The discouragement of Guineans took ...

The opposition and unions remained in the waiting Wednesday in Guinea after the dismissal on the eve of Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate, reflecting a recovery in the hand of power by President Lansana Conté through the unpopularity of the Ex-head of government.

Mr. Kouyaté, 58, was appointed in February 2007 on a proposal from unions and under pressure from the international community after a series of strikes accompanied by a popular protest against Mr. several weeks Conte, in power since 1984.

Tuesday evening, he was replaced by Ahmed Tidiane Souaré, a technocrat close to the discreet presidential clan.

His dismissal, which could have set fire to the powder a few months ago, seems for the moment raise quasi-indifference in Guinea, both Mr. Kouyaté has struggled to meet its roadmap, which provided the economic recovery pushed the country into crisis despite significant mineral resources.

Calm prevailed Wednesday in the streets of Conakry, epicentre of the dispute which led to the appointment of Kouyaté.

A small movement of popular protest has been registered at Kouroussa (east), the birthplace of Mr. Kouyaté, where several hundred people demonstrated.

Meanwhile, the opposition showed its satisfaction after the ouster of Mr. Kouyaté, while calling the new prime minister not to repeat the mistake of M. Kouyaté, who did not open the doors of government opponents.

We are satisfied with this decision for which we fought because Mr. Kouyaté represented a danger to the democratic process in Guinea, "said Amadou Oury Bah secretary general of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), a leading opposition parties.

"We must now that the Prime Minister is considering expanding his government", has urged his side Jean-Marie Doré, secretary general of the Union for the Progress of Guinea (UPG, opposition).

For their part, unions that had orchestrated protest in January-February 2007 announced that they were waiting to know the composition of the government to take action.

"We expect to see, provided they do not back the old predators," said Rabiatou Sérah Diallo, secretary general of the National Confederation of Guinean Workers (CNTG).

Increasingly accused presidential ambitions, Mr. Kouyaté has been weakened as Guinea is sinking into a deep economic and social crisis exacerbated by rising prices for staple foods.

"The discouragement seized of Guineans. The Prime Minister of consensus has greatly disappointed the people and his government lacked legitimacy in the absence of consultation with political actors at the time of forming his government," said Gilles Yabi , An expert from the International Crisis Group (ICG).

In addition, the presidential clan has been applied in recent months to weaken, taking advantage of the inadequacies of legal agreements on January 27, 2007 around his appointment.

"The question is not whether it would last, but what form would take the departure of Mr. Kouyaté, we felt as though there was a crisis between the clans of the government and the presidency. Mr. Kouyaté would have had to resign in order to remain credible, "says Yabi.

"It was a good time for Conte, because nobody wants to defend Kouyaté. It enters into a new period of uncertainty, but basically it was a form of normalization. Mr. Conte gets the fullness of his powers with a prime minister closer, "notes the analyst.

yalosse.com, the site of daily Guineans
Source: AFP

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