and constitutional transition in Africa as already enuciated in the ECOWAS protocols and the constitutional act of the Africa Union." MOHAMED IBN CHAMBAS, PRESIDENT OF ECOWAS LISTENING VARIOUS OF DELEGATES LISTENING
  • Embargoed: 26th January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA8BL32Y2R12P15W3SNE1DY8G0R
  • Story Text: The West African regional bloc ECOWAS said on Saturday (January 10), it was suspending Guinea until the military junta which seized power last month held elections and returned the world's top bauxite exporter to democratic rule.
    ECOWAS Commission Chairman, Nigeria's president Umaru Yar'Adua told a meeting of leaders from the 15-member regional body in Abuja that Guinea will be suspended until its return of democratic rule.
    "Your excellencies, I would like to solicit your kind cooperation in impressing on the military authority in Conakry, the importance of returning the country to constitutional democracy as quickly as possible. It is particularly necessary for all ECOWAS member states in their actions and statements to avoid creating an impression that we are working at cross purposes. Indeed, we should all be united in the principle of upholding principles of democratic and constitutional transition in Africa as already enuciated in the ECOWAS protocols and the constitutional act of the Africa Union," said Yar'Adua.
    The National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) -- a junta led by young army captain Moussa Dadis Camara -- seized power in Guinea on December 23 after the death of autocratic President Lansana Conte, who had ruled since 1984.
    Major donors including the United States and the European Union have called for a return to constitutional rule, and the African Union has also suspended Guinea.
    The junta, which was welcomed by ordinary citizens as a break with Conte's corrupt and nepotistic administration, has appointed a civilian transition government and promised elections in 2010.
    Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who endorsed the coup leaders, has suggested polls could be held earlier, and French secretary of state for cooperation Alain Joyandet has said Camara had agreed to hold polls within 12 months.
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